It’s a cliche at this point to say that the last mile of the supply chain is often the most expensive—but it’s true. Studies show that it can account for about 40-50% of total logistics costs, and anecdotally we’re pretty sure that it accounts for more than half the total frustration, lost sleep, and pulled out hair in the supply chain.
Planning is one thing—execution is another. What is it they say about the best-laid plans in logistics? That’s right: they require (among other things) an effective mobile app to empower your delivery drivers.
Many ops managers and routing specialists approach route analysis with the same gleeful anticipation as an upcoming root canal. Throw in a few “what ifs” and you have the perfect recipe for procrastination. Time goes by and routes steadily lose efficiency, profitability becomes problematic, and customer satisfaction slips away.
One of the surprisingly common refrains we hear from delivery organizations we talk to is that their route optimization is “good enough.” In other words, they know it’s not on the absolute cutting edge, but they feel that it’s getting the job done—or at least it’s getting the job done well enough that it wouldn’t be worth the hassle of adopting a new system.
The only thing worse than choosing logistics software is not choosing logistics software. In spite of all the technological advances made in the world of logistics, there are still plenty of delivery organizations using homegrown solutions that are difficult to maintain—or who are using no solutions at all.
When it comes to last mile deliveries, routes are at the bedrock of everything you do. The efficiency of your routes determines how quickly you’ll be able to turn around orders, how many orders you can deliver per day, and whether you’re able to get the right goods to the right customers at the right time.
There’s plenty of advice on the internet about how to purchase delivery management software, from software review sites that offer reviews and tips to opinion pieces in publications like CIO Magazine on how delivery management software is evolving. The wealth of information available to you has never been greater—but, at the same time, it can be challenging to sift through all of the data to find the data that’s most relevant to your decision-making process.
Updated 2/4/2026
Okay, you’ve got a delivery or service order, you’ve got a fleet of trucks, and you’ve got a roster of drivers and technicians. How do you get the right driver for the job to reach the right customer at the right time?
If you’re a last mile logistics operator, a successful day starts and ends with your tech platform. Good tech is the oil that keeps your ops running smoothly. The right technology is easy to use, incorporates all of the capabilities you need, is available to associates across the organization and keeps everyone—sales, planners, warehouse, dispatchers, drivers, and customers—in sync and informed.