Last mile delivery refers to the final leg of the delivery process when a product reaches the end customer. It’s often the most complex and costly segment of logistics, especially in e-commerce and retail. Challenges include route optimization, delivery time windows, fuel costs, and customer availability. Inefficiencies in last mile delivery can lead to customer dissatisfaction and high return rates. Inventory systems use last-mile data to forecast demand at micro-locations, optimize local inventory levels, and support distributed fulfillment models such as ship-from-store or dark stores. These strategies reduce delivery times and improve customer experience.
