Last mile transport, also referred to as capillary transport, refers to the final journey or stretch where goods are transported to the distribution or consumer areas. It is the phase that closes the supply chain and is therefore the one that is most in contact with customers.

Currently there has been a considerable increase in the volume of e-commerce due to the pandemic and the impossibility of buying some products physically. Faced with this situation, companies in the logistics sector have discovered the great opportunities and challenges that exist with last mile logistics. Their main objective is to focus on optimising services in order to meet the demands of the market.

Stock Logistic, a freight forwarding company and logistics operator with offices in Valencia, Barcelona and Madrid, is working on the study and implementation of measures such as the renewal of urban fleets with zero-emission ones. The aim is to promote the correct shipment of goods and improve the customer experience. A commitment to sustainability in last mile logistics.

Robotisation of deliveries

Robotisation is the implementation of electronic systems designed to deliver goods. The creation of robots equipped with artificial intelligence to transport parcels and deliver them to consumers, without the need for urban vehicles, is already being studied.

Drones are currently being tested to fly over towns and villages and deliver packages to people’s homes. This trend has positive aspects, such as eliminating the need for fleets to travel around cities. The problem lies in the fact that it requires a very expensive investment, in a relatively short period of time, with no data on whether it will be profitable in the future.

Sustainable temperature controlled

Another focus being developed by companies in the sector is the improvement of the sustainability of temperature-controlled transport. This involves the shipment of goods that need to be refrigerated. It is a more complex type of transport because it has to be carried out without breaking the cold chain of the products.

For this reason, special equipment is being developed to moderate the grades and ensure that the cars are sustainable. Both alternatives to the traditional last mile will become increasingly popular in the market in the coming years and will serve to make a qualitative leap in this ever-growing industry.