__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Delivery
This also allows smaller , more flexible carriers to stake their claim in a competitive market , picking up delivery tasks from a wider variety of businesses and delivering based on their own strengths .
Tech drives flexibility
Technology is vital to delivering this flexibility and creating a network of providers that can adapt to changing needs in real-time . AI tools , chatbots , and machine learning algorithms , for example , can be leveraged to enhance customer experience before and after purchases are made . Customer interactions can be streamlined , automated , and decoupled from the carrier that delivers the goods to facilitate the buying process and ensure that customer data is not lost to third parties . Continuously optimizing owned fleets while augmenting with third-party capacity will help manage the cost of each delivery and ensure that the business is scalable and robust enough to cope with peaks in demand .
Once the last mile starts , real-time data post-purchase can be used to offer updates , tracking , exception handling with automation , and even feed into stock reallocation in the event of failed deliveries . Using a single system to manage communications with delivery providers , retailers can make the most of carrier diversification without the complexity of striking up and maintaining individual relationships , streamlining this transformational process and supporting smaller providers with ease .
Retailers are leveraging their newfound power to optimize their operations and deliver efficiencies that continuously exceed expectations . With the supply capacity outmatching the demand , logistics providers are refining their offerings to match market demands . If managed wisely , there is potential to create a fairer , more flexible delivery ecosystem – which will be a win for consumers , carriers , and retailers alike . ■
For a list of the sources used in this article , please contact the editor .
Guy Bloch www . bringg . com
Guy Bloch serves as CEO and board member at Bringg , a delivery management platform that unifies last-mile delivery , fulfillment , and returns . With an MBA from NYIT and a BA from Ben Gurion University , Guy boasts over 20 years of experience in leading organizations and transforming them into successful , hyper-growth environments .
scw-mag . com 21