Although fleet managers try their best to improve efficiency and use fuel card services to support that, the final mile can still be difficult to achieve in a good timeframe.
The final mile of the supply chain is a critical step for businesses who wish to maintain good relationships with their customers. Today’s expectations depend on instant digital gratification, as well as next-day and same-day deliveries. Waiting days or weeks on end for a product is no longer good enough, and fleets are struggling to keep up with these demands on the final mile of a trip.
As a result, new technologies are helping to boost the final mile of the logistics process, making fleet managers happier and customers more satisfied with the service they receive.
The final mile used to be something that was documented and assessed with pen and paper documents, making the process complicated and vulnerable to miscommunications. Nowadays, however, most businesses are using digital software for tracking their final miles, enabling data to be assessed and collected in real-time. When coupled with Business Intelligence (BI), companies can harness the power of technology to figure out how to improve their final mile performance and enhance the efficiency of their overall logistics process.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are essential for the digital systems that now largely handle final mile assessments. Therefore, it is essential to know what KPIs are important to your company in its unique situation, industry, and circumstances.
For example, you may want to consider factors such as cost to serve, profitability, improved planning, and utilization. The final mile can often be the “make or break” moment for a logistics service, so it’s important to know exactly what you’re trying to achieve.
Business intelligence and digital software that take into account the correct KPIs can have a significantly positive effect on business outcomes if leveraged properly, allowing business objectives and final mile solutions to be ultimately realized.
The final mile is just as important to fleet managers as it is to the end customers. A comprehensive end-to-end logistics service has become the norm in many industries thanks to fast-moving e-commerce giants such as Amazon and Wal-Mart. As a result, being educated in the latest technology is essential in order to meet targets and improve a fleet’s final mile data.
Knowing how to constantly improve your fleet’s bottom line is critical to success. One way to start saving is through a fleet fuel card. If you’re considering this investment, get in touch with a member of our team. Our card was designed and developed by a fuel company, not a credit card company.