The proliferation of e-commerce and the imperative for an omnichannel fulfillment experience has culminated in the advancement of an additional facet within the realm of transportation – namely, the final or last mile.
Historically, the transportation framework consisted of a dichotomous structure encompassing inbound, spanning from the vendor to the warehouse, and outbound, spanning from the warehouse to the store. This paradigm has now undergone an evolution, blossoming into a trichotomous configuration encompassing the first mile spanning from the vendor to the warehouse, the middle mile spanning from the warehouse to the retail outlet or forward stocking locations, and the final mile encapsulating any juncture within the supply chain connecting to or emanating from the customer. The myriad flavors of the final mile (beyond physical delivery to the customer) are the focus of this article.
