Delivery strategies, tactics and technologies have evolved rapidly for B2C and B2B companies. Industry leaders have proven that they can compete on the strength of their delivery capabilities. The myth that higher service levels result in increased costs has been dispelled and, in fact, when combined with value-added services, delivery becomes a significant revenue generator. What were considered leading edge delivery capabilities five years ago are now considered “table stakes” and companies that do not take a deep look at their delivery capabilities will quickly find themselves at a competitive disadvantage.
The lessons learned from delivery innovators across retail and distribution industries around the globe are that technology and a willingness to break from traditional logistics thinking are what separate their performance from the rest of the pack. The great news is that company size has nothing to do with the ability to transform home/last mile delivery performance — it all starts with a different perspective and vision to turn delivery into a competitive weapon. Technology is an incredibly important enabler of world class delivery performance as its impact spans from demand generation to the post-delivery experience.