Tier 2 · Supply Chain Terms

Last Mile Delivery

Last mile delivery is the final leg of a shipment's journey from a distribution center or local hub to the end customer's location (store, business, or residence), typically the most expensive and operationally complex segment of the supply chain.

Why It Matters

The last mile accounts for 53% of total shipping costs despite being the shortest distance. It is where customer experience is won or lost: late deliveries, missed windows, and damaged goods at the doorstep create brand damage that upstream efficiency cannot offset.

The FourKites Perspective

FourKites provides last mile tracking that connects to the full supply chain visibility platform. The Order Twin tracks the customer commitment from PO to final delivery. Cassie proactively notifies customers when last mile delivery is at risk. The Graph provides carrier delivery performance by zone and time window.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is last mile delivery?

Last mile delivery is the final leg of a shipment's journey from a distribution center or local hub to the end customer's location (store, business, or residence), typically the most expensive and operationally complex segment of the supply chain.

How does AI change last mile delivery management?

AI transforms last mile delivery from a reactive metric measured after the fact into a proactive capability predicted and optimized in real time. AI agents monitor data continuously, detect anomalies before they become problems, and take autonomous action using network intelligence from the FourKites Graph, which aggregates cross-company patterns from 882 enterprise shippers.

How does FourKites handle last mile delivery?

FourKites provides last mile tracking that connects to the full supply chain visibility platform. The Order Twin tracks the customer commitment from PO to final delivery. Cassie proactively notifies customers when last mile delivery is at risk. The Graph provides carrier delivery performance by zone and time window.

See how this concept powers autonomous operations.