Optimize route planning, protect the environment — that's how sustainable delivery works!

Consumers' delivery requirements are increasing as they become more Customer-friendliness and convenience expect. This also includes the expectation of a quick delivery. Due to the high number of orders, short delivery time windows but also significant environmental effects. Companies, suppliers and parcel service providers are therefore responsible for delivery processes resource-saving to design. The trend is towards Green Logistics. Read about green logistics on this page even more.

The most important thing in brief:

• Customer requirements for ordering and delivery processes have increased as a result of the e-commerce trend
• The last mile accounts for 40 percent of CO during delivery₂-Emissions from
• Delivery traffic accounts for 30 percent of traffic volume and causes 80 percent of traffic jams
• The last mile and route planning should be designed to be resource-efficient
• Route planning software optimizes routes and reduces emissions

Which factors play a role for the environment during delivery?

The e-commerce trend came up during the pandemic and continued afterwards. Since then, customer requirements for deliveries have increased even more: Online ordering with delivery to the front door is no longer enough — customers need the order on the same day or want to send it back free of charge. But flexibility and customer friendliness contribute also to delivery vehicles travelling more frequently.

Depending on the delivery model, delivery to the front door increases traffic jam and emissions. Here the last kilometer is decisive how quickly parcels reach customers and how much they impact the environment and traffic. Parcel service companies can implement appropriate measures to optimize the process.

In the entire supply chain In particular, their logistics are expensive and complex regarding the last few kilometers. Like you can read it at Shipcloud, delivery vehicles make up 30 percent of traffic. As a result, they cause 80 percent of traffic jams — suppliers often do not meet customers at home. If they need multiple delivery attempts as a result, this also exacerbates the problem. 40 percent of emissions In e-commerce, they are caused at the last mile. It is true that most consumers are in favour of more sustainability in online retail or delivery processes, but many measures involve greenwashing.

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What is the Last Mile?

Die Last mile, also called last mile, refers to the last kilometers of a package delivery from the region to customers. The last route to the front door can be designed in different ways and therefore has either a positive or negative effect on emissions. A business model with an optimized last mile is also direct marketing.

What models are there for the last mile?

1. Set up depot: Customers are delivered from there. If it is in their immediate vicinity, the environmental balance is of course more positive. However, if it is further away, the vehicles must be moved longer. Therefore, one way is multiple microdepots to set up what parking garages are often used for. Delivery companies can also share depots.

2. Use pick-up stations: Depending on the distance and package size, you don't have to take the car to pick up. In addition, this can Delivery vehicle delivers many parcels at the same time and thus saves travel and fuel. If people don't arrive at home, picking them up at a packing station is also the most flexible option.

3. Switch to electric vehicles: Parcel service companies can Last Mile optimize by switching to electric vehicles to make the delivery process a bit more environmentally friendly.

4th Click&Collect: However, shops can also offer solutions themselves, such as Click&Collect, so that customers can choose to pick up their order from the store. The advantages of this are that you pick up packages when you have the best time yourself, don't necessarily have to use a car and even the product isn't necessarily packaged. This saves time, fuel and packaging waste. Market pickup for food also works in a similar way.

What are the trends in the last mile?

1. Dark Stores: So-called dark stores make it possible for delivery companies such as Flink and Uber to deliver orders to customers within 10 minutes. However, stores in vacant rooms on the ground floor are also increasingly unpopular with residents due to too much noise.

2. A hybrid solution of warehouse and shop: For example, DPD has opened a store where you can pick up ordered goods, try them on and, if necessary, return them directly.

3. City Docks: City-dock commercial spaces close to the city are then Last-mile logistics optionswhen they are used as storage space by start-ups or other companies. From there, onward transportation with cargo bikes, for example, is possible. The trend is towards electric mobility. There are already cities that also prohibit delivery by truck in the city center, which means that other solutions must be found. On this page Find out more about such trends.

What can green logistics look like?

• The shared use of lockers and vans various CEP companies (courier, express and parcel service providers): The transport sector accounts for 25 percent of emissions in the EU, which have also not been reduced so far. A quarter of truck trips in Germany are empty runs, which is inefficient from a business perspective — in terms of time, costs and resources. sharing models represent considerable potential for optimization here. In addition, large freight forwarding companies can also share logistics centers.
• Parcel shops or pick-up stations: Will packages before the last mile distributed at pick-up stations, can 45 percent at emissions be saved. If the stations or lockers are in the immediate vicinity of customers, it is even up to 63 percent.
• Make use of Click & Collect: customers who Sustainability in logistics is close to your heart and yet rely on online retail, you can also pick up parcels yourself.
• Companies assume responsibility: Responsibility should, of course, not only be shifted to consumers. Service providers and suppliers can use electric cars, for example. Packaging can also be rethought. However, this depends on which packaging is necessary or possible, which in turn depends heavily on the products sold. Reusable and deposit containers are more durable than disposable boxes, but cannot be put into practice everywhere.
• CO₂-Record emissions: 45 percent Logistics companies do not record the emissions they cause at all.
• Fewer trips Plan: If the tours are arranged in such a way that, for example, only delivery takes place on 2 days instead of 4, this can save fuel. For example, if you even offer holiday deliveries in direct marketing as an extra benefit for your customers, this is customer friendliness possibly against the sustainability aspect.
• Using D2C: Direct marketing has the advantage that the warehouse is usually directly connected to production. This eliminates the need for a sharing model. It also tends to be more sustainable due to shorter transports.

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How does route planning software help?

Route planning software or ERP software like FrachtPilot can automatically calculate routes and take them into account when Order of stops including delivery time windows and vehicle capacities. As a result, the softwares also for Route optimization at. Why is that important? Because optimised routes also mean less fuel consumption, as do you Read it at GTS can. About 5 percent of fuel can be saved through route optimization become. That also plays at environmental friendliness also a role. This effect can be amplified when electric vehicles or even bicycle couriers are used. Even for freight forwarding companies with truck delivery, route optimization or automatic route planning with software, since the Tours busy and the stops are in the optimal order — and that also saves time.

This is what customers who use FrachtPilot say:

Love for rolls:

The fully automated route planning saves us 10 to 15 hours of working time per week.

Palate treat (PIUS):

The delivery plans have reduced office work to a minimum so that we can spend much more time in the company itself.

We vegetables:

This also leaves much more time for the really important fields of action — value creation and appreciation.

Delivery boy:

Route planning goes almost by itself and we can invest the time saved in growth.

Die Reviews are also available on our website.

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How can route planning have a positive impact on the environment?

• Efficient tours - the software calculates the shortest route
• Vehicles are busy - save travel and fuel
• Less CO₂-Emissions through efficient route planning

conclusion

There are therefore a few things to consider if you want sustainability in delivery processes. Route optimization and the restructuring of last-mile delivery are nevertheless a central means of improving delivery traffic in urban areas. FrachtPilot can optimize your delivery. If you're still looking for a suitable ERP system You are, have a look at our website, test the software for free or get to know us in a free webinar. We're looking forward to seeing you!

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