The pandemic has put a spotlight on the shortcomings of long supply chains, as consumer demand well outstripped the ability to get products to customers in rapid fashion. The value of the last mile in the supply chain became more important the ever, and the supply chain is still evolving to incorporate that emphasis. Right along with the changes came an evolution in AI that suddenly launched it to the forefront of consideration in supply chain management. Put together, there’s the potential for an upcoming marriage of last-mile delivery and AI, one that will make that final stage of the supply chain more efficient than ever.
The first place you might see AI playing a role in last-mile delivery is with the design of efficient route deliveries. Using sophisticated algorithms, AI can determine how many trucks are needed using the shortest route possible. Over time, AI will fine tune those algorithms using historical data. The last mile becomes more cost efficient, and deliveries meet or beat customer expectations. AI can also help users determine the best carriers for the jobs at hand. AI can also start to learn customer patterns, offering delivery solutions based on their history. This in turn leads to more customer satisfaction. All of these scenarios are rolling out now and will only get better as we head into the future.
