The “last mile” refers to the final leg of delivery — from the warehouse or fulfillment centre to the customer’s doorstep — and it’s where many businesses either shine or stumble.

Even though third party logistics (3PL) providers like Emiza don’t directly execute last-mile delivery, they play a critical role in ensuring it happens quickly, smoothly, and cost-effectively. Through smart warehousing, inventory control, and strategic partnerships with last-mile delivery companies, Emiza helps brands stay competitive and customer-focused.

Let’s unpack the biggest challenges in last-mile delivery — and how businesses can solve them by working with the right logistics ecosystem.

1. High Delivery Costs

Last-mile delivery accounts for nearly 53% of total shipping costs. This is due to multiple factors: short delivery windows, fragmented delivery zones, fuel, labour, and failed delivery attempts.

How to Overcome It:

• Zone-based fulfillment: Emiza helps brands with regional warehouses in cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, and Delhi. By storing inventory closer to customers, delivery distances — and costs — drop significantly.
  
• SKU rationalization and demand forecasting reduce dead miles and help 3PLs stock only what’s needed per zone.
  

2. Delivery Delays and Failed Attempts

Customer impatience is at an all-time high. With the rise of same-day delivery and quick commerce, delays are brand killers. Failed delivery attempts also increase cost and damage customer trust.

 How to Overcome It:

• Emiza’s warehouse management systems integrate with last-mile partners, ensuring real-time order picking and dispatch, cutting down turnaround times.
  
• Accurate address verification and time-slot selection through integrated platforms help minimise failed attempts.
  

3. Lack of Real-Time Visibility

Today’s consumers expect minute-by-minute delivery updates. Yet many small or fragmented courier services lack the tech to offer visibility.

How to Overcome It:

• Emiza works with tech-enabled last-mile partners that provide live tracking and delivery status, integrated with e-commerce platforms.
  
• From the moment a product is picked from the shelf to the second it leaves the dock, brands (and their customers) can see it all via Emiza’s WMS integrations.
  

4. Urban Congestion and Route Inefficiency

Cities like Mumbai and Delhi are notorious for traffic snarls and narrow lanes. Delivery routes get delayed, packages pile up, and operational efficiency takes a hit.

How to Overcome It:

• Emiza’s inventory management ensures decentralized stock placement. Instead of shipping everything from one large hub, inventory is pre-positioned in micro-fulfilment centres.
  
• That reduces the burden on last-mile partners and allows them to cover more ground faster with smaller vehicles or hyperlocal riders.
  

5. Poor Returns Management

A smooth delivery experience isn’t complete without a reverse logistics plan. Returns can be expensive and operationally complex, especially in fashion, electronics, or D2C categories.

How to Overcome It:

• Emiza offers reverse logistics solutions that are integrated with last-mile providers, ensuring returns are picked up, inspected, and restocked quickly.
  
• With real-time inventory updates, returned stock becomes saleable again — reducing dead stock and improving working capital cycles.
  

6. Scalability During Peak Seasons

Flash sales, festive periods, and influencer-driven spikes can overwhelm last-mile networks. If warehousing and picking can’t scale, delivery bottlenecks follow.

How to Overcome It:

• By ensuring the upstream logistics runs smoothly, Emiza enables last-mile providers to scale more effectively, without delays or service drops.
  

Conclusion

The truth is — 3PL companies like Emiza don’t need to run the last mile to make it better. By empowering the supply chain upstream — through efficient warehousing, accurate inventory management, and tech integration — Emiza enables brands to meet delivery expectations confidently.

If you’ve been searching for “logistics companies in India”, “warehouses near me”, or “logistics services near me”, the real question to ask is:
Is your logistics partner setting your brand up for last-mile success — even if they don’t deliver it themselves?

Ready to strengthen your last-mile performance with better warehousing and 3PL support?

Let Emiza handle the backend while your brand shines at the front door.