Customers want their products to be delivered to their doorstep as fast as possible. Achieving this speed requires razor-sharp last-mile planning. The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated online shopping trends in the Middle East creating a surge in demand, especially groceries. The need for speedy delivery has prompted businesses to seek alternatives in the AI world. Read along to find out!
Challenges facing same-day delivery in the Middle East.
Customers naturally want their orders as soon as possible. It is the work of businesses to ensure that the package is delivered before the deadline. However, most businesses in the Middle East are faced with these unforeseen challenges when racing with time.
Using too many vehicles.
Quarantine and curfew hours forced most people in the Middle East to order online. As a result, many businesses had to increase their fleet to make as many deliveries as possible. In the long run, this created an increase in operational costs due to fuel costs and an increase in the number of drivers.
Driving very long miles.
Long-distance deliveries have led to the delay of deliveries and, sometimes, the breakdown of vehicles along the way. As a result, deliveries take longer to reach customers and more time is wasted due to repairs.
A lot of time is wasted at the drop-off point.
Upon delivery, most customers want to see if they have received the ordered package and if it is in good condition. Also, the employees take time to offload the package delaying delivery to other customers.
Traffic.
The actual situation on the roads is not known before delivery.Traffic is an unforeseen factor in last-mile delivery which causes delays in deliveries. The driver might not be aware of alternative routes in unfamiliar regions.
Benefits of using route optimization software.
Because of these challenges, companies in the Middle East have opted to use route optimization software to assist in planning their last-mile logistics. Route optimization software makes same-day delivery possible. A timely delivery increases positive customer reviews.
Assign the correct number of vehicles for transport.
Some customers opt for same-day delivery while others do not. Route optimization software flags this and enables you to assign the right vehicles to the right regions. It will enable you to meet your operations demand.
Plan delivery routes beforehand.
Every region in the Middle East has different road rules. Some trucks are not allowed on certain roads at certain times. Route optimization software will make traffic predictions and calculations for the best routes to take beforehand. This reduces the number of miles driven making deliveries faster.
Deliver packages before the deadline.
Choosing route optimization software enables a fleet manager to plan multiple deliveries per location. This can be multiple trips per vehicle or per day to beat deadlines.
Conclusion:
Since the pandemic hit the world, same-day delivery has been a challenge all over the world more so, in the Middle East. This has prompted e-commerce companies to revisit their logistics options to address the rise in customer demands and accomplish same-day delivery.
Norma GO, the AI-based route optimization software saves operation costs by up to 26%, reduces the number of vehicles used by up to 35%, and reduces the time spent on the road by up to 45% making same-day delivery in the Middle East a dream come true.
Why NORMA GO is the right route optimization software for logistics & last-mile delivery businesses?
With an AI-based route optimization software like NORMA GO, which is developed by Softec Technologies, Logistics Companies can develop mastery of their delivery routes in a manner that improves profitability.
Using Machine Learning and Evolutionary Computing, two key disciplines of Artificial Intelligence, NORMA GO can help Logistics Companies to optimize logistics operations and achieve more in an increasingly competitive and noisy market.
NORMA GO can be used standalone, but also quickly connected to your existing systems using APIs. Below are some facts of what Logistics companies can achieve with NORMA GO:
Reduces the number of used vehicles by up to 35%
Reduces the number of miles driven by up to 22%
Reduces the actual driving time by up to 18%
Download our case study to learn how a 3PL courier is achieving a 96% delivery success rate with AI.
For more information on how NORMA GO can provide similar results to your logistics operations, feel free to request a one-to-one live demo, and one of our experts will be happy to call you back to discuss your requirements in detail.