The last-mile delivery problem: E-commerce drives more complex customer demands

摘要

The last-mile delivery problem is more commonly associated with the telecommunications industry, but it's an apt description for problems faced in the supply chain. In telecommunications, "last mile" refers to the challenges posed by bringing the final end-user online. This is the phase where links are created from roadside cables and fibre optics to customers' private dwellings-particularly for those facilities that require more capacity than traditional copper-based phone lines can deliver (e.g. broadband versus dial-up).