Everyday new technology is being created to disrupt and replace tired practices and processes. The transportation and freight industry is no exception. There is one key difference between this industry and others: government. Local routes, especially urban deliveries, are heavily impacted by road restrictions, speed limits and parking restrictions.
Final-mile delivery continues to grow with the rise of e-commerce, but without collaboration from the public sector, existing delivery processes will be hard to challenge. Transport Topics identified a number of inefficiencies that will need to be addressed by local governments to help streamline processes:
- Urban Kiosks: Fixtures like Amazon lockers are already becoming the norm in some cities, providing a central delivery location for e-commerce orders. To help minimize traffic disruption, local planners will need to determine the best location for these hubs.
- Urban Warehouses: Companies are already competing for warehouses closer to urban centers to help ensure faster deliveries. Local governments will be critical partners in helping regulate the location of these warehouses, ensuring the transfer of goods to last-mile vehicles is as smooth as possible.
Technology is continually being developed to help disrupt and replace old, frustrating processes; however, equally as frustrating is having government hold up changes behind closed doors or in years of study groups. Technology is fast, yet government often ties the hand of industry disruptors. Moving forward, final-mile delivery is likely to see drones, self-driving trucks and more. Working with local governments to create rules or establish infrastructure will be critical in allowing new delivery models to flourish.
