由 lltx1822 How to Optimize Last-Mile Delivery in Cross-Border E-Commerce
Last-mile delivery—the final leg from a local warehouse to the customer—is a critical pain point in cross-border e-commerce, impacting customer satisfaction and costs. Local partnerships are foundational. Collaborating with established local delivery firms (e.g., Correos in Spain, Ninja Van in Southeast Asia) leverages their knowledge of local geography, regulations, and customer preferences. For example, a U.S.-based e-tailer selling to Brazil can partner with Correios to handle last-mile delivery, ensuring packages reach remote areas like the Amazon basin that international carriers may avoid.
Localized fulfillment reduces distances. Setting up overseas warehouses in key markets (e.g., Germany for Europe, Japan for East Asia) allows storing popular items locally, cutting last-mile distances from thousands of miles to 100-200 miles. Amazon’s FBA Global program enables sellers to store inventory in Amazon’s EU warehouses, with last-mile delivery handled by Amazon Logistics, reducing delivery times to 1-2 days for EU customers.
Flexible delivery options improve experience. Offering choices like pickup points (convenience stores, lockers), scheduled deliveries, and evening/weekend drops caters to diverse customer needs. In South Korea, cross-border sellers partner with CU convenience stores to offer 24/7 pickup, allowing customers to collect packages at their convenience. Lockers in train stations or malls, like InPost in Poland, provide secure, contactless delivery—popular post-pandemic.
Technology enhances visibility and efficiency. Using local delivery management software (e.g., Bringg, ShipBob) tracks packages in real time, sends SMS/email alerts in the local language, and allows customers to reroute deliveries. For example, a customer in France can receive a French-language alert when their package is out for delivery and use a link to redirect it to a neighbor if they’re away.
Simplified customs clearance accelerates last-mile. Pre-clearing goods at the border or using bonded warehouses allows packages to enter the local delivery network faster. For example, Shopify’s cross-border solution pre-files customs data, enabling packages to clear Canadian customs before arrival, so last-mile delivery can start immediately—reducing total time by 3-5 days.
Cost optimization through density and routing. Local carriers optimize delivery routes using AI to group nearby addresses, reducing fuel use and driver time. For example, a delivery driver in Mexico City can use route-planning software to visit 20+ customers in a neighborhood in a single trip, lowering per-package costs.