Which industries suffer the most from poor last-mile delivery and why?

In many industries, errors at the last-mile stage are not just an operational risk, but a real threat to profitability and customer loyalty. Their consequences can be hard to reverse – even with intensive marketing efforts. Which sectors bear the highest costs of inadequate last-mile logistics?

Why are the FMCG and dietary supplement sectors particularly sensitive to last-mile errors?

The last mile accounts for 65% of total e-commerce logistics costs. In the food sector (FMCG) and the supplements industry, this very stage becomes a challenge in terms of both time and physical requirements. Here, the key is not only delivering the product but also preserving its biological and chemical properties.

Insufficient delivery quality in these industries affects two key areas: ensuring consumer safety and meeting strict legal requirements.

Brands should focus on effective communication with customers, especially during periods of economic prosperity. This not only builds trust and loyalty but also strengthens relationships that can prove crucial when unforeseen challenges arise.

Temperature control as a key element

Dietary supplements, such as probiotics or liposomal vitamins, are particularly sensitive to temperature changes.

Improper storage conditions, such as leaving a package in a hot courier van or an uninsulated parcel locker, can lead to the loss of active ingredients.

For a company, this means not only the loss of goods but also the risk of a high number of returns and serious damage to its reputation, which takes a long time to build in the health and wellness industry.

Expiration dates and stock rotation

In the e-grocery industry, where product shelf life is crucial, any delay can result in losing a customer.

Customers are no longer willing to wait for deliveries, and the order fulfillment time has become one of the most important factors determining the choice of a retailer.

As a result, poor-quality last-mile logistics in the FMCG sector leads to:

• High disposal rates – goods that do not arrive on time often become unsuitable for further sale, mainly due to short expiration dates and spoilage.
• Image losses – a photo of a damaged product on social media spreads faster than any advertising campaign.

How does the lack of punctual deliveries affect the gifting and floral industries?

In the gifting and floral industries, delivery time is not merely a technical parameter – it is an integral part of the product’s value. Flowers meant to arrive for a birthday or a wedding that show up a day later completely lose their value, regardless of their physical condition.

Strict time windows as a standard

The gifting industry is exceptionally vulnerable to the consequences of a “failed delivery attempt”. Any delay on key days, such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or weddings, generates high complaint costs that often exceed the value of the order itself.

The “one-shot delivery” effect

Unlike the apparel industry, companies in the floral and gifting sector usually have only one chance for a successful delivery. Poor last-mile quality, such as a lack of communication between the courier and the recipient or unclear tracking status, turns the emotional value of the purchase into frustration.

Losses include:

• full refund costs,
• product disposal,
• customer churn (loss of LTV).

Studies show that 82% of customers consider delivery tracking apps essential, which improves service ratings by 25%.

Why is the electronics industry particularly exposed to last-mile risks?

Consumer electronics is an industry characterized by the highest unit value of shipments. In this case, poor last-mile quality not only generates customer frustration but also leads to serious financial losses related to damage, theft, and post-sales process costs.

Financial losses and the risk of damage

Laptopy, smartphones, and computer components are sensitive to shocks and moisture. Improper sorting or a courier’s lack of care when handling parcels marked “fragile” leads to a significant number of returns (RMA). Under current market conditions, a damaged flagship smartphone can consume the profit from many other successful transactions.

The “Empty Box” challenge and the issue of security

The high value of the goods increases the risk of theft within the supply chain. A lack of proper control over the last-mile process, incorrect parcel scanning, and an absence of delivery verification procedures lead to substantial losses. The electronics industry bears the highest losses in the following areas:

• insurance costs and claims – rising insurance premiums associated with high loss ratios,
• reverse logistics – the process of verifying damaged equipment involves high costs and the need to involve specialized personnel,
• disruptions in the innovation cycle – delivery problems can delay the launch of new models, allowing competitors to capture market share.

How to minimize risk in last-mile logistics?

Effective last-mile logistics requires flexibility. Companies relying on a single delivery model are more susceptible to delays, quality drops, and cost fluctuations.

Delivery orchestration as a key approach

An increasingly common solution is delivery orchestration, which means dynamically matching the carrier to the operational context.

In practice, this means:

• matching the carrier to the type of goods (e.g., fragile or high-value),
• selecting an operator based on the delivery region,
• accommodating customer preferences (e.g., delivery method).

Carrier selection automation

Modern systems allow for the automatic assignment of shipments to the appropriate operators.

Most common applications:

• shipments requiring temperature control → operators with certified fleets,
• high-value shipments → couriers with the highest SLA performance,
• standard orders → optimization of delivery cost and time.

Cost and delivery quality optimization

In the face of rising fuel and labor costs, effective last-mile management directly impacts profitability.

The most important effects of optimization:

• reducing delays and complaints,
• better control over transport costs,
• higher quality of customer service.

How does Alsendo’s technology address these challenges?

Alsendo provides an advanced technological ecosystem (SaaS) that allows large enterprises and the e-commerce sector to master these critical areas.

Technological solution for large enterprises:

• Dynamic Order Allocation (Alsendo Innoship) – automatically matches the carrier to a specific parcel based on algorithms that take into account factors such as certified fleets or the highest SLA and security metrics.
• PUDO Technology and Maps (Alsendo Enterprise) – we provide independent map widgets for shopping carts, allowing customers to choose pick-up points with the highest availability, which minimizes the risk of failed deliveries.

Technological solution for SMEs:

• Communication and Returns Automation (Alsendo Business Pro) – we build customer loyalty even in difficult situations. The system ensures full transparency of parcel tracking under the store’s own brand and automates reverse logistics, reducing post-sales service costs.

By integrating multiple carriers into one scalable API, Alsendo’s solutions transform logistics from a cost center into an area of technological advantage.

Sources:

• https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/1705441/2026-En-Logistics-Outlook-ShippyPro.pdf
• https://gitnux.org/customer-experience-in-the-floral-industry-statistics
• https://gitnux.org/customer-experience-in-the-floral-industry-statistics

Rafał Urbanek