Ser autonomous carrier has its advantages: flexibility, control over your schedule and the ability to manage your own business. However, it also involves challenges, such as route management, the organization of deliveries and the correct billing of the services provided. Fortunately, new technologies and optimization tools can make your workday much more efficient and organized, allowing you to focus on what really matters: deliver on time and offer quality service.

In this guide, we'll provide you with the best tips for Optimize your working day as an autonomous carrier, monitor all your deliveries in real time and bill quickly and accurately. With the right tools, such as Routal, you can significantly improve your day-to-day efficiency, reduce errors and increase your profitability.

1. Optimize your working day with intelligent routes

Route optimization is one of the keys to making your journey as an autonomous carrier more productive. Long or poorly planned trips can create unnecessary delays, increase fuel consumption and wear down your resources. Use a route planning software like Routal allows you to organize your deliveries efficiently, saving time and resources.

How to optimize routes?

• Smart planning: Route optimization tools such as Routal calculate the best route considering variables such as traffic, road restrictions and delivery times. This way, you can reduce road time and make more deliveries in less time.
• Avoid traffic jams and congestion: Optimized routes are adjusted in real time according to traffic conditions, allowing you to avoid traffic jams and other situations that may delay your day.
• Personalized routes: You can configure your routes according to your preferences and needs, choosing stops in an order that maximizes your efficiency.

Benefits

• Time and fuel savings: Optimized routes reduce kilometers traveled and fuel consumption.
• Higher productivity: By reducing delivery time, you can complete more deliveries during your day.
• Less stress: Planning your routes efficiently helps you better manage your time, avoiding the pressure of meeting tight schedules.

2. Monitor all your deliveries in real time

The ability to monitor your deliveries In real time, not only does it improve your efficiency, but it also allows you to have total control over your work. With tools such as Routal, you can keep track of all your deliveries, from departure to arrival at the destination, and be informed at all times about any incident or last-minute change.

How to do it?

• Delivery tracking: With Routal, you can see the status of each delivery in real time, allowing you to act quickly in case of unforeseen events, such as an absent customer or a change in address.
• Alerts and notifications: The platform will send you automatic notifications about any changes in the delivery process, such as changes in the time window or traffic delays, so you're always prepared.
• Incident control: If there are any problems during delivery (for example, a damaged package or an incorrect address), you can easily register and manage the incident, without the need for phone calls.

Benefits

• Greater control and transparency: You can follow all your deliveries in detail, improving the Managing your time.
• Better communication with customers: Having access to real-time information allows you to proactively communicate with customers, informing them of any change in their delivery.
• Reduction of incidents: Monitoring deliveries allows you to act quickly in the event of any unforeseen event, preventing problems from turning into delays or returns.

3. Invoice quickly and accurately

One of the most important tasks for the autonomous carrier It's the right one turnover of the services provided. Manual or disorganized billing can be time-consuming and increase the risk of errors. That's why using digital tools that Automate billing can greatly simplify this process and allow you to keep full control of your income.

How to bill efficiently?

• Automatic generation of invoices: With tools such as Routal, you can automatically generate invoices based on the details of your deliveries. You only need to enter the corresponding data and the platform takes care of the rest.
• Electronic Invoicing: Modern platforms allow you to generate and send electronic invoices, which not only speed up the process, but also facilitate the traceability and compliance with tax regulations.
• Payment control: Some tools also allow you to keep track of outstanding payments and record when the payment has been received, avoiding confusion and ensuring that your cash flow is kept up to date.

Benefits

• Time savings: Billing automation allows you to generate invoices in minutes, without the need to waste time with manual calculations.
• Accuracy in the accounts: By automating the process, you reduce the possibility of making errors, ensuring that each delivery is correctly invoiced.
• Easy to manage your finances: With all your bills organized digitally, you can have clear control of your income, making it easy to financial management and the payment of taxes.

4. Maximize your efficiency with tool integration

To further optimize your working day as an autonomous carrier, it is essential to have tools that integrate with each other, so that you can manage all areas of your work in a coherent and fluid way. Routal offers a comprehensive platform that allows you to manage everything from route planning to billing, all in one place.

What to integrate?

• Integration of GPS and routes: The platform connects to systems of GPS navigation to provide you with updated and optimized routes in real time.
• Incident Management: Problems that arise during the delivery process are recorded directly on the platform, allowing you to Resolve them quickly without wasting time on calls or additional procedures.
• History of deliveries and invoices: By having all the information centralized, you can easily check the history of deliveries made and invoices issued, allowing you to keep a more organized record of your activity.

Benefits

• Simplification of processes: By integrating all the tools, you save time and effort on administrative tasks.
• Better organization: Centralizing information allows you to have clearer control of your working day.
• Access to real-time data: All the information you need is at your fingertips, allowing you to make more informed and faster decisions.

5. Benefits of technology for the autonomous carrier

Technology has transformed the world of logistics and distribution, offering autonomous carriers powerful tools to improve their productivity, efficiency and profitability. By integrating digital solutions such as Routal, autonomous carriers can manage all aspects of their work more efficiently, reduce operating costs and improve the customer experience.

Key benefits of technology:

• Increased efficiency: With optimized routes, real-time tracking and automatic billing, your day will be more productive.
• Reduction of errors: Automating tasks reduces the risk of human error, which translates into greater accuracy in deliveries and billing.
• Improved communication: Digital tools allow us to maintain constant communication with customers and improve incident management.

Boost your business with tools that optimize every aspect of your day

As an autonomous carrier, managing your journey efficiently is essential to maximize your profitability and ensure customer satisfaction. With the right tools, such as Routal, you can optimize your routes, monitor your deliveries in real time and bill quickly and accurately, all from a single platform. Implementing these practices will not only improve your operational efficiency, but it will also allow you to focus on what matters most: providing exceptional, cost-effective service.

‍

In Las Rozas, the European Mobility Week closed with a demonstration that points directly to the future of urban logistics: the presentation of LUCID European Project, an initiative that has tested how technology can make deliveries in the city more efficient, sustainable and flexible.

The protagonist of this pilot test has been Routal, an application that makes it easy to daily delivery route planning designed especially for autonomous delivery people and that, thanks to artificial intelligence and real-time optimization, achieves:

• Reduce fuel costs and journey times.
• Helping drivers to better adapt to traffic and demand.
• Generate valuable data for the decision-making in urban mobility.

A tool for self-employed delivery people, companies and cities

Routal is not only useful for companies and drivers: it also provides added value to public administrations. The platform generates information in the form of heat maps, usage patterns and route analysis, which allow municipalities to design more efficient and sustainable public policies in terms of mobility.

In other words, what begins as a logistics optimization tool ends up becoming a strategic resource for planning smarter cities.

From Las Rozas to Prague: a project with a European impact

The LUCID project has not been left in a laboratory: Routal has been tested in real environments, such as Las Rozas (Spain) and Prague (Czech Republic).

All of this has been possible thanks to a European consortium funded by EIT Urban Mobility, in which the following have participated:

• CITET (project coordinator)
• CityLogin Iberia
• PowerHub
• 7th district of Prague
• Las Rozas Innova

A collaboration that demonstrates the potential to unite technological innovation, the logistics sector and public administrations to move towards a more sustainable urban mobility.

The Future of Urban Delivery

What has been achieved with LUCID is tangible proof that the Freight delivery in urban environments can be more efficient and less polluting if it relies on the right technology.

Routal, in this sense, is positioned as a key ally For:

• Companies that seek to save costs and improve productivity.
• Drivers who need flexible, easy-to-use tools
• Cities that want to plan with data and move towards sustainability.

The pilot in Las Rozas and Prague is just the beginning. The future of urban mobility involves solutions like this: practical, collaborative and scalable.

Do you want to know more? Enter our detail page and download the free app today.

‍

Does it happen to you that, despite improving processes and giving instructions to your team, the failed deliveries do they still appear in your reports?

👉 Spoiler: many times the problem isn't where you think it is.

In last-mile logistics, a success rate in deliveries The drop is not always due to obvious errors (such as incorrect addresses or lack of communication with the customer). They exist invisible causes that sabotage your operations day in and day out.

🔎 Top hidden causes of delivery errors

• Manual planning: When routes are designed without optimization, there are delays that affect compliance.
• Route overload: wanting to “squeeze” more deliveries in a day increases the likelihood of failure.
• Lack of real-time visibility: Without constant monitoring, you can't anticipate incidents or react quickly.
• Fragmented Information: different systems without integration generate duplication of data and confusion.

The result is the same: more retries, frustrated customers, and hidden costs that grow silently.

✅ How Routal reduces your error rate

With Routal, these invisible causes they stop being a problem:

• Algorithms that create optimal routes in seconds.
• Real-time monitoring to detect and resolve issues before they impact.
• Automatic communication with the customer (ETA and notifications via WhatsApp).
• Centralized integration so that everyone works on the same information.

The impact is direct: fewer failed deliveries, greater satisfaction and operational savings that can be seen in the income statement.

💡 If today you're still seeing failed deliveries in your reports, it's no accident: they're symptoms of a system that needs optimization.

Customers such as Ametller Origen have achieved success in the first delivery of more than 99.5%.

If you want us to tell you how they did it: Schedule a demo with us and eliminate the problem from the source.

‍

The job of a delivery man can be challenging. Between traffic, complicated routes and customer expectations, achieving on-time and smooth delivery isn't always easy. However, there are several strategies and tools that can significantly improve efficiency and reduce stress on a daily basis. In this article, we'll explore some practical tricks that will allow you to optimize your work and make each delivery easier to manage.

El Deliveryman's job requires ability to adapt to changing situations and to be prepared to handle unforeseen events. However, technology and good practices can facilitate many tasks. From optimizing routes to maintaining clear communication with the customer, applying some strategies can make a big difference in your performance.

1. Plan and optimize your routes

The first step to making your work more efficient is plan well-optimized routes. Poorly planned routes not only cause delays, but they also increase fuel consumption and wear out vehicles more. Use tools such as Routal Planner allows you to create shorter routes, avoiding traffic jams and taking into account traffic conditions in real time.

Benefits of route optimization:

• Time and fuel savings: Optimized routes allow more deliveries to be made in less time, which translates into fewer kilometers traveled.
• Increased accuracy: Optimization tools help avoid calculation errors and possible delays, improving on-time deliveries.
• Higher productivity: By having clearer routes and without unnecessary detours, you can make more deliveries during your day.

2. Use technology for delivery management

Planning applications not only serve to optimize routes, but they also help to manage the delivery process more effectively. Solutions such as Routal they allow access to the information for each delivery in a centralized manner, which facilitates organization and reduces the risk of errors. You can check addresses, customer details and manage last-minute changes from your mobile device.

What can you do with these tools?

• Real-time notifications: The apps allow you to send automatic notifications to customers about the status of their delivery, avoiding confusion.
• Incident Management: If there are any problems with the delivery (damaged package, wrong address, etc.), these tools allow you to quickly document and manage incidents.
• Change of route: If you need to make adjustments to your route, optimization tools can instantly recalculate the best alternative.

3. Improve your communication with customers

La communication with customers is one of the most critical aspects of a deliveryman's job. However, phone calls are often not the most efficient thing to do, especially if the customer isn't answering or isn't available. Instead of relying on the phone, it uses asynchronous messaging platforms, which allow smooth communication without needing to be available at the same time.

Benefits of asynchronous messaging platforms:

• Clarity in communication: You can leave clear and precise instructions in writing, avoiding misunderstandings.
• Reducing interruptions: You won't have to interrupt your concentration to make calls. Customers can respond when it's convenient for them.
• Increased traceability: Each message is recorded, making it easy to track each delivery.

4. Deliver according to convenient time slots

Another way to improve your efficiency is to coordinate deliveries according to Time windows adjusted to customer availability. Not only does this optimize your journey, but it also improves the customer experience. Providing options for customers to choose when they can receive their package reduces the chances of failed deliveries.

Why is it useful?

• Higher delivery success rate: If the customer can choose a convenient time slot, there is less chance that it will not be available.
• Reduction of failed attempts: Minimizing the need to retry deliveries decreases wasted time and additional rescheduling costs.

5. Keep your vehicles in good condition

The reliability of your delivery vehicle it is essential for deliveries to be made on time. A vehicle in poor condition can not only delay deliveries, but it can also lead to unexpected expenses for repairs.

Tips for keeping your vehicle in good condition:

• Periodic reviews: Perform regular maintenance to avoid mechanical problems in the midst of deliveries.
• Check fuel and oil levels: Make sure your vehicle is always ready to travel long distances without setbacks.
• Cleaning and organization: Keep the vehicle clean and well organized, which will make it easier to load and unload packages.

6. Take advantage of real-time tracking tools

Real-time tracking is not only useful for customers, but also for delivery people and logistics managers. Tools such as Routal they allow you to monitor your location and that of other delivery people, making it easier to manage multiple deliveries in different areas. In addition, this information is useful for adjusting routes on the fly and improving overall equipment efficiency.

What are the benefits of real-time monitoring?

• Continuous monitoring: You can always know what state your deliveries are in.
• Quick settings: If you encounter traffic or blockages on your route, you can modify it without wasting time.
• Better coordination: Facilitates coordination with other team members, avoiding unnecessary crossings and delays.

Roundup

Delivery work can be very demanding, but with the right tools and the right strategies, it can be done much easier and more efficient. Planning optimized routes, improving communication with customers and keeping your vehicles in good condition are just some of the tricks you can implement to achieve superior performance. By taking advantage of technologies such as Routal, you can transform your workday and offer high-quality service, reducing stress and improving efficiency. From a autonomous delivery person, going through a medium-sized company or a multinational. Everyone can improve their efficiency.

Implement these tips and you'll see how you can do your job easier and more efficiently, and all in less time!

‍

In logistics, every second counts. And the more connected your systems are, the more efficient the entire operational chain will be. One of the great challenges for many companies is to get the warehouse management system (SGA) and the routing system to work in a coordinated and frictionless manner. This is where a solution such as the integration of SGA by GrupMicros with advanced route planning platforms such as Routal.

Connecting these two systems allows accelerate shipments, minimize errors and make decisions based on real data and updated in real time. In this article, we explain how this integration helps you reduce uptime, automate key processes, and improve the customer experience from the warehouse to the last mile.

What is the GrupMicros SGA and what advantages does it offer?

The warehouse management system of Grupo Micros allows you to precisely control all the internal operations of a logistics center: entrances, locations, picking, inventory, traceability and exits. It is a highly established solution in sectors such as agri-food, wholesale distribution and external logistics.

Its main advantages:

• Automate internal warehouse flows, reducing human errors.
• Control the available stock and its location in real time.
• Organize order preparation in an efficient and personalized way.
• It allows full traceability from the entry of the product to its shipment.

However, many warehouses continue to operate in isolation when it comes to planning deliveries, leading to bottlenecks and loss of efficiency.

The problem of disconnected processes

When the SGA and the routing system work independently, problems such as:

• Delays between the preparation of the order and its assignment to the route.
• Difficulty prioritizing urgent deliveries based on available stock.
• Load errors due to lack of visibility between systems.
• Repeated tasks and duplicate data entries.

All of this generates inefficiencies, downtime and lack of coordination between warehouse, delivery and customer service teams.

Advantages of integrating the GrupMicros SGA with Routal

A native integration between the SGA by GrupMicros and Routal allows both systems to work as one. This completely transforms daily logistics management:

1. Automating route planning

When the picking is complete, the system automatically generates the optimal routes taking into account prepared orders, customer location, traffic, vehicle capacity and service priorities.

2. Reduction of time between preparation and shipment

There is no need for the logistics team to “wait” for the warehouse to manually confirm orders. The entire flow is synchronized in real time, so speeds up dispatch and allows more deliveries in less time.

3. Prioritization of critical orders

Thanks to the integration, priority rules can be defined according to the type of customer, the agreed SLA or the urgency of the shipment. Routal automatically reorganizes routes so that critical orders are delivered sooner without affecting the rest.

4. Elimination of errors due to data duplication

It is no longer necessary to enter information manually into different systems. The entire process flows from preparation to delivery with a single input. this avoids errors, saves administrative time and improves traceability.

5. Full traceability and visibility for the customer

The end customer can know the status of their order in real time, from the moment it is prepared in the warehouse until it arrives at their door. In addition, Routal Planner allows you to share personalized tracking portals with each recipient.

Real Use Cases: More Speed, Fewer Issues

Companies in the agri-food sector and wholesale distribution that have integrated the GrupMicros SGA with Routal have achieved:

• Reduce average shipping times by more than 30%.
• Eliminate loading and delivery errors resulting from lack of coordination.
• Improve the end customer experience with more timely deliveries.
• Increase operational capacity without expanding human resources.

This integration has been key for companies with a high volume of orders and a need for delivery in strict time slots.

Connect your systems, multiply your efficiency

The logistics of the future is collaborative and automated. Integrate the GrupMicros SGA with your routing system is the logical step for any company that wants to improve its efficiency without increasing its costs. It's a decision that not only optimizes daily operation, but also improves service and prepares your business to scale.

‍

“Scale logistics operations without losing control.”

Sounds good... until the headaches start.

📦 Deliveries that double from month to month.

🚚 More fleets, more drivers, more areas to cover.

🧩 And every day, it's harder to keep everything under control.

We recently worked with a company that started with 50 monthly deliveries.

The following year, they were already managing more than 5,000.

The strangest thing? They didn't duplicate their logistics equipment.

What did change was their Way to plan.

The challenge is not to grow.

The challenge is Maintain efficiency as you grow.

When your operation scales, so do errors.

‍

• A poorly optimized route does not affect 3, but 30 customers.

• A communication failure is not resolved in 2 minutes.

• And visibility becomes critical: without it, you fly blindly.

‍

To stay in control, you need more than spreadsheets.

You need technology to support your growth.

✅ Efficient planning

✅ Real-time fleet management

✅ Automation of repetitive tasks

✅ Data to help you make better decisions

‍

How do companies that scale well do it?

They don't do it alone.

And they don't do it by hand.

They do this, supported by tools such as Routal, which automates and optimizes everything from route planning to delivery tracking, adapting to your volume at each stage.

Because it's not about having more hands...

Sino de tener better processes.

‍

🎯 Is your operation ready to scale without losing efficiency?

Request a personalized demo depending on the volume of your fleet.

And discover how you can go from 50 to 5,000 deliveries without losing control.

‍

In an increasingly competitive environment, logistics has ceased to be an operational function to become a strategic axis of the business. The efficiency with which a company manages its deliveries, routes and resources directly impacts profitability, customer satisfaction and the ability to scale.

Therefore, it is no longer enough to leave logistics in the hands of the corresponding department: CEOs must be aware of and closely follow certain key indicators, especially in sectors where distribution is an essential part of the value proposition.

In this article we review the 5 logistics metrics that every CEO should have on their radar to align strategic decisions with operational reality. With solutions such as Routal, it is not only possible to measure these indicators in real time, but also to act on them to gain efficiency, reduce costs and provide a better service.

1. First installment success rate

La first effective delivery is one of the main indicators of efficiency in the last mile. If the order is not delivered on the first attempt, costs skyrocket: time is wasted, more fuel is consumed and customer dissatisfaction is generated.

A low success rate in the first delivery is often due to poor planning or poor communication with the customer. Routal Planner makes it possible to improve this ratio by:

• Automatic notifications with estimated time of arrival.
• Flexible selection of time slots.
• Real-time tracking information.

A CEO must keep this KPI under control to ensure that the delivery promise is fulfilled without additional costs.

2. Logistic cost per order

This indicator measures the direct economic impact of each logistics operation. It includes transportation, personnel, fuel, infrastructure and tool costs. If this value grows without increasing sales or complexity, there is an efficiency problem.

Measuring the cost per order allows:

• Identify oversized routes.
• Detect inefficiencies in resource allocation
• Evaluate the ROI of new logistics investments.

With Routal, you can reduce this cost by planning shorter routes, avoiding failed deliveries and making better use of each delivery day.

3. Logistic Service Level (OTIF)

The OTIF KPI (”On Time In Full”) measures how many orders are delivered On time and in full, as promised. It is a critical metric for understanding if logistics is fulfilling its strategic function.

A low OTIF score indicates failures that impact:

• Customer Satisfaction.
• Repeat purchase rate.
• Brand image.

Routal technology makes it possible to improve this indicator through real-time visibility, precise planning and agile reactions to unforeseen events.

4. Average delivery time

This metric allows us to know How long does it take for your company to deliver an order since it is generated. It is vital to evaluate the capacity to respond to demand and to optimize processes.

A CEO should keep an eye on whether the average delivery time:

• It is aligned with market expectations.
• It is improving compared to the competition.
• It is affected by internal bottlenecks.

Thanks to Routal's automatic route optimization, many companies have been able to reduce this time without the need to expand their fleet or staff.

5. Logistic capacity used

Having a large fleet or many hours of work available does not guarantee efficiency if are not being used properly. This metric measures the degree of effective use of logistics resources (vehicles, delivery people, warehouses).

Low utilization means wasted fixed costs. Excessive utilization can lead to operational fatigue and errors. Routal helps balance loads, optimize shifts and redistribute routes to maximize performance without overtaxing the team.

What is not measured, cannot be improved

A CEO doesn't need to know all the details of daily operations, but he should have visibility over key logistics indicators. The best strategic decisions start from rigorous data analysis that reflect the reality of the business.

Tools such as Routal they make it possible to turn logistics into a source of competitive advantage: beyond planning routes, they offer you operational intelligence to reduce costs, improve customer experience and scale solidly.

Do you have these metrics under control? If not, perhaps it's time to transform your logistics into a strategic pillar with the help of technology.

‍

Managing a fleet of vehicles doesn't just mean coordinating routes or keeping logistics operational. It also has a direct impact on the company's financial results. To know if you're managing your resources well and if your decisions are aligned with profitability objectives, you need more than intuition: you need data.

In this article we are going to review the 5 key financial indicators to evaluate the performance of your fleet. Not only do these KPIs help you to have a clear view of costs, but they also allow you to identify hidden inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement. And the best part: you can control them in real time with a solution like Routal, which turns your logistics operations into a constant source of useful data for making more profitable decisions.

Because when it comes to financial efficiency, what isn't measured, can't be improved.

1. Cost per kilometer (CPK)

This is one of the most basic and, at the same time, the most revealing indicators. El cost per kilometer represents how much it actually costs you to move your fleet for each kilometer traveled, taking into account fuel, maintenance, salaries and amortization of the vehicle.

A high CPK can be a sign of poorly optimized routes, inefficient vehicles, or lack of preventive maintenance. With Routal Planner, you can significantly reduce this indicator by generating shorter routes and avoiding unnecessary detours.

2. Fleet occupancy rate

Are your vehicles driving with a full load or traveling half empty? La occupancy rate shows you the percentage of capacity used compared to the total available. An underutilized fleet means more trips, more costs and less efficiency.

Intelligent planning allows you to optimally group orders and assign the right vehicle for each route. This maximizes the use of each unit and avoids redundant costs, such as using large trucks for small deliveries.

3. Cost per delivery

This KPI is essential to understand if your distribution model is profitable. El cost per delivery is calculated by dividing total operating costs by the number of deliveries made in a period. If this value goes up, you're probably having planning failures, failed deliveries, or oversized routes.

Automating routes and time windows What Routal offers reduces downtime, assignment errors and first delivery failures, which directly translates into a lower cost per delivery.

4. Costs per vehicle per day

Beyond the cost per kilometer, it is important to know how much it costs to have each vehicle in operation on a daily basis, even if it is not at 100% capacity. This indicator includes insurance, depreciation, maintenance and associated fixed costs.

If a vehicle spends more time standing than operating, its real daily cost skyrockets. With a tool like Routal, you can balance the load between vehicles and make decisions about fleet renewal or downsizing with solid economic criteria.

5. Failed delivery rate

Each delivery that is not completed generates a additional hidden cost: second attempt, delivery time, extra fuel and, in many cases, loss of reputation. A high failed delivery rate has a direct impact on profits.

Minimizing this indicator requires proactive planning, communication with the customer, and real-time visibility. Routal allows you to send automatic notifications, provide delivery tracking and agile rescheduling in case of unforeseen events. This not only improves the KPI, but also the customer experience.

Measure, Adjust and Improve

Controlling these five financial indicators isn't just a task for the accounting department: it's a strategic tool for making better logistics decisions. If you don't measure how much each kilometer, delivery or vehicle costs, You're managing blindly.

A solution like Routal allows you not only to plan more efficient routes, but also to visualize in real time the economic impact of each movement of your fleet. With this data in hand, you can reduce costs, improve margins and transform your logistics into a true engine of profitability.

Do you want to start measuring what really matters in your operations? Discover How Routal can help you to make decisions based on data, not assumptions.

‍

The last mile is one of the most expensive and complex sections of the entire logistics chain. Although the costs of this phase are often associated with fuel, personnel or vehicles, there are numerous hidden costs that have a silent but direct impact on the profitability of companies.

Cumulative delays, failed deliveries, poorly designed routes or unplanned waiting times generate invisible losses that add up day after day. And the most worrying thing: they tend to go unnoticed until they result in customer complaints, logistical overruns or reduced margins.

In this article we analyze what those are hidden costs in the last mile, why they occur and how you can avoid them. You'll see how an intelligent planning tool like Routal can help you identify these mismatches and optimize each delivery, saving time, money and frustration. Because A poorly managed last mile not only costs more, it also affects the customer experience.

The problem: costs you don't see, but you do pay

Many logistics managers believe they have delivery costs under control because they know the price of fuel, the salaries of the delivery people or the maintenance of the fleet. However, Most of the relevant last-mile costs don't show up in traditional spreadsheets. They're harder to measure, but they have a real impact.

Some common examples:

• Delays due to inefficient routes, which increase the total time of each day.
• Waiting times at delivery points, especially when the customer is not available.
• Failed or rescheduled deliveries, which involve double work and more kilometers.
• Poorly informed manual decisions, which generate logistical errors or overlaps between routes.
• Lack of real-time visibility, which prevents reacting to unforeseen events or redistributing tasks in an agile way.

These factors cause a cumulative loss that often goes unnoticed. And the most worrying thing: directly affect customer satisfaction, causing complaints, returns or even loss of loyalty.

In short, without efficient, data-based planning, last-mile operations become more expensive, less predictable, and much more difficult to scale.

How to reduce hidden costs with efficient planning

The good news is that most of these invisible costs can be significantly reduced through a more intelligent planning strategy, based on data and supported by technology. Here are the keys to achieving this:

Real-time route optimization

The first step in reducing cost overruns is to have a tool that generate efficient and adaptable routes. Routal Planner allows you to create itineraries taking into account multiple variables: traffic, road restrictions, order priority, type of customer or load capacity.

Thanks to this optimized planning:

• Kilometers traveled and fuel consumption are reduced.
• Transit time between stops is minimized.
• Common problem areas or bottlenecks are avoided.

All of this translates into more profitable days and faster deliveries, without the need to expand the fleet or equipment.

Reduction of failed deliveries and reattempts

Each delivery that is not completed the first time generates a double hidden cost: re-planning and moving again. To avoid this, it is key to:

• Notify the customer in advance of the estimated time of arrival.
• Offer the possibility to choose the most convenient time slot.
• Allow last-minute changes from an online portal.

Routal technology allows you to automate all these communications, facilitating coordination and reducing failed attempts. This not only saves costs: improves the customer experience and reduces operational stress.

Elimination of downtime

Waiting times and non-productive downtime are often among the most invisible and frequent costs. By not having visibility into what is happening at each delivery point, many companies accumulate Avoidable downtimes.

With Routal you can:

• Monitor the progress of each route in real time.
• Detect if a delivery person is stuck or has had an incident.
• Reassign deliveries on the fly so as not to lose efficiency.

This allows for a much more agile operation, in which every minute of work is used to the maximum.

Prioritization of strategic deliveries

Not all orders generate the same value. A delivery to a key customer, an express delivery or a perishable merchandise should be given preference over other, less critical shipments. However, many companies continue to plan all deliveries with the same logic.

Advanced planning such as that offered by Routal allows:

• Assign automatic priority levels.
• Order routes to maximize business impact.
• Avoid errors due to uninformed manual decisions.

This translates into fewer incidents, better use of resources and a service that is more aligned with business objectives.

‍