‍Last mile, innovation, R&D, R+D+i, smart cities.

Urban logistics is undergoing its biggest transformation in decades. The growth of e-commerce, the pressure to reduce emissions and the saturation of cities have focused on a critical point that often goes unnoticed: loading and unloading areas.

This is where it is born SMART BAYS — Smart City with Flexible and Connected Management in Urban Loading and Unloading Zones, a strategic R+D+i project aligned with the European mission of Smart and Climate-Neutral Cities 2030 .

And yes, Routal is at the center of this innovation.

The real problem of the last mile in cities

Urban Merchandise Distribution (DUM) is one of the biggest challenges of urban mobility. Today, loading and unloading zones operate under a model:

• Static
• Not very flexible
• No real-time monitoring
• No integration with planning tools

The result:

• Double-row vehicles
• Urban congestion
• Increase in CO₂ emissions
• Drivers wasting time looking for a place
• Skyrocketing operating costs

SMART BAYS was created precisely to transform this model.

What is SMART BAYS?

SMART BAYS is a project of research and development (R+D+i) which proposes a new management model:

🔹 Dynamic loading and unloading zones

🔹 Real-time intelligent assignment

🔹 Connected monitoring

🔹 Urban digital twins

🔹 Advanced algorithm with AI

The project integrates technologies such as:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Big Data
• IoT
• Blockchain
• Digital Cufflinks

And it will be validated in multiple Spanish cities (Madrid, Zaragoza, Seville, Donostia, Valencia, Vitoria, Malaga), with a desire for European scalability.

The main objectives of the project

SMART BAYS proposes a structural transformation:

1. Create an algorithmic model for flexible management of CyD zones.
2. Design a real-time monitoring system.
3. Develop a digital twin to simulate urban scenarios.
4. Reduce emissions and unnecessary kilometers.
5. Improve road safety and traffic flow.

Expected impact:

• 🔻 -10% in logistics costs
• 🔻 -10% in CO₂ emissions
• 🔻 -80% in extra kilometers looking for parking
• 🔻 -50% in incidents due to improper parking

We are not talking about theory. We're talking about measurable efficiency.

Where does Routal fit into all this?

This is where last-mile innovation becomes truly powerful.

Within the consortium of 15 technological entities, universities, clusters and large logistics operators, Routal leads research in route optimization adapted to dynamic loading and unloading areas .

Routal's goal at SMART BAYS:

Develop an optimization model that:

• Plan routes considering dynamic availability of CyD seats
• Direct the driver to the nearest free space
• Integrate automatic space reservation
• Reduce waiting times
• Minimize emissions
• It adapts to demanding sectors such as HORECA, Pharma and Food

In other words:

connect last-mile planning with the reality of urban space in real time.

This completely changes the current paradigm.

From static zones to smart zones

Today, a planner designs routes without knowing if the driver will be able to park.

Tomorrow, with SMART BAYS + Routal:

• The system knows occupancy in real time.
• The algorithm optimizes considering availability.
• The driver receives intelligent instructions.
• The city obtains metrics for urban governance.

We are talking about truly connected urban logistics.

Applied Innovation, Not Theory

SMART BAYS is not an isolated pilot. It is a project with:

• 15 entities that are experts in logistics, mobility and technology
• Validation with real operators: food, pharmacy, vending, hair distribution

And above all:

a clear vision of a smart city applied to the last mile.

Why does this position Routal as a center of innovation?

Because Routal doesn't just optimize routes.

Routal:

• Research new algorithmic models.
• It integrates AI in complex urban scenarios.
• It collaborates with universities and technology centers.
• He actively participates in strategic R+D+i projects.
• Develop solutions aligned with climate neutrality.

While others talk about optimization,

Routal is redefining the digital infrastructure of the last mile.

The future of the last mile will be connected or it won't be

Innovation in urban logistics doesn't just involve electrifying fleets.

Go through:

• Digitizing urban space
• Integrate data in real time
• Automate decisions
• Reduce invisible friction

SMART BAYS demonstrates that the intelligent management of loading and unloading areas is a key element in transforming urban mobility.

And Routal is at the heart of that transformation.

Would you like to be part of this new generation of urban logistics?

If you're managing last-mile operations,

if you work in urban mobility,

if you are part of a public administration,

or if you simply want to reduce costs and emissions...

It's time to learn how Routal can help you plan the last mile with real intelligence.

👉 Innovation is no longer optional.

It's strategic.

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If your delivery operative lives in Survival mode (last-minute changes, impatient customers, new drivers every week and planners putting out fires), choose a route optimizer It's not about “putting directions on a map”. It Goes From Reduce stress, Standardize processes And Keep the service stable, even when the day turns twisted.

And here comes the uncomfortable part: In many companies, the “route optimizer” is still a person. The typical essential figure: “Leave it to X, who knows the city better than Google”. Spoiler: it's usually expensive.

In this article I leave you a Comparative list of optimizers 2026, highlighting Routal And comparing it to Circuit, Route4Me, Onfleet... and with the most common (and dangerous) alternative: manual planning.

The real problem with the cast: low training, high turnover and a very stressful environment

In the last mile, chaos is no exception: it's context.

• Drivers with Little Training (or Too Little Time to Train): you need the tool to be intuitive from minute 1.
• High turnover: if your operations depend on “key people”, every loss breaks your service.
• Operational stress: incidents, absences, peaks in demand, time windows... everything requires reacting quickly without losing control.
• Invisible cost: “Where's my order?” calls, redeliveries, extra kilometers and planners redoing routes by hand.

A good route optimizer doesn't just calculate the “shortest” order. It also helps you to Operate with Rules, monitor And Communicate ETAs with reliability.

What a route optimizer should have in 2026

If you're comparing tools, these are the capabilities that (today) make the difference:

1. Real usability: let the planner plan quickly and the driver doesn't get lost (or fight with the app).
2. Complex restrictions: time windows, capacity, zones, priorities, service times, skills, etc.
3. Reoptimization and incident management: last-minute changes without blowing up the day.
4. Real-time monitoring and operational visibility.
5. Communication with the customer: tracking and ETAs (fewer calls, more trust).
6. Constant support: when something happens, you need a response (not a “queued ticket”).

Comparison: Routal vs manual vs Circuit vs Route4Me vs Onfleet

1) Routal: the simplest, most efficient solution with the best support

Routal is designed to make the operation work Even if the equipment changes And the day comes crooked: quick planning, powerful restrictions, monitoring and communication, without turning the tool into a master's degree. Routal is positioned as a complete platform for Optimize and Monitor Last-mile operations and Communicate the estimated time of arrival In a precise way.

Where it shines especially

• Usability: plan routes in a very short time (without “setting up an airplane”).
• Complex operations with restrictions: time windows, capacities, zones, priorities, service times... (without going crazy).
• Support and support: a live, operation-oriented help center (planner, constraints, drivers, customers, integrations).
• Comprehensive platform: from planning to delivery and customer experience (and with integration capacity).

Impact when there is little training and high turnover
With Routal, you reduce dependence on the “hero employee”: anyone on the team can plan and execute according to rules, not memory.

Positioning data (if you want to use it in marketing): Routal reports savings of “+30% gas” and “90% of time” in planning/management, in addition to monitoring and communicating ETA. Use it as a claim with context (depends on the use case).

2) Manual optimizer: “the person who knows everything”... but is not as good as you think

Manual planning usually seems cheap because it already “exists”: someone with experience, an Excel, WhatsApp and Google Maps. But in 2026, that system has serious side effects:

What usually happens

• It Doesn't Scale: the more stops, the more chaos.
• It is not reproducible: If that person is missing, drop the service.
• It doesn't really optimize: Intuition doesn't calculate all possible combinations (let alone with restrictions).
• It Eats Your Margin: extra kilometers + redeliveries + time planner redoing routes.
• It increases stress: because everything depends on putting out fires manually.

If your company lives with turnover, peaks in demand or strict time windows, the manual ceases to be “artisanal” and becomes An Operational Risk.

3) Circuit (Circuit/Spoke): more basic at the functional level, great user experience

Circuit usually stands out for Simple user experience, especially for less complex scenarios or small teams. There is recent content that describes it as a tool designed to simplify planning, with a clear and easy interface for drivers.

When It Fits

• If you prioritize Facility and you don't need too much operational complexity.
• If your operation is more “linear” (fewer restrictions, fewer exceptions).

Where it may fall short

• When You Need Advanced Rules, complex restrictions or a lot of operational flexibility.
• When you go from “planning” to Manage Operation in Real Time with incidents.

4) Route4Me: very complex, many add-ons, high price

Route4Me is known for being powerful and with a large ecosystem, but its own structure of plans and packages may involve more complexity of purchase and configuration (model with different options/packages).

When It Fits

• Organizations that want a highly configurable “lego” and are willing to invest time in implementation and learning.

Where it slows down in stressful environments

• In operations with Little Training Or High turnover, complexity translates into friction.
• If every need is solved with an add-on, it's easy for cost and maintenance to grow.

5) Onfleet: specialized in on-demand (dispatch, tracking and POD)

Onfleet is clearly positioned as a last-mile management platform, with real-time tracking, customer notifications and proof of delivery (POD), in addition to auto-dispatch/optimization oriented to dynamic scenarios.

When It Fits

• If your operation is very On-Demand (orders come in all the time and you assign the “best” driver in real time).
• If you prioritize visibility, POD, and communications.

Where it may not be your best option

• If your main challenge is Complex planning (lots of restrictions and fine rules) and you're looking for a balance between power and ease for the team.

Quick summary (in case you're deciding this week)

• Do you want the best balance between usability + power + support for operating with stress and rotation? → Routal.
• Are you looking for something simple and with good UX for less complex cases and little support? → Circuit.
• Do you need a very “enterprise”, configurable system, with more complexity and possible add-ons? → Route4Me.
• Are your operations on demand and do you value dynamic dispatch? → Onfleet.
• Are you still doing manual planning? → eye: this is usually the biggest bottleneck in 2026.

Why Routal usually wins in companies with complex operations (without killing the team)

When there are low training, high turnover and stress, what you need is not “a tool with a thousand buttons”, but one that:

• Sea Easy to Adopt,
• Holder Real Restrictions,
• I'll Give You Real Time Control,
• And have Constant Support when the day gets complicated.

That's exactly where Routal usually stands out.

If you are comparing a route optimizer For 2026, the key question is:

‍Do you want a tool that your team will actually use, even when people change and plans change?
Routal is designed for that. If you want to know the tool, you can request a demonstration without obligation here.

El Nearshoring it is no longer a promise: it is a structural change that is reconfiguring logistics in Mexico, especially in states close to the border with the United States. Every new plant, industrial park or cross-border hub has an inevitable consequence: more merchandise movement... and more pressure on urban distribution and the last mile.

And this is happening in a context where Mexico has established itself as largest trading partner for U.S. goods UU., further reinforcing the “magnet” effect of the North American supply chain.

In addition, the demand does not come only from the industry: the Ecommerce continues to grow and requires faster, more traceable deliveries with a better customer experience. The AMVO reported growth of 20% in 2024, with a value close to 789 billion pesos.

Result: in Mexico, talk about route planner (Mexico route planner) and of logistics in CDMX (cdmx logistics) is no longer “pretty optimization”. It's operational survival.

Nearshoring: more factories closer to the border... and more last mile in cities

When production moves to regions near the U.S. In the US, logistics is growing in two directions:

1. B2B: supply to plants, movements between warehouses, cross-dock, regional distribution.
2. B2C: growth of the active population, services, consumption and e-commerce around industrial centers (and therefore, more residential deliveries and “neighborhood commerce”).

Firms such as BCG point out that demand is straining resources and infrastructure (including logistics) in industrial areas, especially near the border.

And here comes the big question: how to sustain the last mile in Mexican cities when the volume goes up, traffic squeezes and delivery equipment rotates?

Let's go to the 4 key challenges (and how each one translates into real costs).

Challenge 1: Traffic (and how to turn it into a “manageable” variable)

If you operate in Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Tijuana or any expanding metropolitan area, you already know: traffic is not an “incident”, it's part of the system.

To put it into perspective: in the INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard 2024, Mexico City is among the urban areas with the highest congestion in the world, with 97 hours of delay per driver in 2024.

What happens if you don't attack traffic in a planned way

• More hours per route → more cost per delivery.
• More kilometers and downtime → more fuel and maintenance.
• More variability → unreliable ETAs and more WISMO (“where's my order?”).

The practical solution: route optimization (for real)

This is where a route planner in Mexico makes a difference: it's not about “putting stops on a map”, but about optimizing with real restrictions:

• time windows,
• capacities,
• priorities,
• zones,
• service times,
• and re-optimization when something changes.

How Routal fits in (without magic, with method):

• Create optimal routes automatically in seconds (less km, less time, more deliveries per shift).
• Adjust on the fly when there are incidents (cancellations, delays, emergencies).
• It reduces the “invisible cost” of traffic by cutting exposure: less time on the road = less variability.

Challenge 2: shortage of delivery people and high turnover

With more volume, the first thing many operations try to do is to “bring in more people”. The problem: There aren't always enough, and when there are, onboarding becomes a bottleneck.

In the Mexican logistics environment, there is also talk of Shortage of drivers, fueled by factors such as working conditions and safety risks.

In addition, in the world of distribution by platform, Mexico has experienced recent regulatory changes (coverage and formalization), which can also impact costs and availability dynamics.

What happens if you don't solve it

• Planners spend the day “putting out fires”.
• New delivery people are taking too long to be productive.
• Quality drops (failed deliveries, errors, returns).

The practical solution: productivity with minimal training

When there's rotation, you need a system that does two things:

1. Standardize work (so that the operation does not depend on “the veterans”).
2. Guide the delivery person (so that someone new can perform from day 1 or 2).

How Routal fits in:

• Driver app with an orderly route, navigation and clear stop flow.
• Delivery instructions (notes, requirements, contact, evidence).
• Less learning curve: the system “teaches” the operation while it is running.

Challenge 3: lack of trust and need for control (without micromanagement)

This challenge is usually a consequence of the previous one: when there is turnover, operational risks grow. And in Mexico, in addition, there is a very real security component.

For example, logistics risk reports indicate that cargo theft is still a relevant problem and cite data from the SNSP where a very high proportion of robberies involving transporters involve violence (in a report it is mentioned 84%).

Note: cargo theft isn't exactly the “last urban mile”, but it does reflect the context: When the movement of goods increases, the need for visibility and traceability increases.

What happens if there is no traceability

• Questions about what happened (and when).
• Difficult to detect fraud or malpractices.
• More expensive claims (due to lack of evidence).

The practical solution: monitoring and evidence by event

The key isn't to keep an eye on people: it's Measure the process.

How Routal fits in:

• Track the route and status of each stop.
• Evidences: delivered/not delivered, incidents, tests (depending on configuration).
• Analytics by delivery/route: punctuality, stops completed, service times, deviations.

With this, trust ceases to be an “act of faith” and becomes data + process.

Challenge 4: Level of service (and why you win or lose the account here)

When traffic + rotation + poor visibility combine, the result is clear:

• ETAs that are not met,
• customers asking,
• incidents that are discovered late,
• and a reputation that erodes.

And in ecommerce, where Mexico continues to accelerate, the expected standard doesn't go down: it's up.

The practical solution: proactivity + real-time communication

A good level of service doesn't mean “zero problems”. It means:

• detect quickly,
• replan,
• and Communicate before the customer gets angry.

How Routal fits in:

• Share tracking/status (depending on the flow you use).
• More realistic updates and ETAs (because they start from optimized routes and real states).
• Incident management to respond judiciously: “what happened”, “when”, “what do we do now”.

Quick Checklist: What Your Last Mile Operation Should Have in Mexico (2026)

If you're experiencing the impact of nearshoring (or it's starting to hit you), this checklist gives you a practical guide:

• ✅ Route optimization with real restrictions (not just maps).
• ✅ Driver app designed for rotation (fast onboarding).
• ✅ Monitoring and evidence per stop (for trust and complaints).
• ✅ Analytics to get better every week (not “sensations”).
• ✅ Communication to the customer to reduce WISMO and protect NPS.

This “pack” is exactly the type of system that Routal seeks to cover from end to end: planning → execution → visibility → experience.

FAQ: Last mile + nearshoring in Mexico

Why is nearshoring increasing last-mile demand?

Because it concentrates industry and employment in new poles, increases local consumption, and pushes urban distribution (B2B and B2C). In addition, it reinforces Mexico—U.S. flows. Department of State and the need for faster logistics networks.

What is the biggest challenge for logistics in CDMX?

Congestion. In international measurements, CDMX is among the cities with the most traffic delays, which directly affects costs and punctuality.

How does a route planner in Mexico help reduce costs?

It reduces kilometers and total time, improves compliance with time windows and lowers operational variability (fewer delays, fewer reattempts, fewer overtime).

The last mile will be the “bottleneck”... or your competitive advantage

Nearshoring is bringing enormous opportunities to Mexico, but also a constant operational review: deliver more, faster, with less room for error.

If your operation depends on spreadsheets, routes “by eye” and calls to ask “how are you doing?” , growth becomes friction. If, on the other hand, you standardize with technology (optimization, driver app, traceability and communication), growth becomes scalable.

And that's where Routal fits in as a natural ally: plan better, execute better and demonstrate it with data.

Are we talking about how it can impact your business?

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