Last-mile optimization: how to reduce delivery costs by 30%
Last-mile delivery accounts for 53% of total logistics costs. Learn how companies are optimizing routes and dramatically reducing overhead.
Cosmin Boruz — EDI Specialist & Helpdesk Lead · 2026-01-25 · 8 min · Logistics
Why last-mile is the most expensive stage
53% of total logistics costs stem from last-mile delivery (Statista, 2025). For a distribution business with 500 deliveries/day, this can be the difference between profit and loss.
The 4 key optimization areas
1. Route planning — Manual routes based on "experience" are 20-35% less efficient than algorithmically optimized paths. With Azuvio, routes are calculated automatically, factoring in traffic, delivery windows, and vehicle capacity.
2. Real-time visibility — Where is every vehicle? What is the status of each delivery? Without real-time tracking, managers operate on assumptions.
3. Digital Proof of Delivery — Paper signatures lead to losses, disputes, and delays. Digital confirmation with photos and electronic signatures eliminates 90% of claims.
4. Performance analytics — Average cost per delivery, first-attempt success rate, average time per stop — without data, you cannot optimize.
Concrete financial impact
An FMCG distribution company with 15 vehicles implemented Azuvio for their logistics operations:
-30% fuel costs — through optimized routing
+25% deliveries/day — by eliminating wasted time
-90% disputes — via digital proof of delivery
ROI in 6 weeks — full investment recovery
Conclusion
Logistics is no longer just about "sending the goods." It is about data, visibility, and continuous optimization. Companies that master this gain an unbeatable competitive advantage.