Common Last-Mile Logistics Methods Used in Overseas Warehouses

What Logistics Are Generally Used for the Last Mile of Overseas Warehousing?

In today's thriving cross-border e-commerce industry, overseas warehousing plays an increasingly important role as a key component of the cross-border logistics system. The last-mile delivery of overseas warehouses, which refers to the final transportation phase from the overseas warehouse to the end consumer, is a critical step in determining customer experience and logistics efficiency. So, what logistics methods are typically used in this stage? This article will provide an in-depth interpretation by combining relevant industry dynamics and news information.

Firstly, the choice of last-mile logistics needs to take into account multiple factors such as cost, timeliness, and service quality. For developed countries and regions like the United States, major European countries, Japan, South Korea, etc., due to their well-established infrastructure and advanced end-delivery networks, common last-mile logistics models mainly include local courier services, same-city delivery, and self-pickup cabinet services.

Taking the U.S. market as an example, Amazon FBA Fulfillment by Amazon is a typical case. Amazon has a vast global warehousing network and has established close partnerships with many local logistics companies. When goods enter the U.S. from overseas warehouses, Amazon uses its own delivery network to complete the last-mile distribution. This method not only ensures high delivery speed but also provides value-added services including return handling. UPS, FedEx, and other internationally renowned courier enterprises also hold significant positions in the U.S. market. They collaborate with overseas warehouses to offer flexible and efficient last-mile delivery solutions to cross-border e-commerce sellers.

In Europe, due to the large geographical differences between countries, the last-mile logistics exhibit diverse characteristics. For instance, in large countries like Germany and France, professional logistics service providers such as DHL Express and DPD Group leverage their nationwide service networks to quickly respond to customer demands. In contrast, in smaller countries like the Netherlands and Belgium, more reliance is placed on regional small-scale delivery companies or self-pickup services provided by community convenience stores. These location-specific approaches significantly enhance delivery efficiency while reducing operational costs.

It is worth noting that with the gradual penetration of the sharing economy concept into the logistics sector, a new type of last-mile delivery model-crowd-sourced logistics platforms-has emerged in recent years. These platforms integrate idle social transport resources, offering cross-border e-commerce companies low-cost and highly flexible delivery options. For example, in the Southeast Asian market, Lazada’s collaboration with GrabGrabExpress service is a successful attempt. As one of the largest travel service platforms in Southeast Asia, Grab’s extensive driver fleet provides strong support for Lazada’s end deliveries, enabling cross-border packages to reach consumers within a short time.

Apart from the aforementioned traditional courier services and crowd-sourced logistics, self-pickup cabinets have become an important supplementary form of last-mile delivery in many countries and regions. Especially in densely populated urban centers, self-pickup cabinets are widely welcomed due to their convenience and security. For instance, in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, the intelligent courier cabinet network built jointly by Cainiao Station and multiple courier enterprises has become an indispensable part of citizens' daily lives. Similarly, in cities like Sydney and Melbourne in Australia, there are also many similar self-service collection terminals distributed in busy areas such as shopping malls and subway stations.

Of course, consumer habits in different countries and regions also influence the specific implementation plans for last-mile logistics. For instance, in the Middle East, due to the hot and dry climate conditions limiting outdoor activities, many consumers prefer night-time deliveries or scheduled door-to-door delivery. In some countries in South America, due to relatively frequent security issues, safe and reliable closed-loop deliveries are the preferred option.

In summary, the last-mile logistics of overseas warehouses are not a single fixed model but a coexistence of various solutions. Whether relying on local courier giants or innovative service models driven by emerging technologies, the core goal remains to meet the growing demand for cross-border consumption and enhance user experience. With the deepening application of frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data, we have reason to believe that the last-mile logistics of overseas warehouses will a more intelligent and personalized development trend. This will not only help the continuous prosperity of the cross-border e-commerce industry but also further promote the logistics revolution in the process of globalization.