Last-Mile Delivery
The final stage of the supply chain in which goods are transported from a distribution hub to the end consumer's location.
Full Definition
Last-mile delivery is widely regarded as the most complex and costly segment of the supply chain, as it involves numerous small, dispersed deliveries to individual addresses. It is particularly prominent in e-commerce fulfilment. The term is hyphenated as a compound modifier when used attributively (e.g., 'last-mile delivery costs') but remains hyphenated even in standalone use as an established compound noun. Editors should not use 'last mile' and 'final mile' interchangeably in the same document without a style decision, as both are current in the industry.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate in all uses. Do not alternate with 'final-mile' within the same document. Not synonymous with 'white-glove delivery', which implies additional services.
In Context
- "The surge in online orders intensified pressure on last-mile delivery networks during the peak season." — E-commerce logistics white paper
- "Editors should choose either 'last-mile' or 'final-mile' and apply it consistently throughout the document." — Style guide note