How Important is Real-Time Delivery Tracking for a Last Mile Carrier?
Customers want to know exactly when their order will arrive. For last mile carriers, providing this level of visibility can be the deciding factor in whether a retailer chooses to partner with you—and they are absolutely right to think that way.
The customer experience is crucial to retailers looking to secure repeat business. If a last mile carrier can provide retailers and their customers with the ability to track deliveries in real-time, it keeps everyone informed, confident, and reduces WISMO calls.
This makes real-time delivery tracking software one of the most important tools for any last mile delivery operation.
Summary:
- Real-time delivery tracking improves customer experience
- Delivery tracking software drives efficiency and growth
- Last mile delivery tracking reduces failed deliveries and costs
Why Does Visibility Matter So Much to Retailers?
For retailers, delivery is more than just logistics—it’s part of their brand. If a shipment is late, missed, or unclear, the customer doesn’t blame the carrier; they blame the retailer who sold them the product.
That’s why delivery tracking software has become a must-have for retailers considering which carrier to work with. It allows them to provide additional value for their customers by keeping them informed at every step, with:
- Accurate ETAs that reduce uncertainty.
- Branded updates that reinforce trust in the retailer.
- Customer portals where orders can be tracked in real time.
Retailers know the delivery process impacts customer loyalty. For carriers, offering real-time delivery tracking isn’t just about efficiency—it’s a way to become a more valuable partner and win long-term contracts.
What Happens When Carriers Don’t Offer Tracking?
For carriers who don’t invest in last mile delivery tracking software, the risks are steep.
- Failed deliveries: Customers who don’t know when to expect a shipment are more likely to miss it, forcing costly re-delivery attempts.
- Increased support costs: Without visibility, customers flood call centers with “where’s my order?” requests.
- Lost retailer partnerships: Retailers are quick to move on from carriers who can’t meet rising expectations.
In short, carriers who aren’t tracking their deliveries at every mile are at a competitive disadvantage. What was once considered an extra feature has now become industry standard. Falling behind doesn’t just create inefficiencies—it puts your entire business at risk.
How Does Real-Time Delivery Tracking Increase Sales?
Customer loyalty is built on trust. When customers receive timely updates, accurate delivery windows, and real-time visibility into their order, they feel confident in both the retailer and the carrier. That confidence drives repeat business.
Consider the alternative: a customer is forced to stay home and wait to sign for their delivery, not knowing where it is and when it’s supposed to get here.
Even if the product shows up in perfect condition, the poor experience damages the customers perception of the business. In today’s world where everyone is connected online, this could also lead to a damaged online reputation. Retailers want to avoid that outcome at all costs, which is why they choose
carriers who can provide them and their customers with live data and automated updates to ensure smooth communication.
For carriers, real-time tracking is a win-win. They reduce failed delivery attempts, save money on redeliveries, and become the partner retailers trust to get the job done right.
What are the Operational Benefits of Real-Time Tracking?
While customer satisfaction is critical, carriers also benefit operationally from real-time tracking. The visibility it provides has a direct impact on efficiency, cost, and productivity.
- Dispatcher oversight: Managers can monitor delivery progress in real time, reassign drivers, or reroute shipments if conditions change.
- Driver efficiency: Mobile apps with live tracking help drivers stay on schedule and reduce downtime.
- Fleet utilization: Carriers can get more out of their existing fleet by ensuring vehicles stay productive throughout the day.
When combined with route optimization software, tracking becomes even more powerful. Carriers not only see where drivers are but also ensure they’re traveling the most efficient routes possible. That leads to fuel savings, fewer miles on the road, and lower overall costs.
How Does Delivery Tracking Support Business Growth?
Growth in the last mile industry depends on efficiency, reputation, and data-driven insights. Delivery tracking software supports all three.
- Efficiency: Carriers save money by reducing failed deliveries and maximizing fleet output.
- Reputation: Retailers and end customers trust carriers who provide transparency, making it easier to secure new partnerships.
- Data: Every tracked delivery generates data points on performance, timing, and customer satisfaction, which carriers can use to identify strengths and fix weaknesses.
For example, carriers can analyze delivery patterns to identify bottlenecks, uncover which routes are consistently delayed, or measure which drivers are performing best. This information is invaluable for scaling operations.
When integrated with a transportation management system, these insights go even further—tying delivery data back to inventory, warehousing, and scheduling for complete supply chain visibility.
Why Is Real-Time Tracking a Competitive Edge?
Last mile delivery is a crowded space. Carriers compete on price, service levels, and coverage area—but increasingly, giving customers the ability to track deliveries is becoming the differentiator. Retailers want to work with carriers who can make them look good to their customers.
Consider two carriers delivering the same product. One leaves the customer waiting during an 8-hour delivery window. The other sends automated updates, provides a live tracking link, and shows the delivery truck moving in real time.
Who would you want making your deliveries?
The second carrier creates a positive, modern experience that customers will remember—and retailers will reward by continuing to send them business.
Tracking software isn’t just a tool for efficiency.
It’s a sales asset for last mile carriers looking to partner with not only retailers, but also manufacturers, warehouses, and other other 3PL’s.
How Does Tracking Protect the Bottom Line?
While tracking deliveries is easy to see as a customer service feature, it also protects profitability. Without it, carriers face higher costs across the board: re-deliveries, wasted miles, and time wasted on customer service calls.
By contrast, carriers who implement live tracking see:
- Lower operational costs from fewer failed deliveries.
- Reduced call volume saves time customer service
- Higher revenue opportunities by offering premium service levels.
For last mile carriers, these financial impacts add up quickly, making real-time tracking one of the smartest investments they can make.
Live Delivery Tracking Is Now Essential
So, how important is it to track deliveries for a last mile carrier? The answer is clear: it’s not optional. It’s the foundation of modern logistics visibility, shaping customer satisfaction, retailer partnerships, operational efficiency, and overall growth.
Retailers will always choose the carriers who can help them deliver transparency to their customers. That means carriers who embrace last mile tracking software will win business, while those who don’t risk being left behind.
Whether you’re a delivery company or a retailer, if you want to deliver more than just a product, explore how Grasshopper Labs’ Last Mile tracking software, TMS system, and Route Optimization can give you the complete logistics visibility and efficiency needed to grow.