4 Last-Mile Delivery Trends to Follow in 2025

onsumers are increasingly shopping online, driving the need for efficient last-mile delivery solutions. As eCommerce continues to grow, the critical final step of the delivery process has become a focal point for innovation and investment. Last-mile delivery is expected to evolve even further next year, fueled by advances in technology, consumer demands for convenience and speed, and a stronger emphasis on sustainability.

Here’s a closer look at four last-mile delivery trends to follow in 2025.

Consumers expect not only fast delivery but also flexible and convenient options tailored to their needs. Flexibility in delivery, including the ability to choose delivery times and locations, is a key driver for customer retention. Nearly 60% of consumers ranked the ability to specify the delivery time in the first or second spot when it came to key attributes of last-mile delivery, according to Coresight Research’s report, “Rethinking Last-Mile Delivery: Building Customer-Centric Retail Experiences.” Retailers are investing in technology solutions to optimize last-mile deliveries, increase visibility, and offer customers greater convenience.

Retailers are also expanding their in-house last-mile delivery capabilities. Tractor Supply has had trouble finding carriers that can meet all of its big and bulky delivery needs. To mitigate these challenges, the retailer plans to make more deliveries in-house in the future. In 2025, Tractor Supply’s delivery goals include establishing its final-mile team, selecting routing and scheduling technology, and expanding delivery coverage out of test markets. In the following years, Tractor Supply aims to scale its coverage area, drive more volume to its in-house delivery operations, roll out premium service offerings, and increase route density.

Businesses are increasingly investing in self-driving delivery vehicles, robots, and drones to handle the final leg of the delivery journey. These innovations enable companies to reduce labor costs, improve efficiency, and minimize delivery times. The autonomous delivery vehicle market is projected to reach $11.5 billion by 2032, according to a report from Global Market Insights, as demand for fast and reliable delivery services continues to grow. Retail and logistics companies are making autonomous vehicles a priority to meet consumer expectations, streamline operations, and ensure timely delivery. 

Companies like Google’s Wing and Amazon Prime Air are scaling their drone delivery networks, reducing delivery times and improving efficiency. Amazon recently launched Prime Air drone delivery service in Arizona’s West Valley, bringing same-day deliveries to eligible customers in the Phoenix Metro Area. The new MK30 drones will deliver items under five pounds to nearby homes in less than an hour. The launch marks Amazon’s first fully integrated hybrid facility combining fulfillment, sorting, and delivery from one site. 

With the demand for faster delivery times increasing, retailers are investing in local fulfillment strategies. Micro-fulfillment centers (MFCs) are playing a central role in improving delivery speed and lowering transportation costs. These small warehouses, located in urban areas, enable businesses to store high-demand items closer to their customers, drastically reducing last-mile delivery times. Automated micro-fulfillment centers are poised for substantial growth, with the market expected to reach $3.5 billion by 2030, according to a recent report from Interact Analysis. 

Companies are upgrading and expanding their fulfillment networks to accommodate increasing demand and deliver products to consumers faster. Save A Lot recently announced that it is opening a new micro-fulfillment center in Brooklyn, New York, through partnerships with Fabric, which will provide automated fulfillment solutions, and Uber, which will power on-demand delivery. The facility can assemble grocery orders in minutes and aims to streamline order processing, inventory management, and supply chain efficiency. 

Governments and consumers alike are pushing for greener logistics, driving businesses to adopt eco-friendly delivery practices. Delivery fleets are increasingly transitioning to electric vehicles, reducing carbon footprints. Localized warehouses within cities reduce the distance products need to travel, lowering emissions. Companies like FedEx, Amazon, and DHL are adding electric vehicles to their fleets, reducing emissions and helping them meet sustainability goals.

Retailers are also adopting greener last-mile solutions as they aim to meet consumer expectations and lower emissions for more sustainable logistics. Walmart is expanding its environmentally-friendly delivery fleet by deploying 400 Chevrolet BrightDrop electric vans for last-mile deliveries in major U.S. cities. This expansion will help Walmart’s InHome service deliver groceries straight to customers’ homes. The company has made strides in decarbonizing its operations, using liquid hydrogen-powered forklifts in its grocery distribution centers and battery-electric refrigerated trailers to move perishable goods. 

For retailers and logistics providers, embracing these trends will be key to staying competitive in the last-mile delivery market. Companies that invest in new technologies and customer-centric solutions will not only offer better experiences for their customers, but also reduce operational costs and meet the growing demand for faster, more sustainable delivery options.

For more information about how our delivery management solution can help you manage your deliveries more efficiently, please contact info@bringoz.com.