The first mile keeps the wheels turning

At the last mile, performance is firmly established as the defining factor in logistics success. Understandably, businesses focus on the customer experience over the final leg of the supply chain journey, whether it’s a business or consumer on the receiving end. However, Amir Wagenstein, Group Supply Chain & Logistics VP at Rubix, presents an alternative proposition – that the first mile is the most critical.

Both logically and logistically speaking, the first mile is the foundation upon which the last mile is built. Without a well-executed first mile, the final mile – no matter how optimised it might be – cannot deliver on its promise.

Historically, businesses have placed significant emphasis on last mile delivery, recognising its crucial role in ensuring a positive customer experience. Businesses have even been investing in things like route optimisation, track and trace and contactless delivery over the last decade to enhance the last mile experience.

However, this focus has often come at the expense of the first mile – a stage that, while involving fewer stakeholders and not being customer-facing, is equally important. With growing demands for greater transparency in delivery progress and the need to optimise logistics costs, it is now essential to give equal attention to first mile operations.

The first mile

The first mile marks the beginning of every supply chain journey. For us, this refers to the initial movement of goods from suppliers to the Rubix premises. This stage is critical as it lays the foundation for the entire End-to-End (E2E) process. If the first mile is disrupted, inefficiencies cascade down the supply chain, ultimately affecting the last mile and customer satisfaction.

Challenging scenarios

Logistics is inherently complex, with disruptions – whether anticipated or unexpected – posing significant operational challenges. Any inefficiencies in supply chain coordination, infrastructure constraints, or inaccurate data reporting can lead to delays, increased costs, and dissatisfied customers.

One common issue is stock unavailability at critical moments. This is often caused by inaccurate inventory reporting, outdated information, or system malfunctions. To mitigate these risks, businesses must prioritise quality data and reliable inventory management, ensuring that suppliers have the right products available when needed.

Visibility across the supply chain is another key challenge. The ability to track goods as they move through various stages allows decision-makers to anticipate disruptions and respond proactively, ensuring that logistics operations remain on track.

An enhanced experience

A preventative measure to these challenges is investment in first mile solutions. These strategic improvements ensure that the first mile in a product’s journey is seamless and free of bottlenecks.

At Rubix, we are committed to continuous improvement in logistics performance. Our role is to connect thousands of suppliers with hundreds of thousands of customers across Europe. Like every major international distribution business, we’ve faced recent global challenges – such as the pandemic and geopolitical disruptions – that have tested supply chain resilience. Yet, we remain committed to operational excellence.

We work closely with selected suppliers to ensure we have quality data that provides visibility into expected lead times and commitment dates, enabling us to set accurate customer expectations. In time, we will expand this effort to cover other suppliers.

Additionally, we collaborate with our customers on order management. By analysing purchasing patterns, we help ensure that suppliers always have the products available when and where they are needed. Internally, we maintain a relentless focus on stock availability, aiming to make products accessible within 48 hours, if not immediately.

Recently, we launched a significant initiative to centralise inventory across three key European distribution centres, enhancing collaboration with suppliers and customers. Additionally, we opened a pan-European distribution centre dedicated to brands exclusive to Rubix, ensuring our national warehouses consistently carry the necessary stock to meet customer demand.

Specialist partners

As Europe’s largest supplier of industrial maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) products and services, our purpose is to keep the wheels of industry turning. For us, logistics operations and customer experience all start at the first mile, which is why we are making strategic investments that positively impact our customers and their operations every day.

To discover more about how Rubix can support your business, visit: www.rubix.com.