Optimizing Supply Chain Management Through Understanding Last-Mile Delivery Challenges in Major Zimbabwean Cities

Abstract

This chapter covers last-mile delivery which is a key component of last-mile logistics. The chapter leverages the environmental stressor theory to explain the nature of urban transport environment in developing nations, and how the delivery crews, who are the core players in last-mile delivery, cope with the challenges. The chapter also relies on the triple bottom line perspective to understand the sustainability nature of the challenges faced by delivery crews within framework of environmental, economic, and social pillars. In order to understand these challenges the study adopted a phenomenological approach. The delivery challenges revealed in this phenomenological study will assist last-mile logistics operators to come up with well calibrated measures to overcome the impediments in their operations while ensuring that they meet their customers' requirements