The eCommerce industry is as huge as it seems. It is one hunk of an industry and it several wings underneath it. Last-mile delivery and hyperlocal delivery falls under such terms. Maybe these terms are quite similar when it comes to their functions but slightly differs when it comes to their functionality and specifications. However, the end goal of both the terms is quite similar i.e. getting things to be delivered at a faster pace, tamper-proof, provide for the best consumer experience for any sort of business.

However, for understanding which delivery model you need to strengthen more, you need to know the exact difference between the two terminologies. Let us discuss the same.

What is a last-mile delivery?

Usually, a last-mile delivery fleet of a particular courier company takes care of these types of deliveries. Specific delivery agents carry the particular package on their vans, bikes or any other means of transport to deliver the package to the authorized customer. It is the final wing of a fulfillment process followed by the eCommerce companies. There is no exact product category when it comes to last-mile deliveries. Any item except the grocery or food items is delivered. There is no restriction on the weight of the item. Here the items are charged based on volumetric measures of the package.

What is hyperlocal delivery?

Hyperlocal delivery is a delivery process where packages are delivered directly from the seller to the consumer. In these delivery process, a particular courier agent picks up the specific product from the accurate seller, then deliver the package directly at the consumer’s doorstep. The whole delivery process is limited to a specific geographical area and the deliveries are usually completed within a few hours. There is some product category in these deliveries. Any item that weighs more than ten to twelve KG cannot be delivered. You have to maintain a weight restriction in this type of delivery.

The key difference between the hyperlocal delivery and the last mile delivery

Required time for the delivery

The maximum time required for completing the last mile delivery is around 12 to 16 hours. If the customer gets a message from the eCommerce operator that the package will be delivered by that day, then the customers can expect the product to be delivered within 13 to 16 hours or the next consecutive business day.

On the other hand, in hyperlocal delivery, the delivery agents aim at delivering the package within 2 to 3 hours or 6 to 8 hours max. Since, the geographical area limited, so the ground to be covered is way less than the last mile delivery and thus the deliveries take much less time in the hyperlocal model in comparison to the last-mile delivery model.

Delivery responsibility

The entire responsibility of the last mile product delivery lies in the hands of the courier agent assigned by the authorized courier company. The end-to-end procedure is taken care of by a single partner. On the other, in hyperlocal delivery, the entire delivery is not someone’s sole responsibility. The responsibility can be taken by the delivery company or the seller’s fleet, which is entirely employed by him.

Delivery area covered

The delivery area is not limited when it comes to last-mile deliveries. The delivery guy can cover even a distance of 30 KM for delivering packages on time. The delivery area in the last mile deliveries is usually determined by the location of the main central hub for transportation. However, in the case of hyperlocal delivery, the delivery area is quite limited and much smaller than that of the last-mile delivery. The maximum distance of each delivery is completed within a radius of 5 to 15 KM. Sometimes, the delivery can be conducted as a form of intra-city where a distance of 20 KM or more can be covered.

Volume and weight restrictions

In the last mile delivery, the delivery charges are inclusive and no extra amount is charged from the seller. On the other hand, in the hyperlocal deliveries, a restriction on the weight of products is to be delivered. The maximum weight that is allowed is 10 to 12 KGs.

Products delivered

There can be any sort of products in the last mile delivery. For instance, there can be several products ranging from cutlery, fridge, television, cosmetic items, clothes, accessories, cooler, etc. There is no specific category of item that is delivered through the last mile delivery process. However, grocery items or food items are generally not included in this.

On the other hand, in hyperlocal delivery the area is limited. Therefore, it generally takes less time to carry out deliveries. The category of products that are delivered through this process includes medicines, grocery items, food items, small containers and tiffin boxes, and many as such. In this mad technology era, there is a lot of engagement in the eCommerce business that can provide you with online access to their items. Customers expect their items to be delivered as quickly as possible. Now customers prefer to purchase their item online rather than visiting the traditional stores and that is why both hyperlocal and last-mile delivery process holds a lot of relevance in recent times.

Our eCommerce industry has seen a lot of development since the “delivery at the doorstep” is made viable. Therefore, you must give equal importance to both the delivery systems. If you plan to adopt the hyperlocal delivery process, you need to have an excellent last-mile network. Both the delivery system is functional together. Therefore, hyperlocal delivery is like a micro-arm or an essential subhead of the last-mile delivery.