Last-mile logistics has become one of the greatest challenges — and opportunities — for any delivery company. Why? Because it represents even the 53% of the total cost of shipping, according to multiple studies. But it's also the point where it can be optimized the most, especially with technology like Routal.

In this article, we show you how you can significantly reduce your costs at this critical stage, both directly and indirectly.

📉 Direct savings: Fewer kilometers, less gas, fewer hours

1. Reduction of kilometers traveled

With a smart route planner like Routal, you can optimize routes for vehicles to travel the shortest possible distance, grouping deliveries by zones and avoiding redundant routes. This translates into:

• Less wear and tear on the vehicle
• Less consumption of gasoline or electricity
• More deliveries per shift

2. Fuel savings

By optimizing routes and avoiding traffic jams or inefficient routes, fuel consumption is reduced, an expense that can represent between 20% and 30% of the total operating cost.

3. Fewer delivery hours

The most efficient routes aren't just shorter, they're also better organized. This means that the delivery person can make more deliveries in less time, or even need less staff in peak demand, maintaining the same quality of service.

🔁 Indirect savings: More loyalty, fewer incidents

4. Improving the customer experience

A customer who receives their order on time and has real-time visibility of their delivery is a happier customer. this Reduce complaints, calls to customer service and improves the withholding in the long term.

5. Lower burden on the customer support team

When the customer knows exactly when their order will arrive and can follow it in real time, You don't need to call anymore to ask “where is my order?” This frees up time for the support team for higher-value tasks.

💡 Other savings you might not have considered

6. Fewer delivery errors

Routal allows you to load specific instructions per stop and validate deliveries, which reduces incidents such as failed or poorly executed deliveries (which involve double trips and extra costs).

7. Lower delivery turnover

Deliverymen who work with clear, well-planned and stress-free routes tend to stay in the company longer, reducing training and hiring costs.

8. Better use of the fleet

By knowing the real capacity of each vehicle and optimizing its load, you can prevent vans that are half empty or poorly distributed. This reduces the need for extra vehicles or outsourced contracts.

🚀 Conclusion: Optimizing is saving

Reducing costs in the last mile isn't just about cutting, it's about Organize better. Routal allows you to optimize routes, automate processes and offer a superior experience for both the customer and the delivery person.

And the best thing of all is that Every savings accrues: fewer kilometers, less gas, fewer hours, fewer incidents... It all adds up.

Would you like to see what it would be like in your specific case? 💬

Request a personalized demo and discover how much you could save per month with Routal.

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Ayer tuvimos el privilegio de participar en la jornada #Innolablogistica organizada por el Centro Español de Logística (CEL), un evento que reunió a algunas de las startups más innovadoras del sector logístico. La jornada formaba parte del bloque Start UP Cadena de Suministro, en el que se presentaron las candidaturas finalistas de los Premios CEL 2025. Desde Routal, compartimos nuestra visión sobre los retos reales de la última milla.

La última milla: más allá de lo técnico

Durante nuestra intervención, nuestro Managing Director, Xavier Ruiz, abordó un tema fundamental: “La última milla no es un problema técnico, es otro problema.” Y es que aunque la tecnología es una parte clave de la solución, no es el único ingrediente necesario. La clave está en las personas de la orgazación. Xavier comentó la necesidad de disponer de la formación adecuada y con la capacidad de gestión del cambio como cualidades clave para afrontar cualquier proyecto de digitalización. El segundo aspecto clave son los procesos y la capacidad de identificar qué procesos son mejorables, tenerlos monitorizados para poder actuar sobre ellos. "Como todo logístico sabe, si no mides no puedes mejorar" remarcó durante la jornada.

Desde Routal hemos aprendido que escalar un negocio logístico requiere ir más allá de implementar una app o un algoritmo. Se trata de entender el complejo contexto, facilitar el trabajo de los planificadores, dar visibilidad al cliente final y ofrecer al repartidor las herramientas necesarias para ejecutar sin fricciones. La tecnología sin propósito se queda corta.

Innovaciones que están transformando la logística

El evento fue también una oportunidad para conocer otros proyectos con enfoques muy diversos pero complementarios:

• Trazabilidad total con Standtrack, que apuesta por una plataforma intermodal estándar para identificar cada bulto con un código único.
• Jotavirtual y su realidad virtual para formación logística, reduciendo tiempos y mejorando la seguridad operativa.
• Truecold, con un enfoque de valor y un software que alerta sobre alteraciones de temperatura en tiempo real.
• ActionTracker, centrada en la monitorización inteligente y la conexión de activos críticos en tiempo real para mejorar la seguridad.

Una red de colaboración que impulsa el cambio

Lo más inspirador del evento fue comprobar cómo cada proyecto, desde su ámbito, busca mejorar la eficiencia, sostenibilidad y coordinación dentro de la cadena de suministro. Eventos como este demuestran que la innovación logística no es solo una tendencia, sino una necesidad, y que la colaboración entre startups, operadores y clientes es clave para construir un futuro más conectado.

En Routal, salimos con más energía y convicción que nunca: la última milla puede y debe ser una experiencia mejor. Pero no lo lograremos solos. Lo haremos junto a una comunidad que comparte la visión de que la logística del futuro es más humana, más automatizada y más transparente.

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In the world of logistics, every kilometer counts. But when we talk about the distribution of frozen products, every kilometer doesn't just mean time: it also involves a large amount of fuel, additional costs for cooling, vehicle wear and, especially in summer, a greater risk of losing the cold chain. Optimizing routes in this context ceases to be a desirable improvement and becomes a critical need.

In this article, we tell you how technology, and specifically Routal, can help you reduce these costs, ensure product quality and improve operational efficiency. And as proof of this, we share with you the success story of Guillen Food Company, a company that managed to save more than 27% in fuel consumption and improve its distribution processes with an integrated and scalable solution.

The challenges of distributing frozen foods

Distributing frozen products is not the same as distributing any other type of merchandise. Here temperature is a critical variable. The slightest delay or deviation can compromise the quality—and safety—of the product. In addition, these vehicles often require cooling systems that consume even more energy, especially in hot months.

Some of the key challenges include:

• Cold chain maintenance: Any unnecessary stop or extended route can break the ideal temperature.
• High operating costs: Fuel consumption in refrigerated trucks is considerably higher.
• Pressure for punctuality: Customers, especially supermarkets and hospitality, require deliveries in very tight time windows.
• Management of returns and returns: When a product does not meet standards, the logistical impact is twofold.

Optimizing distribution is therefore a mix of precision, agility and real-time control.

Every kilometer saved counts (and a lot)

When talking about route optimization, we often think about getting there faster. But in the case of frozen ones, Every kilometer saved not only reduces time: it also means great savings in fuel, especially in summer, when cooling systems are working at peak performance.

A journey of 15 km less per vehicle can translate into tens of liters of fuel saved per week. And if you have a fleet of several vehicles, the economic and environmental impact is enormous.

In addition, better planning makes it possible to make the most of load capacity, reduce empty paths and minimize unnecessary downtime.

Success Story: Guillen Food Company

Guillen Food Company, specialized in the distribution of frozen products throughout the Iberian Peninsula, faced several of these challenges:

• Inefficient routes, planned manually.
• High fuel consumption, especially in summer months.
• Lack of visibility on the status of deliveries and shipments.
• Difficulties integrating logistics data with your ERP system.

The company decided to implement Routal as a central tool for planning, optimizing and monitoring your last mile. The results were not long in coming.

✔ 27% savings in fuel consumption

Thanks to Routal's route optimization engine, Guillen Food Company was able to reduce unnecessary trips and plan smarter routes taking into account factors such as traffic, type of vehicle and time windows.

✔ More standardized logistics processes

Before Routal, each planner had their “way” of organizing routes. Today, the company works with unified criteria and clear rules, which has made it possible to reduce errors, gain consistency and facilitate the training of new operators.

✔ Easy integration with your ERP

One of the aspects most valued by Guillen was Routal's ability to easily integrate with its existing ERP. This allowed them to automate the import of orders, synchronize customer data and generate centralized reports, without the need for manual processes or additional tools.

✔ Improved traceability and visibility in real time

With Routal, logistics managers can monitor the location of vehicles in real time, know the status of each delivery and react quickly to any unforeseen event. This not only improves the internal operation, but also the customer experience.

Keys to optimizing your frozen food distribution

If you're facing similar challenges, here are some practical tips to start optimizing:

1. Invest in an intelligent planning tool: Excel is no longer enough. You need specialized software to help you reduce kilometers and optimize each delivery.
2. Automate as much as possible: from assigning orders to generating reports. Automating saves you time and reduces errors.
3. Take advantage of data: analyze which routes are less efficient, which areas generate the most incidents or which vehicles consume the most. Optimization is an ongoing process.
4. Establish clear planning rules: Define time windows, maximum capacities, product types and priority zones. The more detail, the better the optimization will work.
5. Prioritize integration: Make sure that your logistics tool can easily connect with your ERP, CRM or other platforms. Integration is key to scaling without friction.

Conclusion

Optimizing the distribution of frozen foods is not only a matter of efficiency, but of survival in an increasingly demanding and competitive market. Reducing kilometers means reducing costs, protecting product quality and caring for the environment.

The Guillen Food Company case demonstrates that with the right tool, it is possible to transform a complex logistics operation into a controlled, efficient and scalable process.

Do you want to know how Routal can help you achieve this? Write to us and start saving from the first route.

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