<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*kmVgM9FpVKvzRThKVy8JyA.png" /><figcaption>Women Behind Bettermile</figcaption></figure>When we talk about “Women in Tech,” the conversation often focuses on what’s missing: the gaps in representation, the structural barriers, and the challenges of entering a male-dominated field. While acknowledging these issues is important, it’s only half the story.The other half is about what happens when women do enter the field, lead teams, and build the culture.At Bettermile, promoting diversity is a long-term commitment that shapes hiring, leadership, and daily collaboration. Today, 38% of Bettermile’s employees are women, sitting well above the tech industry average of 26%. However, as Arijana, Bettermile’s Talent Acquisition Manager, points out, these numbers are the result of deliberate choices.To understand what it really takes to thrive in tech and logistics, we sat down with four women across Bettermile to hear their stories.<h3>Shaping the DNA of Bettermile</h3>Building a diverse team requires a fundamental shift in how a company views talent.“Recruitment is not just about filling roles, it is about shaping the DNA of the organization,” says Arijana. To reduce bias, Bettermile relies on structured interviews, standardized scorecards, and performance profiles that focus on the actual problems a candidate needs to solve, rather than a rigid list of past credentials.The biggest game-changer, however, is shifting the mindset from screening for “culture fit” to “culture add.”“In hiring discussions, we ask: What perspective, skill, or life experience is our current team missing? Instead of searching for someone who feels familiar, we look for someone who expands our thinking and strengthens the team in new ways.” — Arijana, Talent Acquisition Manager<h3>Curiosity as a Superpower</h3>One recurring theme among the women at Bettermile is that a successful career at Bettermile isn’t necessarily born from knowing all the answers, it’s born from an unrelenting desire to figure them out.Logistics offers a realm of sophisticated, physical-meets-digital puzzles. For Leitha Matz, a Product Owner with over 20 years of experience who started working on the web during its open frontier days in 1996, the appeal lies in this complexity. From routing physical trucks to balancing the digital needs of the drivers using the tools, the work is never dull. Because her father was a delivery driver, her efforts to improve map quality and navigation carry a deeply personal meaning.For Kim, a member of the leadership team focusing on Platform Enablement, that same curiosity is what helped her push past early career doubts. When faced with pushback as an intern, she chose to ignore the noise and lean into exploration.“My advice would be to just press all the buttons and to not be afraid of failure as this is where you learn the most.” — Kim.Leitha echoes this sentiment, leaning on a favorite quote by author Marie Forleo: “Everything is figureoutable.” She explains:“We make things happen through patience and persistence. Sometimes that requires holding on to a faith that solutions are possible, even when the problems seem large or intractable.”<h3>Breaking Down Barriers and Building Belonging</h3>Despite progress, subtle biases still exist in the broader industry. Whether it’s being underestimated in technical discussions or facing assumptions about capabilities, navigating these hurdles requires both internal resilience and a supportive environment.Ayesha, a Data Analyst Working Student at Bettermile, recalls moments of imposter syndrome during university when complex concepts wouldn’t immediately click. Her solution? Breaking the material down step-by-step and proving to herself that she could master it. Today, she loves seeing how her SQL queries and dashboards optimize a delivery route or improve a driver’s day, and she wants to dismantle the idea that technical capability is tied to gender.“One common misconception is that women might be less ‘technical’ or need extra guidance. In reality, we know what we’re doing! Capability isn’t gendered.” Ayesha.Creating an environment of psychological safety allows these talents to shine without the weight of having to constantly prove themselves. At Bettermile, flat hierarchies and a focus on the quality of work over workplace politics help foster this safety.<h3>Women Supporting Women</h3>Getting women into tech is only step one; keeping them there, especially as they approach mid-career and leadership roles, is step two.Structural changes like transparent salary bands and clear promotion criteria are vital, but personal advocacy is the multiplier. Arijana emphasizes that beyond mentorship, women need sponsorship. This means female leaders actively advocating for others in high-stakes meetings, nominating them for promotions, and providing stretch assignments that build visibility.“Structural change opens doors, but women supporting women help each other walk through them and sometimes even carry each other when the path is hard,” Arijana notes. “It’s both solidarity and strategy.”<h3>Advice from women at Bettermile</h3>If you are considering a career in tech, the women of Bettermile have a few parting words of advice:“Don’t let the “tech” label intimidate you. It’s not as daunting as it looks from the outside. Like any other career, if you’re willing to put in the work and stay curious, you will succeed.” — Ayesha“Stay curious, learn continuously and keep moving forward! We make things happen through patience and persistence. Sometimes that requires holding on to a faith that solutions are possible, even when the problems seem large or intractable. This idea that you can always figure something out leaves the doors of positivity and possibility open.” — Leitha.“Be curious and try everything. At the very start of my career I was an intern with little experience. After a while I was called by random people in the company to fix problems with the copier on their floor. The only reason I could do that was because I just pressed all the buttons and tried things that may not make sense at first sight. Also I wasn’t afraid of the outcome and had a lot of time on my hands ;) But, yes honestly my advice would be to just press all the buttons and to not be afraid of failure as this is where you learn the most.” — KimWe look forward to continuing to grow our team! Check out our <a href="https://bettermile.com/careers/#job-list">open positions.</a><img src="https://medium.com/_/stat?event=post.clientViewed&referrerSource=full_rss&postId=c5d6dde02c43" width="1" height="1" alt="">

How Women at Bettermile are Shaping the Future of Tech and Logistics

<figure><img alt="5 Last Mile Tracking Mistakes" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/700/1*mYrLjPZTNk3gIULi6Oagog.png" /></figure>Your company has invested in a real-time tracking experience for package recipients, but are you actually seeing the ROI?If your support department is still flooded with “Where is my parcel?” requests, or if you’re struggling to convince colleagues that the customer experience needs an upgrade, have a look at this checklist to identify and tackle the five most common mistakes blocking a successful live package tracking implementation.<h3>The Risks of Bad Real-Time Tracking</h3>Package tracking is a high-stakes touchpoint. Done well, it is a powerful tool to engage recipients, build brand reputation, and solidify your market position. Done poorly, the UX breaks, promises are missed, and customers migrate to competitors who do prioritize the customer experience.As a real-time tracking solution provider, we have spent years iterating on the last-mile delivery experience. We have surveyed thousands of users and implemented live shipment tracking across diverse global markets. We know what consumers want and we’ve seen the fragmented states delivery companies tend to struggle with. Here are 5 mistakes to look out for.<figure><img alt="Live parcel tracking experience of DPD, GLS, DHL" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/700/1*y7_Z_4myXEIt6txuKlIrLw.png" /><figcaption>Live package tracking experiences of <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dpdgroupuk_dpd-app-activity-7434179088975605760-ucB6?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAACkDb8BSOt-rvDfSz1pMgocNm1NEQZYC64">DPD</a>, GLS, an <a href="https://www.facebook.com/deutschepost/posts/glaskugel-war-gestern-mit-dem-live-tracking-in-der-post-dhl-app-hast-du-immer-im/1016466640512580/">DHL</a>.</figcaption></figure><h3>1. Failing to Proactively Communicate Tracking Availability</h3>The ROI of your <a href="https://bettermile.com/tracking/">real-time tracking software</a> depends entirely on people actually using it. If a recipient doesn’t know they can track their parcel, they will default to calling your support line, which drives up operational costs.You’ll be surprised how many carriers assume recipients will go hunting for their tracking links inside their customer app. It’s better to be proactive. Send automated notifications via email, SMS, or WhatsApp the moment the journey begins. By inviting recipients to the tracking experience early, you ensure they stay engaged with your brand.<h3>2. Delivering a Fragmented Tracking Experience</h3>A modern customer journey should feel seamless, requiring the fewest clicks possible. If your tracking page only provides static event updates, it will feel like a relic from 2010.To provide a truly modern experience, consumers want to see things moving, and know what’s going on in a beat. To avoid an experience that feels broken, your tech has to be able to handle large data volumes at speed.Rather than forcing customers to manually refresh a browser, the tracking solution should push milestones the second they happen. This requires a cloud-native backend capable of running complex AI models and providing delivery predictions in real-time.<h3>3. Setting Expectations the Delivery Chain Can’t Meet</h3>Precision is vital, but over-promising is fatal. If you provide a narrow delivery window and miss it, users will drop off and lose trust in your brand.The goal is to provide granular data without sacrificing reliability. We recommend Dynamic ETAs:<ul><li>Initially, communicate a wider delivery window (e.g., 2 hours).</li><li>As the driver progresses and data becomes more accurate, narrow the window.</li><li>By implementing a smart system that continuously learns and updates, you can achieve to-the-minute precision while remaining dependable.</li></ul>Only provide a live tracking link if you are confident the delivery time estimates are reliable, otherwise it’s better to switch off the service and fall back on more conservative predictions.<h3>4. Limiting the Recipient’s Ability to Control the Outcome</h3>Final mile tracking isn’t just about monitoring the delivery on delivery day, it’s also about empowering the recipient to manage it. The 2025 <a href="https://bettermile.com/lp/real-time-tracking-report-2025/">Real-Time Tracking Study</a> shows that 41% of consumers have wanted to change a delivery location on the day of arrival but were unable to do so.True consumer-centric last-mile delivery empowers the user with interactive features like in-flight redirect options, leaving notes for the driver (e.g., “gate code 1234”) and feedback options so recipients can rate the delivery experience.<h3>5. Treating Real-Time Visibility as a Secondary Priority</h3>Last mile tracking is becoming an industry standard, even in parcel logistics. Players like DHL, Amazon, GLS and DPD have recognized that consumers expect an “Uber-like” experience. The latest Last Mile Delivery Experience Study confirms that 88% of consumers now use real-time tracking when it’s available, and nearly 70% expect it with every single delivery.To remain competitive, delivery companies must prioritize a service-oriented, customer-centric strategy. Customer value on the last mile can be created through innovation, academic research shows. Customers increasingly <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2210539524000968">demand delivery at specified times and locations</a> and visibility is the primary way customers judge for reliability. So do not make visibility an afterthought.<h3>Focus on Providing the Best Package Tracking Experience for Consumers</h3>The goal is simple: a state-of-the-art user experience that minimizes operational friction. Our team of data scientists, UX specialists, and engineers has spent years researching and refining this process so you don’t have to.When done right, the package tracking ROI is undeniable. You’ll build deeper trust with shippers and see real operational gains. In fact, our data shows that routes with high tracking engagement handle more stops per hour than those without. Better alignment between the depot, the driver, and the recipient makes the entire machine run smoother.Is your tracking maximizing its potential?<a href="mailto:info@bettermile.com">Get in touch</a> for an audit of your current tracking flow and let us help you identify where you might be losing engagement.<img src="https://medium.com/_/stat?event=post.clientViewed&referrerSource=full_rss&postId=c6c70a7b3b9e" width="1" height="1" alt="">

5 Mistakes Sabotaging Your Package Tracking ROI

<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*OM-Bm1o6OWzMOiPacms9UQ.png" /></figure>Team spirit comes to the surface through challenges, especially the challenges that Berlin’s winter brings: dark, gloomy, cold days that mostly feel like endless nights, when you don’t have the energy to be active. It’s hard.Because it’s human nature to enjoy the sun and feel more energized in warmth, winter tends to make us less active. Bettermile runs a winter challenge to help team members move through these tough days together. It’s about connection, having people with the same goals encouraging each other and pushing one another through the hard moments, when you feel like you can’t keep going anymore.This was the spirit of our FrostFit winter challenge: do your best to stay active, and at the same time be a source of motivation for others. And all it took was 20 minutes! How did that look in practice? We asked some of the most active and consistent participants to share their stories.<h3>Reasons to participate: From “I should move” to “I get to move”</h3>When FrostFit kicked off, everyone came in with a slightly different why.For Leitha, winter usually meant she needed extra motivation, and a clear goal helps her stay consistent.<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*kiqdUPNioUdXssXb9BGWBA.png" /></figure><blockquote>“But since the winter challenge was framed around 20-minute time periods and offered a wide range, from meditation and mindfulness to high-intensity activity, that actually changed the way I think about these “fitness breaks.”</blockquote><blockquote>Even when I was sick or tired, I could say to myself, “Okay, it’s just 20 minutes of gentle stretching or meditation. I can do that.”</blockquote>Kinga was just recovering from a stubborn cold and saw the challenge as a reason to get back to being active:<blockquote>“I am generally active all year round, but I was just coming out of a stubborn cold when this challenge started, so I was extra motivated to jump back into cycling, going to the gym and even running. I used to skip stretching or meditation a lot, but this challenge motivated me to do more of those, too.”</blockquote>Aleksandra and Melanie already liked to stay active, but the friendly competition and the fact that “only” 20 minutes counted made it easier to show up on days they might have skipped.<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*3siB6zlPKOZpcqlCrxCsHA.png" /></figure><figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*JVcXDihKqzcKlysRKVqG_Q.png" /></figure>Ede and Tuomas were drawn to the social and structural side: a low‑pressure contest with colleagues, gentle nudges from the organizers, and a reason to move despite cold weather and busy family life.<blockquote>Ede: “I like the friendly competition between the colleagues. It’s good to see how they keep fit in winter and check if this also fits in the personal plan. Over time it also motivates me to go out for at least a 20 minute walk even on colder days, just to keep up.”</blockquote><blockquote>Tuomas: “I thought it would be a nice way to motivate myself to stay active. I have two small kids so I generally do way less sports than I’d like to. I think it was really nicely done, with lots of little nudges and creativity from the organizers.”</blockquote>Because anything from meditation to HIIT could count, people experimented.Leitha tried a video‑game‑based fitness activity for the first time and discovered that play can be a surprisingly effective workout. Melanie restarted HIIT sessions after a long break, proving that high‑intensity training doesn’t have to be long to be effective. Aleksandra added dedicated mobility sessions on top of yoga and pilates and felt how intentionally working on range of motion improves how her body feels and responds.<h3>“Cold Courage”: when the weather is the workout</h3>Everyone had at least one story where the hardest part wasn’t the workout rather it was opening the door.<blockquote>Leitha: “In the summertime, it’s so easy to just grab a water bottle and some sunscreen and head outside. When planning a hike around Schlachtensee/Krumme Lanke, I wore my spike-soled boots, wool socks, base layers, wool layers, ski pants, puffer coat, hat, mittens, scarf. And also snacks, tissues, and a thermos for tea. There’s just so much more planning you need to do in order to stay comfortable in the cold, but not sweat too much.”</blockquote><blockquote>Kinga: “Over the years I built up a decent winter gear for cycling, but this year seems colder than usual. I put on my regular winter outfit, wearing double pants, waterproof shoes, snowboarding jacket, warm gloves and headed to my dentist appointment by bike.</blockquote><figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*44RFU1W32d2IhIdry2Qd5w.png" /></figure><blockquote>Melanie: “I convinced my family to join me on a hike around a lake nearby my home. We dressed up very warmly, but we still got cold at some point. We also brought a sled along. In the end it was a super fun trip.”</blockquote><blockquote>Ede: “I wanted to ride by bike to the office. I dressed warm with 3 layers of pants, additional socks, scarf, gloves and all. At first it was okay, but then I had a longer straight way to drive and the wind was blowing heavier. This made the ride harder, especially when stopping and starting again at traffic lights. But it was nice then to reach the warm office.”</blockquote><blockquote>Aleksandra: “I went back to my hometown for Christmas and I didn’t want to turn into a complete couch potato. I got an evening membership at a nearby gym, just a 10–15 minute walk door to door. It happened to be one of the coldest days so far, with strong winds, and I really didn’t feel like going.”</blockquote><figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*RjmmzWlt_yAg5LsqAMDVzg.png" /></figure><h3>Power of consistency on cold days</h3>On those truly dark, cold, overloaded days, consistency was rarely about willpower alone.<blockquote>Leitha: “When the target is 20 minutes, you can tell yourself, “Come on. It’s just 20 minutes.” And that gets you going. But then maybe you end up doing 30 minutes or 40 minutes or more.”</blockquote><blockquote>Kinga: “Having my gym 5 minutes away helps a lot! But even without that, just my yoga mat being out in the open, not tucked away in a closet, helps to remind myself that every (20) minutes count!”</blockquote><blockquote>Melanie: “I have a Walking Pad, which I used quite rarely before. Now I regularly block some time in my calendar for tasks I can combine with its use. It starts with at least 20min and depending on my mood and time schedule, I can extend the walking session easily. I’m happy that I built this new habit.”</blockquote><figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*BxLRv5jb5nLxdhdAa9pfhQ.png" /></figure><blockquote>Ede: “I do most of the days a home workout with my sister and this way we push each other to stay consistent.”</blockquote><blockquote>Aleksandra: “I remind myself why I do it in the first place: discipline gets me going. Even when I’m not excited, I push through and focus on how good it feels during and afterward”.</blockquote><h3>Staying motivated with team effort</h3>While FrostFit encouraged individual effort, no one was really doing it solo.Leitha’s commitment to maintaining her streak became an internal game, but colleagues like Ede fueled it with creative boosts, like suggesting lunch spots that required a 20‑minute walk or racing up stairs instead of taking the elevator.Kinga drew motivation from seeing teammates cycle all winter, turning their example into her own encouragement.Melanie loved seeing everyone’s achievements and the variety of activity types, which nudged her back into home workout videos she had abandoned.Winter didn’t make it easy. The weather made cycling “pretty horrific” for Tuomas and turned almost every outdoor activity into a balancing act for Ede. Getting back into rhythm after sickness or after the holidays was harder than expected. Some usual routes were too short to hit the 20‑minute mark, so people had to improvise with detours or longer walks.<h3>Moving forward with new habits</h3>By the end, the challenge had taught everyone something slightly different about winter and about themselves and most importantly, people left FrostFit with specific habits they actually want to keep:<blockquote>Leitha: protecting her daily “20 minutes of something.”</blockquote><blockquote>Kinga: rolling out her yoga mat at home more often, even for simple stretching.</blockquote><blockquote>Melanie: stepping onto her walking pad once a day to break up sitting and boost focus.</blockquote><blockquote>Aleksandra: turning meditation into a regular, year‑round anchor.</blockquote><blockquote>Ede: continuing 20‑minute walks outside, not as a strict rule, but as a favorite ritual.</blockquote>FrostFit didn’t turn winter into summer but it did rewrite the script. Instead of waiting for better weather, the team proved that consistency, community, and a simple 20‑minute promise are enough to carry you through the coldest months and into the rest of the year.<img src="https://medium.com/_/stat?event=post.clientViewed&referrerSource=full_rss&postId=0bb6c13408f1" width="1" height="1" alt="">

FrostFit Winter Challenge: Defying Berlin’s cold through team spirit

<figure><img alt="Loading the Delivery Van" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/700/1*QNMtlQXyDb64udlD629EDw.png" /></figure>Every morning, delivery vans sit idle while drivers sort, scan, and rearrange parcels. This sorting and loading phase is a major efficiency leak in the last mile. It represents a bottleneck where digital planning clashes with physical reality.Why? Because planning realistic loading sequences requires data that often isn’t generated until the packages come from the sorting conveyor.We usually only know the exact packages on a route and variable constraints once the driver has scanned every item with its unique barcode. By then, a pre-planned delivery route is often at odds with how the driver has physically arranged their vehicle. To solve this, we need to stop viewing routing and loading as separate silos and start treating them as a single, dynamic workflow. This is easier said than done.<h3>Why is digitizing package sorting and loading difficult?</h3>The traditional model places the burden of organization entirely on the driver. They receive a mix of parcels, scan them one by one, and then, relying on their geographical knowledge, decide where to place them in the vehicle.Route optimization solutions can calculate the shortest distance between stops, creating a blueprint to define the loading sequence. However, a static solution often fails to account for what the experienced driver knows:<ul><li>Where and when recipients are available: A driver might prefer hitting the city center first due to morning delivery windows, then ending the day in residential areas when people are actually home and multiple home deliveries can be done in one go.</li><li>A change of plan can happen at any time: Ad-hoc pickup windows can dictate the flow of the route.</li><li>How best to fit packages into the delivery van: Drivers physically build “walls” of packages inside their vans based on their mental map of the area. There is a wide range of dimensions, with large items better be stored in the lower compartment and small boxes on top.</li></ul>If your software generates a sequence that conflicts with how the driver built their wall, they spend their day digging for parcels. That is why sorting, loading, and route planning must be considered together.<h3>Why do drivers reject rigid delivery apps?</h3>In our experience, if you force a driver to adhere to a fixed sequence that contradicts their local knowledge, they simply won’t use the technology.Drivers value autonomy; they know their territory. The goal of technology shouldn’t be to override their intuition, but to digitize and support it.Successful last mile solutions offer flexibility. <a href="https://bettermile.com/route/">Dynamic routing software</a> allows drivers to adjust their routes based on the actual situation at hand. When the app reflects the driver’s reality, they stop fighting the tool and start using it to speed up their day and provide a better service to customers.<h3>Moving complexity upstream for greater efficiency</h3>Efficiency increases the earlier you organize the load. The goal is to stop treating the driver as a sorter.The parcel logistics industry is shifting to Pre-pick and Pre-sort strategies. Instead of facing a conveyor belt of random loose parcels, the delivery driver arrives to find pre-sorted bags, roll cages, or pallets that correspond to specific zones.<ul><li>Pre-Pick: A dedicated team or automated system removes parcels from the line before the driver touches them.</li><li>Pre-Sort: Parcels are grouped into bags, bins or on pallets based on high-level zones.</li></ul>This drastically reduces the time spent in the driver box, that space between the belt and the delivery van where parcels are sorted and scanned. It turns a complex sorting task into a simple parcel loading task.<h3>How can we sort before we know the final route?</h3>The standard thinking is: “We can’t do precise sorting and loading until every parcel has come down the belt.” This creates dead time in the morning, where depot staff and drivers are waiting instead of loading.A solution for this is Predictive Zoning.By analyzing historical driving patterns, the system predicts future routes and divides them into smart zones. Every parcel then gets assigned to a zone, which allows the warehouse to do highly precise sorting hours before the final route is calculated.<h3>Automating pick and delivery to combat driver fluctuations</h3>If your process relies on a veteran driver knowing the trick to loading a specific route, your operation is vulnerable to the labor shortage in the logistics industry.By combining pre-sort strategies, predictive zoning, and flexible driver tools, you create a system where a completely untrained person can walk in, load a pre-sorted vehicle, and hit the road with full guidance right up to the recipient’s doorstep.That is where real efficiency is gained in the parcel sorting and loading phase.<a href="https://blog.bettermile.com/introducing-better-planner-driving-profitability-in-parcel-delivery-with-ai-powered-dispatch-d0a894f95d20">Learn more about smart dispatching </a>in this article about Better Planner.<img src="https://medium.com/_/stat?event=post.clientViewed&referrerSource=full_rss&postId=c23607c11429" width="1" height="1" alt="">

Parcel Sorting & Loading: How to Make Loading Efficient for Every Driver

<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*r8KQ-bpeULNTmE10lBpsxg.jpeg" /></figure>The atmosphere was electric — despite the snowy weather outside — as logistics leaders, tech innovators, and delivery experts gathered for the latest <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_prcM-6xho">Last Mile Delivery Meetup</a> hosted by <a href="https://bettermile.com/">Bettermile</a>.<iframe src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2F6_prcM-6xho%3Ffeature%3Doembed&display_name=YouTube&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D6_prcM-6xho&image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2F6_prcM-6xho%2Fhqdefault.jpg&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="854" height="480" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"><a href="https://medium.com/media/e7abf77b3c73312868f05d21193f69a1/href">https://medium.com/media/e7abf77b3c73312868f05d21193f69a1/href</a></iframe>While previous meetups focused heavily on the introduction of AI, this session asked a more evolved question: What is the next step in transformation? From the realities of turning around a 200-year-old national post to the visionary future of AI shopping agents, the night was packed with insights.Here are the key takeaways from the speakers:<ul><li>Pos Malaysia | Charles Brewer, Group CEO</li><li>Swiss Post | Steffen Ochsenreither, Digital Lead Logistic Service Operations</li><li>PostNord | Christian Oestergaard, MSc, is Lead Visionary & Senior Group Strategist for IT-Production/IoT/AI</li></ul>Followed by an expert panel:<ul><li>LogiBot | Louis Verspreeuwen, CEO</li><li>Bettermile | Luca Criscuolo, Product Lead</li><li>Bloq.it | Francesco Tribuni, Industry and Data Insights Lead</li></ul><h3>Host Introduction: Turning Mass Data into Decisive Action</h3>Simon Seeger, Managing Director at Bettermile, kicked off the evening by setting the context: the industry is moving past the peak season and into the critical budgeting phase. “How much of that is going into AI?” he asked. It’s clear that the parcel logistics industry is on a journey of transformation and there is no way to opt out.He highlighted Bettermile’s role not just as a host, but as an enabler, showcasing their product suite including Better Places (<a href="https://bettermile.com/places/">geospatial intelligence</a>), Better Route (<a href="https://bettermile.com/route/">dynamic navigation</a>), and the newly launched Better Planner for <a href="https://bettermile.com/planner/">dynamic dispatching</a>. The message was clear:<blockquote>“Technology is the layer that turns mass data into actionable points for the humans delivering parcels.”</blockquote><h3>Charles Brewer: Transforming a Legacy Giant</h3>Group CEO, Pos MalaysiaCharles Brewer opened the speaker sessions with a candid look at the challenges and triumphs of transforming Pos Malaysia, a 200-year-old organization. He painted a stark picture of the landscape in Southeast Asia: mail volumes have plummeted, and e-commerce platforms like Shopee and TikTok control more than 70% of the parcel market, driving margins down.Key Takeaways:<ul><li>Fix the Basics First: Before innovating, you must ensure service reliability and culture are sound. Brewer spent his first months improving employee engagement and basic delivery metrics.</li><li>Diversification is Survival: With mail declining and retail footfall dropping, the focus has shifted to new business models, including alternate-day delivery for mail and network optimization.</li><li>The Green & Digital Wave: Pos Malaysia is moving fast. They now operate the largest electric fleet in Malaysia and are aggressively installing solar panels on hundreds of buildings.</li><li>Autonomous Innovation: Brewer shared exclusive footage of Malaysia’s first autonomous delivery vehicle, launched just last week for mid-mile “milk runs.”</li></ul>“We got to be really quick in this space… 70% of our cost is people. We have to leverage the technologies out there.” — Charles Brewer<h3>Stefan Ochsenreither: A Framework for AI Adoption</h3>Digital Lead Logistic Service Operations, Swiss PostStefan Ochsenreither brought a structured, pragmatic approach to the buzzword of the year: AI. He argued that you cannot simply “give people tools” and expect transformation. Swiss Post creates value by categorizing AI into three distinct layers.The Three Layers of AI at Swiss Post:<ol><li>Everyday AI: Building trust and competency. Swiss Post uses role-specific “personas” and training (from Level 0 to Level 3) to teach employees how to use tools like Copilot confidently and safely.</li><li>Process AI: Embedding AI into specific workflows. Stefan highlighted a project to use IoT and AI to track and automatically distribute thousands of roll boxes and containers, optimizing asset utilization.</li><li>Game-Changing AI: Solving previously impossible problems. Stefan showcased an in-house Computer Vision solution that uses existing security cameras to read the “filling grade” of yellow shipping containers. This allows them to consolidate tours and cancel unnecessary trucks before they leave the depot.</li></ol><h3>Christian Oestergaard: The Era of the AI Agent</h3>Lead Visionary & Senior Group Strategist, PostNordIn a shift toward the future, Christian Oestergaard presented a visionary segment on how Generative AI will fundamentally change how people shop and consequently, how carriers must deliver.He predicts a move away from humans browsing websites to AI Agents making purchases based on user prompts (e.g., “Find me the best price for X, delivered to a safe locker”).Key Takeaways:<ul><li>The Moment of Truth Shifts: The decision is made when the user defines their prompt, not when they click “buy.”</li><li>Data Define Decision: AI agents will rank carriers based on data-backed reliability. If a carrier fails, the agent won’t book them next time.</li><li>OOH Champions: To ensure safety and successful delivery, AI agents will likely favor Out-of-Home (OOH) lockers and PUDO points over attended home delivery.</li><li>Customer Care Evolution: In the future, your AI agent will talk to the carrier’s AI agent to resolve exceptions. Humans will step out of the loop for standard “Where is my parcel?” queries.</li></ul><h3>Panel Discussion: The Future of Orchestration</h3>Luca Criscuolo (Bettermile), Francesco Tribuni (Bloq.it), and Luis Verspreeuwen (Logibot)The evening concluded with a panel discussion that synthesized the presentations, focusing on the intersection of software, hardware, and infrastructure.Highlights:<ul><li>The Human-AI Sweet Spot: Luca discussed the challenge of route optimization. The goal isn’t to replace the driver with a robot, but to find the balance where mathematical optimization meets the driver’s local knowledge and intuition.</li><li>Out-of-Home Efficiency: Francesco noted that for locker networks to succeed, the industry must tackle “dwell time” (how long a parcel sits in a locker). The future lies in interoperability — competitor networks working together to maximize density.</li><li>Robotics in the Warehouse: Luis grounded the robotics discussion. While humanoid robots are exciting, the immediate value lies in industrial use cases (warehouses, sorting centers) where hardware can be adapted to specific tasks, rather than waiting for a “do-it-all” robot for home delivery.</li></ul>The meetup made one thing clear: Transformation is no longer about just digitizing paper processes. It is about integrating AI, robotics, and new business models to survive in a high-pressure, low-margin environment.Want to join the conversation? The <a href="https://bettermile.com/last-mile-meetup-event/">next Last Mile Delivery Meetup</a> is scheduled for May 6th. Stay tuned!<img src="https://medium.com/_/stat?event=post.clientViewed&referrerSource=full_rss&postId=a622b539340d" width="1" height="1" alt="">

The Next Step in Parcel Transformation: Highlights from the Last Mile Delivery Meetup #11

<figure><img alt="Interview with Tuomas Silverang" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*jceZdWMpwXo1bm1zuwYN_A.jpeg" /></figure><h4>Exploring the story and vision behind Bettermile’s newest product.</h4>Meet Tuomas Silverang, Co-Product Owner of <a href="https://bettermile.com/planner/">Better Planner</a>, our latest innovation designed to bring predictability and balance to last-mile operations.Better Planner was born from a simple but pressing challenge: the need to make daily depot planning smarter and less chaotic. In this interview, Tuomas explains the idea behind the product, what it took to build it, and how it’s already transforming last-mile delivery.<iframe src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FL16_C2oqs9g%3Ffeature%3Doembed&display_name=YouTube&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DL16_C2oqs9g&image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FL16_C2oqs9g%2Fhqdefault.jpg&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="854" height="480" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"><a href="https://medium.com/media/2ee800e6f50a23b6101efb8398310eec/href">https://medium.com/media/2ee800e6f50a23b6101efb8398310eec/href</a></iframe><h3>The idea behind Better Planner</h3>What sparked the creation of Better Planner?First, we traveled to many depots in different countries to identify the biggest challenges. It turns out that, almost everywhere, planning and balancing routes was a major challenge. Until the parcels start coming down the conveyor belt, you never know if a depot will have to deliver 3,000 or 4,000 parcels or more.It’s difficult to determine how many drivers are needed or how to ensure that workloads are evenly distributed. This uncertainty causes chaos in the morning. So we asked ourselves:What if we could predict, plan, and balance better?Better Planner was built to do exactly that: reduce chaos, create smarter route plans, and dynamically distribute parcels from overloaded to underloaded routes.<h3>Facing the hard problems</h3>What challenges did the team have to overcome?A lot! There’s a reason why so many teams have tried and failed to solve these problems. Predicting linehaul network behavior is difficult. Route planning is also complex. You can’t redistribute parcels in advance unless the predictions are extremely precise.Then there’s the issue of usability. The tool must be simple and fast enough for an environment where work starts at 4 or 5 a.m., and every minute counts. Thankfully, our engineers, data analysts, and designers are exceptional and determined. Often, things didn’t work as expected, but we always found another way.<h3>What makes Better Planner unique</h3>What features stand out most to you?Overall, I’m very proud of the product, but my favorite feature is probably the map. Most existing route planning tools are clunky to use. With our map, however, users can instantly see how good or bad a route plan is, access historical data in seconds, and make quick, intuitive changes. This makes the planner not just powerful but even fun to use!<figure><img alt="Better Planner Map View" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*iHWczdrjt4R06bkUMbCYlg.png" /></figure><h3>The impact in action</h3>Can you share a real-world example of success?We’ve rolled out Better Planner to 16 depots in France, and the feedback has been very positive. We helped them transform their morning sorting process by reducing the number of required routes, extending delivery times, and creating a much calmer start to the day. We now have real super users in both France and Germany, which makes me very happy.<h3>The surprises along the way</h3>What surprised you most during pilot rollouts?I am continually surprised by how unpredictable and complex parcel logistics really is. For instance, early on we thought we had figured out how to accurately predict linehaul network behavior. Then came peak season, which stretched and changed every part of the logistics network. Add snowstorms, labor union strikes, and countless other external factors, and it becomes clear how difficult it is to simulate or predict everything. It definitely keeps things interesting for us every day!<h3>Built with customers, for customers</h3>How did customer feedback shape the product?We’ve always maintained close relationships with our most engaged customers, including depot managers, drivers, and dispatchers. For example, one of our customers in Leipzig showed us the importance of adjusting route planning for different vehicle types. They use bikes, e-vans, and regular vans for delivery, and some city centers only allow emission-free vehicles. These insights directly influenced how we developed the product. We’re always looking for these “aha moments” from users — that’s how Better Planner keeps evolving.<h3>Fitting into the Bettermile ecosystem</h3>How does Better Planner complement the wider Bettermile suite?We bridge the gap between planning and delivery perfectly. Although Bettermile’s tools provide drivers with highly optimized routes, an imbalanced workload can still cause issues, even with the best navigation. Better Planner ensures that every driver starts the day with an appropriate workload.<h3>What’s next for Better Planner</h3>What’s coming up in future releases?We’re heavily investing in making everything even smarter and more automated. Soon, Better Planner will be able to suggest improvements — both daily and seasonal — and even apply them automatically with a single click. Scalability is also a key focus. Each customer operates differently, so making the product versatile enough for everyone will take time, but we’re well on our way.Better Planner represents a major step forward in making last-mile operations more predictable and sustainable. Through close collaboration, iterative design, and customer insight, Tuomas and the team are turning one of logistics’ biggest challenges into an opportunity for smarter, calmer, and <a href="https://bettermile.com/planner/">more efficient route planning</a>.<img src="https://medium.com/_/stat?event=post.clientViewed&referrerSource=full_rss&postId=669d452377f5" width="1" height="1" alt="">

Interview with Tuomas: Behind the Better Planner

<h3>Introducing Better Planner: Driving Profitability in Parcel Delivery with AI-Powered Dispatch Software</h3><h4>Master volatility, automate load balancing, and take control of your depot operations.</h4><figure><img alt="Introducing Better Planner" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/700/1*oaXb4Lse5RAPZLfyNDMCSA.jpeg" /></figure>We all know the reality of the depot floor. The plan looks perfect on paper, but reality rarely cooperates. A delayed container causes a sudden volume spike, or a driver calls in sick, leaving a route uncovered. Carriers have to navigate a volatile world, yet too often, they rely on static software that breaks under pressure.The result? Morning chaos. Drivers passing parcels between vans because the system couldn’t assign them last-minute. Overloaded routes leading to overtime, while other drivers sit idle. High costs per parcel and a fleet that isn’t being utilized to its full potential.At Bettermile, we scrutinize the delivery chain link by link, identifying opportunities for optimization that deliver tangible value to users. We identified route planning and dispatch as our next critical challenge to solve, and we’ve cracked the code.That is why we are proud to introduce <a href="https://bettermile.com/planner">Better Planner: AI-powered dispatch software</a> designed to help depots plan with confidence, minimize labor costs, and turn your operational data into predictive profitability.<h3>The Cost of Inefficient Dispatch Management</h3>For many last-mile hubs, the morning routine is a battle against inefficiency. When route plans are rigid and volume fluctuates, the result is an operational imbalance:<ul><li>Fixed Zones, Fluctuating Volume: With no way to dynamically rebalance territories pre-dispatch, you face a costly mix of driver overtime and underutilization.</li><li>Preference-Based Trading: When drivers swap parcels based on personal habits rather than mathematic logic, efficiency is lost. The depot loses oversight, and routes become unbalanced.</li><li>Slow Load-Outs: Picking and loading rely heavily on driver tribal knowledge rather than clear logic, keeping vehicles at the depot when they should be on the road.</li></ul>The lack of flexibility leads to inefficient resource utilization and inflated fleet costs. Better Planner was engineered to solve these specific dispatching challenges.<h3>Take Control With Better Planner</h3>Better Planner equips your depot staff and subcontractors with intuitive AI-driven tools to master the daily dispatch immediately.<figure><img alt="Animation Drawing Zone on Map" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1000/1*hVPum45x5pJ9XZnajrK9vA.gif" /><figcaption>Effortlessly redraw zones with an intuitive map interface designed for quick, precise adjustments.</figcaption></figure>Here is how Better Planner helps transform operations:<h4>1) Balance loads with AI precision</h4>ZIP-code planning is rarely granular enough for real delivery workloads. Better Planner lets you define tighter zones and automatically balances them using AI forecasts that improve over time. The result is more stable route workload and less overtime, less idle time, and fewer costly imbalances.<h4>2) Resolve last-minute bottlenecks</h4>When exceptions occur, Better Planner empowers you to intervene efficiently. Dispatchers can surgically shift overflow stops or parcels to neighboring drivers, ensuring that daily volatility is managed digitally rather than solved manually on the loading dock. This keeps the chaos off the floor and puts control back in the depot.<h4>3) Accelerate sorting and loading</h4>Great route plans still fail if loading is slow or inconsistent. Better Planner turns route plans into clear loading zones that match depot reality, so teams can pre-sort parcels earlier and drivers load faster. Less time in the depot, smoother departures.The overall outcome is higher productivity per route through better balancing, more control in the depot, less time spent planning and more time running the operation.<figure><img alt="Man loading parcels into van with loading support" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*yN-qZDKX7HFhIMwHNNMYaw.png" /><figcaption>Turn route plans into clear loading instructions for faster, error-free load-outs.</figcaption></figure><h3>Flexible Integration into Your Workflow</h3>Every hub runs differently, so planning has to fit existing processes. Better Planner plugs into workflows through options like bonus labels, digital pre-pick, inbound scanning, or shipper-label integration. This keeps friction low while pushing route and loading-zone info as late as possible for accuracy.<h3>Proven Impact in Depot Operations</h3>Better Planner is built to deliver measurable operational impact:<ul><li>Fewer routes needed through better load balancing: lower cost per parcel</li><li>Less planning time, more flexibility: typically 15 minutes or less in the tool in the morning</li><li>Less depot time for drivers, more stable routes, more consistent execution</li></ul>Examples from live operations:<ul><li>In a depot in France, drivers cut 2 hours of time spent in the morning in the depot.</li><li>A depot in Germany increased stops per vehicle per day by +10% without adding pressure to the team.</li><li>Across scenarios, we calculated a potential to reduce the number of routes by up to 15% through smarter planning.</li></ul>As one Depot Manager told us:“Between Monday and Wednesday, our parcel volume can fluctuate by as much as 7–8 routes. Better Planner allows me to respond to this with great flexibility (…) we were able to eliminate many overflow routes.”<h3>The Future of Parcel Delivery</h3>Better Planner is the next step in Bettermile’s mission to provide carriers with cutting-edge tools to transform the last mile. It complements our <a href="https://bettermile.com/route/">driver navigation solution, Better Route</a>, ensuring that efficiency flows seamlessly from the depot floor to the customer’s doorstep.By adding dispatch planning to our software-suite, we take a strategic step for the future. We are building an ecosystem where productivity and customer experience meet, and we want you to lead the change. By bringing Better Planner into your operation, you strengthen the foundation of your business, ensuring you are equipped to handle not just today’s volatility, but the demands of tomorrow.Curious to learn more about Better Planner? <a href="mailto:info@bettermile.com">Request a personal demo</a> to see how Better Planner can optimize your route plans & dispatch management.<img src="https://medium.com/_/stat?event=post.clientViewed&referrerSource=full_rss&postId=d0a894f95d20" width="1" height="1" alt="">

Introducing Better Planner: Driving Profitability in Parcel Delivery with AI-Powered Dispatch…

<figure><img alt="Innovation in Logistics: Last Mile Transformation" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*cLhNwiJX0O0KVkG4gxyocw.jpeg" /></figure>As logistics leaders finalize their strategic agendas for 2026, the challenge is to decide which innovations deserve a spot on the roadmap. That prioritization is the driving theme of our upcoming <a href="https://bettermile.com/last-mile-meetup-event/">Last Mile Delivery Meetup: The Next Step in Parcel Transformation</a>.But to understand where we’re going, we have to look at how we got here. How has delivery changed, and which trends are here to stay? Here is a look at the customer-centric shift of the past — and the AI-driven roadmap to 2030.<h3>A quick look back: how parcel delivery improved for consumers (2020–2025)</h3>Driven by the pandemic and intense competition, the industry shifted from an efficiency model to a customer-centric standard. While quality still varies by service provider and region, four key pillars defined this period:<ul><li>Real-Time Transparency: “Out for delivery” evolved into delivery window predictions, live map tracking experiences and proactive customer notifications, giving the consumers trust through transparency.</li><li>Empowered Consumers: Recipients gained the power to intercept parcels, by redirecting to neighbors, safe places, or different days, sometimes even after the driver left the depot.</li><li>Infrastructure Shift: The single biggest physical change was the <a href="https://blog.bettermile.com/out-of-home-delivery-a-logistics-game-changer-or-a-costly-challenge-fed7d5594c07">explosion of PUDO (Pick-up/Drop-off) points and lockers</a>, making Out-of-Home (OOH) delivery mainstream.</li><li>Frictionless Returns: Label-free QR codes and return bars replaced the hassle of printing and taping.</li></ul><h3>The Next Wave in Logistics Transformation: The Rise of Artificial Intelligence</h3>Most last-mile innovation so far has been about prediction: ETA accuracy, volume forecasting, risk detection, and route optimization. That work continues and precision will increase. But the bigger shift is execution.LLMs and agentic AI don’t replace classic machine learning; they sit on top of it and turn insights into coordinated action. Instead of flagging a delay, Agentic AI can interpret unstructured driver notes, trigger a reroute, reschedule the slot, and notify the customer, all without human intervention.For the end customer, this means they will get more accurate information, they will get it more proactively, and problems will be resolved faster when something goes wrong. Fewer manual handoffs mean less overall friction.This shift from passive data visibility to active workflow execution sets the stage for 2030.<figure><img alt="Table: The Evolution of Parcel Delivery: 2020 vs. 2025 vs. 2030" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*80PRYiPy5OIjDKWVZGvUmw.png" /></figure><h3>The Future of Parcel Delivery: What Last Mile Looks Like in 2030</h3>Trends like transparency and out-of-home options have empowered consumers to expect more. In 2030, they will expect frictionless handovers and delivery will become a flow that happens around you.Here are 6 factors we foresee to change the delivery experience significantly in the upcoming years.<h4>1. The end of the tracking number</h4>Tracking numbers won’t disappear technically, but they will disappear from the customer experience. Instead of copy-pasting codes into carrier portals, customers will ask a question in natural language, via chat, a retailer app, or a smart assistant: “Where are my running shoes?” The system will automatically find the order across carriers and reply with a clear answer and a reliable ETA.<h4>2. Dynamic routing turns into proactive logistics</h4>Common delivery failures like “you weren’t home” will become increasingly preventable based on predictions. If the network can detect risk (access issues, low success rates at that address, recipient location), it can offer alternatives before the miss and for example deliver to a locker instead.Consumers open to real innovation might also share their location data with the delivery company. If an order is due at your home but your phone’s location shows you are at the office, the delivery AI will ask:<blockquote>“You seem to be at work. Should I reroute this package there?”</blockquote>Operationally, this requires precise and dynamic systems that can orchestrate many processes autonomously. Find out what steps carriers can take towards full <a href="https://bettermile.com/lp/5-levels-of-delivery-orchestration/">last mile orchestration</a>.<h4>3. Out-of-home becomes the default, home delivery becomes premium</h4>OOH options will keep growing because they’re operationally efficient and more reliable. In many markets OOH delivery is already leading. So we can expect a world where pickup points, lockers, and even secure residential drop boxes handle a large share of parcels. Home delivery will increasingly be treated as a premium tier, especially for narrow delivery slots or doorstep services.<h4>4. Carriers take control of the last 500 meters</h4>By 2030 the biggest gains come in the final steps of delivery, where access issues and wrong drop-offs create most failures and cost. Expect more vision-based guidance (smart-glasses) and better mapping to help drivers find the right entrance and drop spot, improving proof of delivery and boosting first-attempt success.Although robots and drones will not take over the final mile, autonomy will play more of a role here. These technologies have proven to be effective in niches like campuses, hospitals, planned communities, and some rural corridors. Drones won’t handle everyday parcels, but they’ll be useful for urgent items like prescriptions or critical spare parts.<h4>5. Anticipatory shipping changes speed of delivery</h4>Already in <a href="https://blog.bettermile.com/5-parcel-delivery-trends-setting-the-agenda-for-2026-cd72e9c6deb4">2026 a parcel delivery trend</a> is setting in that moves inventory closer to demand. In the future, retailers will shift more volume from central warehouses to micro-fulfillment centers and dark stores located just a few miles from consumers. That enables next-hour delivery for select categories, because AI can predict neighborhood-level demand and pre-position fast movers locally before they’re even bought.At the same time, speed won’t be the default for everything. Expect a parallel option: green consolidation, where non-urgent orders from different retailers are bundled into fewer routes and delivered in single, zero-emission drops. For customers, it’s a cheaper, greener alternative while for operators, it’s a powerful lever for cost and carbon reduction.<h4>6. Returns and circular logistics become a bigger battleground</h4>By 2030, returns will be handled differently. More returns will be label-free and packaging-light, and high-value items may include doorstep condition verification that speeds up refunds while reducing fraud. You’ll also see more experimentation with reusable packaging loops: durable pods that circulate instead of creating a new cardboard box each time.<h3>From Observation to Orchestration</h3>The era of 2020–2025 was defined by visibility. The era of 2026–2030 will be defined by action. It will no longer be enough to know a delay is happening; the expectation will be for systems to autonomously resolve it before the consumer even notices.At Bettermile, we have championed the shift towards transparency and precision since 2017. By pioneering <a href="https://bettermile.com/route/">dynamic routing</a> and <a href="https://bettermile.com/tracking/">real-time package tracking</a>, we helped transform the industry’s static delivery windows into the live, transparent experiences consumers now expect.However, as we look toward 2030, the definition of “best-in-class” is evolving again. The trends outlined above signal a fundamental move away from watching the delivery process to actively orchestrating it.Navigating this roadmap requires prioritizing the right innovations at the right time. We invite you to dive deeper into these topics and debate the future of logistics with your peers.<a href="https://bettermile.com/last-mile-meetup-event/">Join us at the Last Mile Delivery Meetup: The Next Step in Parcel Transformation.</a> Let’s define the next decade of delivery together.<figure><a href="https://bettermile.com/last-mile-meetup-event/"><img alt="Event Announcement: Last Mile Delivery Meetup" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*phO_m4Xw8ArGrybxJGifLA.png" /></a></figure><img src="https://medium.com/_/stat?event=post.clientViewed&referrerSource=full_rss&postId=7955ff84f419" width="1" height="1" alt="">

Innovation in Logistics: How the Last Mile Transformed (2020–2025) and Where It’s Going (2030)

<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*KSTLg2oda07RJEMzrtUMGw.gif" /></figure>At Bettermile, our mission has always been ambitious: to make parcel delivery radically better. We build products that feel right for the users, boost productivity for businesses, and push the customer experience to the next level. We don’t just provide software; we guide our customers through their transformation journey toward the ultimate goal — complete <a href="https://bettermile.com/lp/5-levels-of-delivery-orchestration/">delivery orchestration</a>.Every year, our product teams gather to set their goals and define roadmaps. As the end of the year approaches, we take stock of those ambitions. Looking back at 2025, it is clear that we didn’t just meet the industry’s needs for flexibility and control —we evolved the very definition of them.This year was about expanding our services, making them faster, and becoming smarter. Here is a look at how we helped our customers win in 2025.<h3>A Year of Record Scale and Acceleration</h3>2025 was the year Bettermile scaled further and faster than ever before. As we welcomed new customers and expanded into new countries, the volume of data surged. Through it all, our systems proved their strength on a global stage.We didn’t just handle the volume; we improved the quality of the work for everyone involved. We brought sharper tools to depots, smarter guidance to drivers, and better experiences to parcel recipients.The numbers speak for themselves:<ul><li>7.8 million routes supported across our customer base.</li><li>900 million parcels processed through Bettermile systems.</li><li>65 million parcels tracked across 19 countries.</li></ul><h3>The Strategy: Intelligence Across the Journey</h3>To understand the “why” behind our features, we asked Luca, Bettermile’s Product Lead, what drove the strategy for 2025 and what advantage it gives our customers today.<blockquote>“The driving force was scaling what works while elevating intelligence across the entire parcel journey. We expanded our Tracking services to a wider customer base, pushed the Places API to record usage, and evolved the Back Office into a powerhouse for daily operations.”</blockquote>He notes that the result is a massive competitive advantage for our clients:<blockquote>“The biggest advantage is a more predictable, scalable delivery operation. Compared to last year, our customers benefit from sharper geocoding, better communication, intelligent recommendations that turn data into decisions, and a recipient experience that significantly reduces uncertainty.”</blockquote><h3>Highlights of 2025: Features That Truly Empower Our Users</h3>While we shipped countless updates this year, the real success lies in how these tools translate into business value. By empowering the users on the ground, we delivered the efficiency and adaptability resilient parcel logistics companies need.Here are the developments that made the biggest difference in 2025.<h4>1. Precision at the “Last Meter”</h4>One of the biggest time-wasters for a driver is arriving at an address but not knowing exactly where to stop or enter. This year, Better Places focused on becoming even faster and even more precise, with the aim to improve efficiency at every stop.The Outcome: Drivers are guided all the way. With Last Meter Intelligence, we now provide detailed information like the best parking spot, the correct building entrance, and the exact handover location. This saves drivers valuable minutes at every stop, which adds up to hours across a fleet.Eric, Product Owner for Better Places, explains:<blockquote>“Better Places in 2025 achieved superior speed, precision, and accuracy by introducing our own geocoder, and delivering precise ‘Last Meter’ details to save drivers valuable time.”</blockquote><figure><img alt="Location intelligence for parcel delivery" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*6Hyublt9RQTXKKIKywg0lw.png" /><figcaption>We’ve taken care of the last steps of the delivery. With detailed information like the best parking spot, the right entrance, and even the exact drop-off location, drivers can save time and avoid confusion.</figcaption></figure><h4>2. Empowering the Driver</h4>The industry faces a constant challenge: retaining drivers and maintaining quality in a chaotic environment. In 2025, Better Route introduced tools that add critical flexibility to the driver’s day.The Outcome: A smoother day on the road and a better customer experience. Even new drivers can profit from years of delivery experience built right into the system.<ul><li>Driver Notes: Drivers can leave helpful notes for specific addresses. This shared knowledge makes repeat deliveries easier for colleagues and improves navigation data for everyone.</li><li>Rerouting Notifications: Changes happen. Now, drivers get instant notifications if a parcel is redirected or a pickup is added, keeping them in the loop without confusion.</li><li>Bike Navigation: We adapted our routing for the growing number of urban bike couriers, ensuring their routes are safe, efficient, and bicycle-friendly.</li></ul><figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*5nO8LlP0kna07FgeNKEG2A.png" /><figcaption>The Notification Center collects all last-minute changes — like new pick-ups or job updates — in one place, ensuring the driver is always fully informed without disrupting their flow.</figcaption></figure><h4>3. A Modern Standard for Tracking</h4>The recipient experience is the face of the delivery company. If the tracking is confusing, the customer is unhappy. In 2025, Better Tracking got a massive upgrade.The Outcome: Transparency that feels effortless. We redesigned the tracking interface to be mobile-first (where 90% of tracking happens). It adapts in real time, showing the route when the driver is close and switching to a minute-by-minute countdown for the final stops.Anita, Product Owner for Better Tracking, shares her pride in the rollout:<blockquote>“We made Better Tracking genuinely engaging and scaled it globally in record time. The fresh look sets a new standard.”</blockquote><figure><img alt="Live parcel tracking on mobile" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*O3xxe-WEjlfYo9B19sdI-Q.png" /><figcaption>Better Tracking adapts in real time — showing a courier’s route once they’re within 10 stops, then switching to a countdown in minutes when they’re almost there.</figcaption></figure><h4>4. The Command Center for Depots</h4>For depot managers, drowning in data is a real risk. They need to know what to fix, right now. This year, the Back Office team reimagined how operations are monitored.The Outcome: Moving from reactive to proactive. The new Depot Overview brings all live insights into one modular dashboard. Instead of digging for numbers, managers get smart alerts on missed stops or tour issues, plus a 5-day weather outlook to plan ahead.Marie, Product Owner for Back Office, puts it best:<blockquote>“Back Office in 2025 achieved a true operational command center with the new Depot Overview — turning a myriad of data into clear, actionable priorities.”</blockquote><figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*x1EKVUuHW-sKNXogOqn7Cg.png" /><figcaption>The new Depot Overview in the Back Office brings all live insights together in one modular dashboard — so teams can make faster decisions and spot bottlenecks quickly.</figcaption></figure><h3>Looking Ahead to 2026</h3>As we close the book on 2025, our goal remains simple: keep turning last-mile complexity into clarity. We have built a foundation that offers our customers the flexibility to adapt to change and the control to manage it effectively.We are already planning a major upgrade to our product suite for 2026 that will push the boundaries of what is possible in delivery orchestration.Stay tuned for what’s next.<figure><a href="https://bettermile.com/newsletter/"><img alt="Coming soon" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/600/1*JqaenhSowfiba-Iz-inW7Q.gif" /></a></figure>Want to stay ahead of the curve? <a href="https://bettermile.com/newsletter/">Sign up for our newsletter</a> to get the latest product updates and industry insights delivered straight to your inbox.Here’s to an even stronger 2026!<img src="https://medium.com/_/stat?event=post.clientViewed&referrerSource=full_rss&postId=551aa4f192b3" width="1" height="1" alt="">

2025 in Review: Turning Delivery Complexity into Clarity

<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*m5WXT-_Lc_LF-sGWe04Unw.png" /></figure>At Bettermile, every journey begins with people. Colleagues from over 30 different cultures shape a workplace where ideas turn into real impact. Three longtime team members — Adrian, Franziska, and Silvio — reflect on more than five years of growth.In this interview, they share how creative freedom, trust, and unexpected opportunities have advanced their careers and helped them make a real difference with people who share the same vision.Silvio’s Journey: Building Culture from the Ground Up<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*SXGjzIgkvhZG6IQ7nDWklw.png" /></figure>In those early days, he did a bit of everything, especially on the administrative side, helping to lay the foundations for Bettermile’s growth.Over time, his path evolved, and today he is spearheading HR Operations. For Silvio, Bettermile’s development mirrors his own, as it has become a place of purpose and empowerment.What project or achievement at Bettermile are you most proud of?Back in the greenfield times we had an MVP that enabled students to be delivery drivers for mini shifts like 2–4 hours, as easy as car sharing. From the business perspective this was a trial for urban micro depots: delivery drivers delivered a bunch of parcels to stationary mini vans, which served as mobile hubs.I was deeply involved in many aspects of the project, from photo shootings with rolling shots of the vans, to dispatcher trainings and payroll for over 130 drivers. We ramped up from 0 to 100 with incredible speed. There were many operational challenges which I managed and streamlined effectively. I love to put things together operationally like an engineer who needs to consider every gear in a large machine.Can you share an example of teamwork or a success story you experienced here?One of my standout teamwork experiences was building the ‘Better Space’, our office in the heart of Berlin Kreuzberg. It was a perfect match of temperaments: our Managing Director provided the visionary drive, and I brought the realist perspective to ground those ideas in execution.The concept was born from our time working 100% remotely during Covid; we realized we were missing the ‘social glue’ — those spontaneous chats at the coffee machine that often spark innovation. We designed the office specifically to solve this. There are no dedicated workplaces; instead, everything is set up to foster collaboration and community, with a specific Deep Focus Area for when we need to concentrate. It’s a manifestation of our hybrid philosophy.What do you enjoy most about working at Bettermile?Bettermile is an open-minded community with over 30 different cultural backgrounds. I feel safe to be myself and to be accepted. We celebrate our diversity, which sets us apart and makes us strong.How do you feel Bettermile’s culture has influenced your work and growth?Our working culture gives everyone an equal voice, we don’t differentiate between working students and leadership when it comes to discussions, because it is about the people and our ideas.​​What motivates you to continue your journey with Bettermile?HR work happens mainly in the background, and its impact is often indirect. This requires frequent reminders to oneself and within the team that, in the end, it is about small moments that create the bigger picture, and the ability to recognize that.A workplace is a social platform, and there are situations where you become aware that your work plays a fundamental role in someone overcoming a challenge or staying motivated. I have never seen Bettermile act against my ethical or personal convictions, and that is extremely important to me.Franziska’s Journey: Creating Impact as a Woman in Logistics<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*9nBaU__2HJc2luXKXwKVSQ.png" /></figure>Franziska’s original role was Business Development Manager in a small team of two, helping to shape how Bettermile’s product suite could scale beyond its home market. Over the years, as the company and customer base grew, her role evolved as well, and she naturally became Bettermile’s face to customers and the customers’ voice to the product teams.Five years after joining, Franziska now leads Bettermile’s Customer Management tribe, which supports the entire customer base in navigating technical software implementations and driver transformation projects.What project or achievement at Bettermile are you most proud of?There are many examples of difficult, bumpy or super fast rollouts and adoption stories in our customer base that I’m proud of. I have built a network of mutual collaboration with our customers that feeds the rest of the company — especially our product squads — with insights and helps our product suite grow. I have also built a strong and impactful team at Bettermile, and I’m very proud to be a part of it.What do you enjoy most about working at Bettermile?My role can be intense and challenging at times, but I truly enjoy it because I love what I do. I’m surrounded by inspiring and motivated people, and that environment makes even the tough days feel worthwhile.How do you feel Bettermile’s culture has influenced your work and growth?Bettermile’s empowering culture has greatly influenced my work and professional growth. My experience as a woman in logistics has taught me a lot about resilience and the importance of having a voice in spaces where change is needed. Our culture gives me the freedom to take ownership, challenge myself, and embrace responsibilities that propel me forward. It has strengthened my confidence and reminded me that nothing is out of reach if I’m willing to grow. Knowing that I can make a real difference in my role and in the industry motivates me every day.What motivates you to continue your journey with Bettermile?I am motivated to continue my journey by the fact that there’s never any repetition. Every day is different, with new priorities and challenges. This constant variety keeps me engaged and curious.Adrian’s Journey: Shaping Products with Freedom and Trust<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*hLgWSo3mR4fWFAPGEiuTNg.png" /></figure>One of the things he values the most is the freedom he receives in his role, which allows him to make decisions independently and experiment with new ideas as the team evolves. He describes this autonomy as one of the reasons for successful product growth, as it gave him the confidence to take matters into his own hands and learn along the way.How has your role evolved over the years?At the beginning, I was working with only a very small team and had the chance to build the Tracking product completely from scratch on a green field. Our product became very successful very fast, which led to a growing team with more and more competencies. I am proud to say that this resulted in two very strong teams.The team I work with mostly, has grown into a very strong data team, and we develop many ML and AI models in-house. I oversaw this development, but I am very proud that we have built such a strong team with 5 highly skilled data scientists.What project or achievement at Bettermile are you most proud of?That we have laid the foundation for becoming a highly data-driven company, where we build highly sophisticated AI tools.I have already supported three working students on their journey to becoming very successful full-time employees.Can you share an example of teamwork or a success story you experienced here?We have had many success stories. Most recently, we won a 400-year-old company as a customer by applying our machine learning models, which now reach millions of users. I am also very proud of our very strong team, where we always support each other and celebrate our wins with communal cooking events.What do you enjoy most about working at Bettermile?Freedom and flexibility, while developing top-notch products with a huge impact and many users.How do you feel Bettermile’s culture has influenced your work and growth?It helped to make my own decisions to foster the growth and success of the products, while still providing both rail guards and mentorship whenever needed.What motivates you to continue your journey with Bettermile?The team, culture, and the values that we really live in the company, together with the strong growth path that we experienced.The stories of Silvio, Franziska and Adrian show how much one can grow from trust, creative freedom, and a shared mission over the years at Bettermile. Their experiences highlight a culture, where diverse backgrounds and personal ownership transform everyday work into lasting impact.If you feel inspired by their stories and are interested in last mile logistics, explore current opportunities on the Bettermile <a href="https://bettermile.com/careers/#job-list">career page</a> and start your own journey.<img src="https://medium.com/_/stat?event=post.clientViewed&referrerSource=full_rss&postId=325d37ae055f" width="1" height="1" alt="">

Growing with Bettermile: The Journeys of Adrian, Franziska, and Silvio

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