Three Ways to Make Supply Chains More Resilient in the First Mile

When supply chain disruptions make headlines, the focus tends to be on last-mile delivery — whatever keeps products from reaching consumers’ hands on time. But what happens at the beginning of the supply chain is just as crucial. The first mile lays the foundation for everything that follows, influencing costs, efficiency and overall supply resilience. 

Companies worldwide are rethinking their supply chains to make them more efficient. A PwC survey of supply chain executives showed that 45% of CEOs believe their company “won’t be viable in 10 years if it stays on its current path.” 

Despite increasing investment in logistics technology, first-mile inefficiencies remain a major hurdle. Businesses struggle with labeling errors, data silos, inefficient warehouse receiving, and poor communication with suppliers. These issues often stem from fragmented systems, lack of standardization and limited visibility, which creates cascading problems downstream. When shipments are delayed or mismanaged at the source, transportation costs rise, delivery timelines slip, and operational bottlenecks intensify.

With supply chains becoming more complex and disruptions more frequent, businesses that fail to strengthen their first-mile risk falling behind competitors who prioritize efficiency, agility, and resilience in their operations. Following are three ways companies can help get their first mile right.

Introduce standardization to reduce errors. One of the biggest hurdles in the first mile is inconsistency, especially in labeling and packaging. Mislabeling can cause shipments to be misrouted or rejected by distribution centers, leading to costly delays. Packaging issues, like inadequate protection for fragile items, can result in damaged goods and returns.

Companies can significantly reduce these risks by standardizing labeling and packaging specifications across suppliers. They should implement strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure uniformity. Additionally, automation technologies such as barcode scanning and RFID tagging can eliminate manual errors and improve tracking accuracy.

Businesses that have introduced automated labeling systems report