End-to-end Transport Optimization: First/Middle/Last-Mile

Transport planning is still too often carried out in silos: one plan for supplier pickups, another for inter-hub transfers, and yet another for last-mile delivery. Consequences: half-empty trucks, overstocking/out-of-stocks, extended lead times, rigid supply chains — resulting in higher logistics costs and a significant carbon footprint. In today’s context of economic and environmental pressure, this fragmented vision is no longer sufficient. Advances in decision-making AI have enabled the democratization of advanced optimization engines, making it possible to deliver end-to-end, global transport optimization.
AI at the service of transport

I- Synchronization of Multi-Echelon Transport

Transport consists of three key links:

  • First mile: pickup of goods from suppliers to warehouses
  • Middle mile: transfers between hubs or distribution centers
  • Last mile: final delivery to stores or customers

A holistic approach makes it possible to synchronize these three links within a single transport plan. Optimization is no longer fragmented but integrated end-to-end, managing the interdependence between different decision levels while accounting for transshipment points (cross-docking, flow consolidation).

This requires pooling transport resources across flows, as well as planning over a longer time horizon (e.g. weekly planning). This allows companies to leverage time-window flexibility, anticipate transport operations to improve truck filling rates, and ensure compliance with European social regulations (ESR).

II- Use Case: A Global Transport Industry Leader

Take the example of a global manufacturer whose challenge was to organize shipments across its entire transport activity. The goal was to scale operations while accounting for all constraints within a single tool: first/middle/last mile, multimodal (sea, road, air), carrier tariff grids, multi-echelon (cross-docking, synchronization of intermediate hubs), and 3D loading (pallets of variable sizes and oversized items).

By adopting a combined approach that consolidates inbound flows (supply) and outbound flows (distribution), the company was able to:

  • Cut total kilometers traveled by 50%
  • Improve utilization of resources (vehicles, drivers)
  • Increase reliability in the execution of its transport plan


The vertical integration of multiple transport links within a single model has become a decisive competitive advantage: higher performance, less waste, and greater operational agility.

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