"The first step for everyone is to understand that technological innovations have come to add value to the sector and ensure greater agility in processes, task optimization, and satisfaction of the end consumer," says Caio Reina, CEO and founder of RoutEasy, a route optimization and management company.

Reina states that Logistics 4.0, which involves the use of automation technology in all stages of the logistics process, presented challenges to overcome. The use of this technology can increase efficiency by reducing time spent on bureaucratic and repetitive processes.

Last mile in 2024 will continue to be prominent. According to the E-Commerce Trends 2024 survey, 58% of people buy more from online stores than physical stores. The strong growth can be seen in the occupancy of Consumer Goods companies in Class A+, A, and B logistics developments, which increased from 27.8% in 2019 to 32.6% in 2023, according to SiiLA data.

An example of this last mile expansion is the Alianza Urban Hub Renda Real Estate Investment Fund (AURB11), from Alianza Investimentos, which focuses on logistics developments within cities, such as São Paulo. It includes two assets, UrbanHub Mauá and UrbanHub Guarulhos, both within a 30 km radius of the capital.

Technology and the expansion of the last mile not only provide advantages to the occupants of the developments but also ensure a better customer experience.

"Logistics is a significant part of many of the major businesses in the spotlight right now. But we can't think of it only as transportation; incorporating other ideas that optimize results is crucial for companies in the current scenario. Only then can they offer better quality services and products to their audience," comments Kleber Fernandes, director of quality and technical management at Solistica, the largest 3PL operator in Latin America.