MONARK CARGO LAST MILE – TO BE LAST IS TO BE FIRST
We have been manufacturing bicycles since the 1950s and are known for producing durable products with a long-life span. As a partner for the Swedish mail service Postnord for over 20 years, we have responsibly developed the bikes for their operations. Today, a great deal of work is going on in various companies to develop fossil-free vehicles for different needs.
The collective name for the purpose of the work has come to be “Last mile” – the very last part of a delivery. Usually it’s about moving a product or person the last bit from a terminal to the final destination. The route is regularly referred to as the most costly and inefficient part of the entire supply chain. The problem is not easy to solve, among the factors that affect most we have software systems, layers, modes of transport and geography. In addition, the customer places increased demands on traceability and delivery time. In the last decade, the trade via digital services has increased significantly, and for the generation born in the 2000s, it has become the primary purchasing channel.
The need to visit a store to make purchases is perceived as complicated and time consuming. In 2019, 10% of Swedish commerce was made over the internet. A figure that is expected to increase significantly in the near future. For example, every third household today purchases their groceries online.
One of the biggest challenges we face is to develop sustainable transport that makes minimal environmental impact, while at the same time the end customer receives a high level of service. Today, the distribution of deliveries are made via trucks, smaller courier trucks, electric-powered small cars and bicycles to shops and consumers in the city center.
Postnord is now testing one of our new models in our latest Cargo product line; Centro 3 – a bicycle with a cabinet that takes up to 1.4 m3. The model is a good environmentally friendly alternative for a smooth distribution of goods in the inner city, which also gives minimal environmental impact. The Centro 3 is easily adapted to the customer’s requirements for cabinets or platforms. We foresee that distribution in the inner city via bicycle will increase significantly. Among the many advantages of the bicycle as a tool we find a low cost, no fossil fuels and a smooth appearance in traffic.
With an increased influx of people and vehicles, it is also becoming increasingly difficult for companies to handle distribution by truck and larger delivery vans. An increasing number of cities intend to make parts of the city center free of cars, either completely or for certain periods. Through the development of Centro 3, we show our steadfast knowledge of the bike as a working tool, but also as a colleague in daily work – and in an environmentally friendly way.
