Case Study: How IP Enabled EV-Based Last-Mile Delivery Implementation for an FMCG Customer
Updated: 2 days ago
Introduction
For an FMCG business, last-mile delivery is a daily test of
reliability,
efficiency and
cost control.
Products need to move quickly through busy urban routes while maintaining consistent service.
One of IP Integrated Services’ major FMCG customers in Delhi NCR wanted to make its last-mile operations more sustainable and commercially efficient.
With experience across
FMCG logistics,
transportation management and
integrated 3PL solutions,
IP began by understanding the customer’s delivery network rather than immediately proposing a fleet change.
The analysis revealed a clear opportunity. Approximately 75% of the customer’s last-mile deliveries were within a 10 km radius of the warehouse.
This insight became the starting point for an EV-Based Last-Mile Delivery Implementation suited to the customer's urban distribution requirements.
The Challenge: Making Last-Mile Delivery More Efficient
The customer needed to improve its transportation model while continuing to meet the demands of a busy urban distribution network.
The key requirements were to:
Improve operating-cost efficiency
Reduce reliance on fossil-fuel-based transportation
Support sustainability objectives
Maintain delivery flexibility
Manage the practical challenges of commercial vehicle movement in Delhi NCR
The challenge was to find a solution that could address these requirements together.
For IP, the decision therefore involved more than choosing a new vehicle.
It required identifying a transportation model that made sense for the customer's routes and operating environment.
IP's Approach to EV-Based Last-Mile Delivery: Let the Delivery Pattern Drive the Solution
Understanding the Last-Mile Network
IP studied the customer's delivery movements to understand where its transportation resources were being used most frequently.
The concentration of deliveries over short distances indicated that Electric Vehicles could be a practical fit for the operation.
This gave IP a clear basis for the fleet decision:
The vehicle strategy would be determined by the customer's delivery requirements, rather than by technology alone.
Balancing Cost Efficiency With Sustainability
IP then assessed the commercial and sustainability implications of EV deployment.
For the customer's operating pattern, EVs offered an opportunity to improve operating-cost efficiency compared with conventional petrol and diesel vehicles.
They also reduced dependence on fossil fuels, supporting the customer's sustainability objectives.
This created a business case where operational efficiency and environmental responsibility could be addressed through the same transportation strategy.
Implementation: Bringing EVs Into the Last Mile
Following the assessment, IP implemented Electric Vehicles across the customer's last-mile deliveries in Delhi NCR.
The deployment was incorporated into the customer's regular urban distribution operation, with the vehicle strategy aligned to its transportation requirements.
The implementation supported a more targeted approach to last-mile fleet management, rather than applying a uniform fleet model across all transportation movements.
It also complemented IP's broader transportation capabilities, which include
primary and secondary transportation,
dedicated fleet operations,
JIT and milk-run services, and
reverse logistics.
Technology Supporting Transportation Visibility
Transportation efficiency also depends on visibility.
IP's technology-driven logistics capabilities use
data analytics to optimise routes,
reduce costs and
improve service delivery.
Customers can also access real-time shipment tracking through IP's technology platform.
Its TMS supports key transportation activities such as:
Route and load planning
Last-mile tracking
Vehicle tracking
Digital proof of delivery
Consignment tracking and billing
Delivery KPI monitoring
These capabilities provide greater visibility and help connect transportation operations with measurable performance.
Delhi NCR's Regulatory Environment Added Another Advantage
The local operating environment provided an additional benefit to the EV-based model.
EVs were exempt from certain vehicle-entry restrictions applicable to conventional commercial vehicles.
This gave the customer greater flexibility for applicable movements during restricted hours and reduced the requirement for special permissions.
It also helped minimise associated administrative and permit-related costs.
For an FMCG business operating frequent urban deliveries, this added flexibility strengthened the commercial and operational case for EV deployment.
The Outcome: One Solution Addressing Multiple Priorities
The project brought several business objectives together within one transportation model.
Sustainability
EV deployment reduced the customer's dependence on fossil fuels and supported its sustainability objectives.
Operating-Cost Efficiency
The vehicles were well suited to the customer's delivery pattern and offered better operating-cost efficiency for the relevant short-distance movements.
Operational Flexibility
The regulatory advantages associated with EVs provided greater flexibility for applicable deliveries in Delhi NCR.
A More Aligned Fleet Strategy
The customer gained a transportation approach based on the actual characteristics of its last-mile network rather than a generic fleet solution.
The result was a model that connected
cost efficiency,
sustainability and
operational flexibility within the last mile.
The IP Difference: Understanding the Business Before Building the Solution
The most important part of the project was not simply introducing EVs. It was identifying why EVs were appropriate for this customer's operation.
IP's customer-centric approach begins with understanding the client's business model and logistics requirements before developing a solution.
Its operations are designed to remain scalable and adaptable as customer requirements change.
For this project, that approach brought together:
FMCG logistics expertise
Transportation management
Secondary transportation capabilities
Technology and operational visibility
Understanding of local transportation conditions
This allowed the fleet decision to become part of a broader supply chain strategy, rather than a standalone vehicle transition.
Conclusion
The EV-Based Last-Mile Delivery Implementation for an FMCG customer in Delhi NCR shows how a closer understanding of transportation requirements can create a solution that serves multiple business priorities.
By aligning the fleet strategy with the customer's delivery network, IP helped create a model that supported
operating-cost efficiency,
sustainability and
greater flexibility in urban transportation.
The case reflects IP's approach to
FMCG logistics,
transportation management and
integrated 3PL solutions:
understand the business, study the operation and build the solution around what the customer actually needs.
Looking for a Smarter Last-Mile Logistics Solution?
Whether you are looking to improve
FMCG distribution,
last-mile delivery,
transportation efficiency or
overall supply chain performance,
IP Integrated Services combines industry expertise, technology and integrated logistics capabilities to address complex transportation requirements.
Talk to IP Integrated Services to explore a logistics solution built around the way your business actually moves.
You should explore these case studies also:
Email: customerservice@ipispl.in
Contacts: +91-124-4224834
+91-124-4224835
+91-124-4224836
+91-124-4224837
About the Author
Shraddha Srivastava is a logistics and supply chain specialist with expertise in warehousing, third-party logistics (3PL), transportation, contract logistics, and end-to-end supply chain solutions across industries including FMCG, manufacturing, automotive, retail, e-commerce, and industrial goods. She specializes in analyzing logistics challenges, industry trends, and operational strategies to create practical, research-backed insights for supply chain leaders and business decision-makers. Her work focuses on helping organizations optimize logistics operations, improve supply chain resilience, and build scalable, cost-efficient networks that support long-term business growth.
Comments