A quick knock, the sound of scurrying footsteps and a package placed at the door – that’s the now familiar experience most people associate with logistics companies.

Covid-19 induced lockdowns helped third party logistics (3PL) companies thrive over the past year, bringing deliveries right to your doorstep, allowing you to avoid crowds and social interactions. Their logo-emblazoned vans, riding on the e-commerce boom and unloading parcels daily, are now a familiar sight at every estate.

Still it’s not all roses for these last-mile players. Consumers frequently complain on social media about how parcels are mishandled or deliveries missed. Meanwhile, e-commerce marketplaces Shopee and Lazada, that provide the bulk of the delivery business, have set up their own in-house delivery fleets as well.