Logistics Firms Struggle with Delivery Delays Amid Soaring Online Orders

Logistics firms across Southeast Asia are experiencing significant operational strain as e-commerce order volumes continue to surge, creating widespread bottlenecks in parcel delivery networks. The article highlights a critical mismatch between demand surges and existing last-mile infrastructure capacity, resulting in missing parcels and extended delivery windows that threaten customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. This situation reflects a structural challenge facing the logistics industry: while online commerce has grown exponentially, the ability to scale last-mile delivery—the most labor-intensive and cost-sensitive segment of the supply chain—has lagged.

Supply chain professionals must recognize that temporary capacity solutions (overtime, contracted partners) are increasingly insufficient; systemic improvements in automation, facility location, and workforce planning are now strategic imperatives. The emergence of missing parcels signals that the problem has moved beyond mere delays into risk territory. For retailers and 3PLs, this creates dual pressure: maintaining service-level agreements while managing cost inflation from premium labor rates and emergency logistics arrangements.

Organizations should urgently assess their current last-mile capacity utilization and develop contingency strategies for peak demand periods.