Recent Innovations in Last-Mile Delivery: Drones, Autonomous Vehicles, and Beyond

Last-mile delivery has become a critical focal point in logistics and supply chain management due to the rapid expansion of e-commerce and escalating customer expectations for fast, reliable, and sustainable delivery services. Traditional delivery models face persistent challenges related to traffic congestion, high operational costs, labor dependency, and environmental impact, prompting the adoption of advanced technological solutions. This paper presents a comprehensive literature review of recent innovations in last-mile delivery, with particular emphasis on drone delivery systems, Autonomous Ground Vehicles (AGVs), and emerging hybrid delivery models. It critically examines their operational capabilities, technological maturity, regulatory constraints, and sustainability implications. Drawing on peer-reviewed studies and industry reports published between 2018 and 2025, the review synthesizes current developments, compares the strengths and limitations of key technologies, and identifies unresolved challenges related to scalability, infrastructure readiness, public acceptance, and policy frameworks. The findings indicate that while drones offer rapid and flexible delivery in remote and congested environments, and autonomous ground vehicles enhance efficiency and cost effectiveness in urban settings, no single technology provides a universal solution. Instead, integrated hybrid delivery networks appear most promising for addressing diverse logistical contexts. This study contributes to the literature by providing a structured comparison of emerging last-mile delivery technologies and outlining future research directions to support the development of resilient, efficient, and environmentally responsible logistics ecosystems.