HOUSTON—According to Adobe Analytics, total US online purchases in June were up 76% from last year, for a total of $73.2 billion for the month. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, e-commerce sales on everything from groceries to backyard furniture have boomed.

As customers increasingly expect same-day delivery of goods delivered to residential addresses, a massive surge in e-commerce has disrupted the global supply chain and transformed industrial transportation networks. To meet demand, companies are looking for a faster and more efficient way to ship goods to consumers, says Brion Sargent, regional critical facilities practice area leader for Gensler's South Central region.

While good for the bottom line, the surge in online shopping has put pressure on logistics operations, particularly for the last mile, the final and crucial step in delivery from the distribution center or warehouse facility to the end user. Today, all transportation modes are being considered to compress costs and connect this growing network of facilities.