Delivery management software - why you need it and what it can do for you
Why do you need delivery management software?
In the current market, not having an efficient, reliable and fast delivery service will invariably mean frustrated customers and, very likely, an overburdened fleet. Using a paper system slows your operation down and creates backlog by inefficiency. Not being able to update drivers or customers as changes occur is a good way to lose business. If there is one factor that could take your delivery operations to the next level, it’s choosing the best delivery management software for your needs.
Anna Tsaturyan
September 22, 2020
There are many tools available with a range of features managing all stages in the delivery chain. Order management, route optimization, real-time tracking, customer alerts, analysis and optimization…all essential to creating an experience your customers would want to repeat, rather than avoid. Competition is fierce in the delivery business and staying at the top of your game has never been more important.
What does delivery management software achieve?
The short answer to that question is improved outcomes. Not only do your customers benefit, but everyone involved in last mile delivery chain has a much higher likelihood of succeeding. When considering your choices, you should consider software that offer your business what it needs to free up staff time and optimize processes. Let’s look at the two perspectives that are involved:
Dispatch
Dispatch refers to the sending stage of delivery management. All aspects involved in getting the product from the warehouse to the customer are part of this phase. It’s therefore essential to know where your delivery agents are situated and who would be best placed to deliver the product considering time and cost constraints. A system that incorporates real-time updates and that efficiently communicates with your fleet is crucial. Some software auto-assigns deliveries to agents, based on their location and availability, and live-tracks their progress, making it possible to analyze performance and reduce delays. This also means that customers can track their orders and be informed of estimated delivery times or possible changes or delays.
Once the delivery agent has the cargo onboard, the next step is to get to the destination in the shortest and most efficient way possible. Route optimization is a feature of delivery management software that ensures increased productivity and effectivity while also keeping track of the sustainability of operations. By minimizing the distance traveled, fuel usage, costs per mile, cost per time and lateness cost, it significantly impacts the bottom line as well as emissions and maintenance.
Delivery
As soon as the product or package is released to the customer that means a delivery has been made. Software should allow delivery agents to scan barcodes, add notes or images and collect digital signatures as proof of delivery. Creating and maintaining records of payment, regardless of method, is also a necessary tool for minimizing risk and ease of accounting. Operations bases should easily be able to monitor fleet behavior in real-time and by knowing end-to-end driving behavior (stopping and starting, idling time, erratic driving), improvements can be made where needed.
For managers, access to information is key. Dashboards of delivery events and graphical reporting means instant access to data to make quick decisions and keep a finger on the pulse of the business. These should be customizable to suit your environment and help eliminate bottle necks in your existing operation.
The benefits seem endless with the right technology supporting your business. As detailed above, there are many steps in the process that can be monitored, analyzed and streamlined by using delivery management software. At the end of the day it comes down to two important advantages:
Customer retention – If I have a good experience and my product is delivered on time and in good condition, I have no reason to shop around for a better service. With real-time updates and clear communication at the touch of a button, its now much easier to keep your customers top of mind and meet or exceed their high expectations.
Cost reduction – There are quite a few areas where costs can be reduced by an efficient system. By automating processes, the speed of operations increases, but it also means you don’t have to hire extra staff to check manual entries. This leads to fewer mistakes cascading down the delivery chain. Greater visibility of your fleet performance equals less wasted fuel and lost time. More accurate delivery schedules translate to less vehicle maintenance as the most efficient and fastest routes are used.
Routetitan has a wealth of experience and expertise in the entire last mile delivery chain, from in-store management to the final drop. Our team work with retailers and delivery giants to guarantee improved customer relations, increased cost reductions and in keeping their fleets happy. If you would like to know more or talk to us about your needs, please get in touch!
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