Archive for December, 2018

Did you know that the United States has more than 1 million registered drones? This is what data published by the US Department of Transportation has revealed. While a large number of these drones are being used by residents for fun, a significant number is being tested by companies like Amazon, Google, UPS and DHL to explore ways for drones to become an alternative for trucks to deliver packages. However, there are hurdles that need to be overcome to allow the safe testing and integration of drone technology in the US airspace. And, once achieved, the benefits can be huge.

Drones are electric powered. They reduce the need for fleets of vehicles to navigate traffic to deliver packages. This will become a major contributor to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, while helping courier dispatch companies save significantly on fuel and maintenance costs for their fleets, says an expert at Key Software Systems.

COMMERCIAL USE OF DRONES

Talking of Amazon, the fact that the US e-commerce giant has been testing customer drone deliveries in the UK since 2016 hasn’t been hidden from anyone. The multi-billion-dollar company made a record by delivering its first ever Amazon Prime package by air in Cambridgeshire. The time duration between ordering the package and its delivery was a mere 13 seconds, according to an article published by Standard.

Drones are completely automated. They are able monitor themselves, while determining what is safe and which route to take. In case they sense any problem, they are programmed to execute safe contingency actions, much before a human can react. This will prove to be a major advantage, allowing drones to make quicker deliveries, in just minutes after a customer has placed an order.

DRONES OVERCOME BARRIERS

Since the Amazon trial, certain barriers have come to the fore, such as control traffic rules, which restrict the widespread use of drones by the courier industry. Earlier, these conventional aircraft were required to be within the sight of their human operators, which restricted the area that drone deliveries could cover. However, the National Air Traffic Control Service (NATS) has now allowed out-of-sight drone operations, as announced by NATS head Andy Sage to The Times. Moreover, no fly rules prevented drones approaching within 150 metres of buildings that were densely packed.

In 2019, don’t be surprised if you see these unmanned aircraft flying alongside manned ones. The tracking technology in drones is expected to soon be integrated with the air traffic control systems.

Although the holidays are supposed to be about resting, this couldn’t be farther from the truth for some businesses. In the field of delivery and shipping services, companies face almost-universal changes that threaten to topple their profit margins.

Which ones face the most significant trials, and how do they live up to the challenges? Let’s take a look at why so many have come to rely on delivery software.

THE MAGNITUDE OF HOLIDAY CHANGE

It’s no secret that the shipping industry contends with some of the worst seasonal hardships. From increased parcel volumes due to end-of-year consumer shopping binges, to heightened orders from businesses that want to use up their remaining budgets before tax season, couriers, delivery services, and carriers have it tough.

THE TRIALS OF HR IN FLUX

It’d be bad enough if these were the only problems companies had to face, but they’re just the beginning. For instance, in 2018, UPS announced that it would hire 100,000 seasonal workers to deal with the rush. On top of already needing serious help, the firm took on a logistics nightmare. For the vast majority of enterprises, however, this isn’t a viable option, so their courier tracking software has to step up to the plate.

THE WOES OF PRICE-WRANGLING

Even firms that don’t bring on lots of extra help might still need to adjust their operating practices. Thanks to the fact that Amazon, Target, and other big retailers try to win holiday customers with free shipping offers, some carriers may feel increased pressure to provide their business clientele with competitive pricing. In other words, there’s no time like the present to start reviewing fulfillment lifecycle processes with a fine-toothed comb in a hunt for savings.

THE CURSE OF SEASONAL TRANSPORTATION

The picture starts to look even grimmer when we consider what it really means to fulfill orders during the holidays. In addition to having to handle outrageous parcel volumes, courier companies need to fight off the ravages of inclement weather and stop-and-go traffic. Neither of these factors is particularly good news for fleet vehicles. Enterprises that head into the rush as if they’ll be able to do business as normal usually end up learning harsh lessons.

HOW DO COURIERS STAY AFLOAT?

Considering everything it’s up against, it’d be no surprise if the shipping industry collapsed spectacularly during the holidays. Year after year, however, firms large and small somehow manage to survive.

The secret may lie in using comprehensive dispatch software to keep vital business processes chugging along. For instance, a firm might use a courier management system to adapt to shifting traffic patterns or better maintain its vehicles so that they don’t need emergency life support in the middle of snow storms. By using delivery software to get a baseline before the rush, these enterprises have a much easier time staying agile when the main event happens.

How does your company plan on making it through the holiday season? Learn more about ringing in the new year the smart way by checking out Key Software Systems.

Technology has been shaping all aspects of our society, including how we conduct business. New advancements in software solutions allow businesses to increase productivity, cut costs, improve data tracking, and use resources more efficiently. Software systems have been changing and improving business practices including inventory management, payroll and accounting, customer relations, courier management, and security.

INVENTORY MANAGEMENT

Inventory management software enables business owners to track and manage its current, future, and outgoing inventory. Controlling inventory is critical for a company to make a profit and cut unnecessary costs. Inventory software adds organization, efficiency, precision, and detailed tracking records to inventory processes. This decreases the amount of labor needed, raises efficiency, and minimizes the total cost of inventory management. In addition, the software can help prevent overstock, outages, and allows a business to forecast demand.

PAYROLL/ACCOUNTING MANAGEMENT

Payroll and accounting software manages employee income and expenses. New software for payroll and internal accounting offers businesses beneficial features, such as same-day pay and real-time pay tracking for employees to monitor their earnings. Using this type of software is quick and efficient, and can also eliminate human error, which can result in invalid payouts and serious legal fees. Accurate and efficient financial tracking is key in today’s business world, and this software provides just the right solution.

CRM (CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT)

A Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software empowers businesses to track contact with potential leads as well as current and past customers. For prospective clients, this type of software allows a sales team to nurture leads and convert them into sales. For current and past customers, a CRM helps a business maintain healthy customer relationships by retaining detailed customer profiles in its database. All things considered, effective CRM software can drastically improve sales overall from both new and return customers.

COURIER MANAGEMENT

Courier and delivery software make product distribution efficient and trackable. In today’s growing e-commerce market, customers are demanding fast shipping speeds at low costs. Using a courier delivery management system, businesses can organize and structure shipment schedules efficiently, which saves time, money, and reduces the amount of manpower needed. This type of software provides refined tracking abilities so a business may trace orders en route, as well as provide a customer with an accurate timeline of an expected delivery. From inventory to the final destination, this software ensures optimal delivery management.

SECURITY

Security software protects important customer and business data from users that are unauthorized to access it. This permits businesses to securely house data. Security software grows client relations as well as the brand’s integrity by ensuring that client information is protected against malicious cyber-attacks. It can also be used through a network, which allows employees to work securely even when they are traveling and accessing the information remotely. This software can protect businesses from attacks that could result in severe legal fees and damage customer trust.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Advancements in technology and software have been improving the efficiency and safety of businesses. Software helps a business productively allocate its resources, reduce labor, and cut costs. Software aids different business departments in managing, organizing, and storing data, enabling a business to run smoothly and efficiently. Above all, software provides a business with tracking information that it can utilize to make informed business decisions and forecast future demand.