Archive for January, 2022

In May 2020, there was a huge increase in web searches for online grocery delivery, amid the COVID-19 outbreak. These trends drove rapid acceleration in the US courier delivery market, expanding the size to an estimated $133.8 billion in 2022.

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Image Source: IBIS World

This was not a temporary phase that ended with the reopening of the economy. It marked a secular shift in customer behavior and expectations. Additionally, the pandemic led to supply chain disruptions, forcing companies to better manage their deliverables to remain competitive.

Some companies make the mistake of choosing numerous plug-in modules to ease different parts of the delivery process. However, this approach has proved to be inefficient and ineffective and comes with installation issues and poor support. Instead, it’s ideal to choose a comprehensive, cost-effective and customizable courier software to efficiently meet the expectations of the most discerning customers. The courier software should allow a logistics company to optimize their entire business, from order creation to invoicing, bringing efficiency at every stage and helping scale operations with ease.

To make the decision, here are some signs of the best courier software.

  • Delivery for Different Timeframes – Your company may offer different delivery schedules, like same-day, next-day, or scheduled for a particular date. The courier software should allow for resource allocation accordingly. This is particularly important as the US same-day delivery market is estimated to expand at a CAGR of over 10%.
  • Cross Browser – The software should work seamlessly across browsers so that your team is not bound to one browser. With this, your staff can use the software from anywhere and at any time on their laptops and PCs.
  • Dynamic Route Optimization – This feature will help your company significantly increase dispatcher productivity and reduce vehicle operating costs. This will allow for better customer service.
  • Contactless Options – Choose a software with an auto-dispatch functionality to allow contactless dispatching. Using advanced technologies like artificial intelligence enables the complete automation of operations.
  • Customization – The software should allow customizable SMS and email updates to customers to enhance your brand value. It should also have custom options, like dispatching from multiple hubs and scheduling load and unload times.
  • Free Mobile Reporting App – The software should seamlessly integrate with an app for tracking drivers. With such an app downloaded on driver cellphones, you can track them with GPS, streamline communication with them, and get visual proof of delivery.
  • KPI Reporting – A user-friendly dashboard with interactive KPIs on different stages in scheduling, dispatch and delivery will greatly increase visibility. This allows faster and more informed decision-making through the company.

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Image Source: https://www.keysoftwaresystems.com/uploads/2/7/8/5/27857909/screens-2_orig.png

A robust courier software will not only drive cost efficiencies but also improve customer experience. This is essential in today’s competitive landscape. The good news is that the investment in courier software pays off, with 86% of customers willing to pay a premium for a better experience.

When choosing the best courier software, don’t forget to check their list of clients and partners. This establishes the company’s credibility and the efficacy of its courier software. Also, check their website for association memberships, like the CLDA (Customized Logistics and Delivery Association) and AEMCA (Air and Expedited Motor Carrier Association).

With GPS tracking, you have real-time information about every driver’s whereabouts and can make informed decisions to increase efficiency. For instance, the drivers’ locations can be shared with personnel at loading bays to ensure they have the goods ready for dispatch on time. When you receive customer complaints, you can drill down into the data to identify the issue(s) and find solutions.

CURB SOARING SUPPLY CHAIN COSTS

The pandemic caused massive supply chain disruptions, resulting in a phenomenal rise in associated costs across industries. Supply chain disruptions resulted in average annual costs to companies of an estimated $228 million in 2021. Costs are expected to remain elevated through 2022. Companies can reduce the financial burden by using GPS tracking to make informed and timely decisions.

INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY

With GPS fleet tracking, companies can save time and money. Logistics companies will know the exact location of each vehicle in their fleet and can implement solutions to make the process smoother and faster. For instance, GPS tracking may show that the average time spent at loading bays is high.

Companies have been able to reduce time spent by:

  • Making the layout of loading sites more functional by bringing all interrelated activities in one area location and separating them from unrelated activities.
  • Allowing pre-loading, where drivers can visit the loading site at off-peak hours and reduce their wait time.

DIGITIZING THE PROCESS

GPS tracking can be used with other solutions to deliver great value. For instance, proof-of-delivery, digital signature capture, and streamlining payroll can make the process robust and free of human error or manipulation.

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Image Source: https://www.keysoftwaresystems.com/newsroom/key-software-systems-releases-mobiletek-web-31

IMPROVE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

In today’s competitive landscape, customer experience is everything. This is because it costs a business 5X more to get a new customer onboard than to retain an existing customer. A recent study found that customer experience is on track to become the most important brand differentiator, overtaking price and even product features. With GPS, you can share the drivers’ live tracking with customers, providing an estimate of when the package will arrive.

OTHER BENEFITS

Encourage safe driving – There were about 510,000 police-reported crashes involving large trucks in 2019. GPS tracking promotes safer driving because drivers know that their speed and other dangerous behaviors are being monitored.

Accurate calculation of overtime pay – GPS tracking automates the recording of work hours, eliminating human errors involved in manual reporting.

Route optimization – Drivers will know how much traffic they will encounter and can decide on the fastest route. This will also help reduce fuel costs and vehicle wear and tear.

Apart from all these benefits, GPS tracking can increase transparency and avoid confusion in the entire process. This is essential for meeting the challenges of same-day and scheduled deliveries.

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