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Change is the only constant of every growing business today. The ability of a business to adapt to these changes determines its success. One of the major changes we have witnessed recently is the evolution of the e-commerce industry. Retail e-commerce sales worldwide amounted to $1.86 trillion in 2016, alone. This figure is estimated to reach $4.48 trillion by 2021.

The boom in e-commerce has also brought new developments for the distribution management system. The flow of products from manufacturers to consumers has been altered significantly, owing to new technological advancements and business processes. Modern distribution systems, which can easily transport goods to the consumer’s doorstep, are increasingly becoming more popular.

ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS FOR DISTRIBUTORS

Until quite recently, distributors had been reluctant to invest in IT. Of course, there was much less to buy, and vendors mostly relied on proprietary technologies. But now, defending their traditional roles and to create new sources of value, distributors are starting to apply enterprise applications in supply chain management to gain a competitive advantage, according to a report titled The e-Changing Face of Wholesale Distribution.

Today, there are courier dispatch management software solutions, designed for same-day, next-day distribution for the e-commerce and warehousing industries. One such application is Xcelarator, Windows-based software that can be operated on Safari, Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome on workstations, laptops, mobiles, or tablets. This courier dispatch application includes management and real-time data generation for distribution and cross docking operations, warehousing, on-demand, routed and scheduled work; basically all aspects of the dispatch system, in a nutshell.

Such enterprise applications are helping vendors to control costs, reduce inventory, grow revenue, and improve customer service, in their attempt to defend and expand profit margins.

LOGISTICS AND WAREHOUSING

Technology may provide the virtual platform for e-commerce growth, but logistics and warehousing provide the vital physical platform.

Reports suggest that parcel and express delivery has surpassed railroads, making it the second largest logistic option after motor freight. In 2016, spending on package delivery services jumped 10%. The report also stated that cutting-edge technologies have brought new advancements in sectors such as warehousing and parcel delivery. The parcel carriers and warehouses have taken advantage of the ever increasing e-commerce volumes to raise their rates and, hence, have continuously reconfigured their networks to provide faster delivery to consumers.

Warehouses are also being built in proximity to large, dense population centers, to facilitate quick delivery. Earlier, companies used to build these in remote locations to save on rent, but now the next-day delivery criterion is being replaced with a same-day and one-hour delivery, making it imperative for companies to store their products in areas close to the target population.

We can see that while the whole distribution system might be more complex in the future, it sure will be more efficient, benefitting the consumer. Developments in infrastructure and technology, such as solar power, autonomous driving, and energy storage, might even make it cheaper.

With the increasing demands of today’s consumer, the courier industry has become more complex and diverse than ever before. Service providers today are expected to have all the tools and abilities to meet the time critical demands of clients, covering areas like inventory management, vehicle tracking, scheduling, customer portals, and more. To get better insight, companies are investing in highly scalable centralized systems for the management of field services, especially those that offer real-time collaboration. As a result, logistics businesses are benefiting from reduced operational costs and improved enterprise efficiencies.

It is for this reason that the Field Service Management (FSM) market is estimated to grow from $1.78 billion in 2016 to $3.61 billion by 2021, at a CAGR of 15.1%, according to the report, Field Service Management Market by Solution (Schedule & Dispatch, Work Order Management, Mobile Field Execution), Service (Implementation, Training, Consulting), Deployment Type, User Type, Industry Vertical, and Region – Global Forecast to 2021, published by Markets and Markets.

Courier management software is one of the best tools a business can use to manage field service personnel and fleets. The software automates the scheduling process of both the fleet and drivers, while making the entire process smooth and seamless. But, most importantly, it helps companies reduce their operational costs. Let us take a look at how such software helps.

3 WAYS COURIER SOFTWARE CAN REDUCE COST

1. Effective Delivery Management: With courier management software, courier services can anticipate, identify and address issues related to delivery management in real-time, which not only makes the process much easier but also avoids delays and errors in delivery. With the feature of color-coding, communication also gets simplified, with ease of prioritizing and customizing events. Integrated mapping and GPS helps dispatch personnel easily identify pick-ups that might be in queue, while gaining knowledge of the cargo, location, speed and tracking history of every driver in the field at that point in time, says an expert at Key Software Systems.
2. Improved Communication: Such software also helps by offering a unified database that helps with effective communication, while minimizing chances of misunderstandings and miscommunications. This, in turn, reduces errors, while allowing the administrative personnel to notify field personnel quickly regarding any changes in itinerary or any other aspect of the delivery process, according to an October 2017 article by BCW.
3. Streamlining Processes: Such software solutions offer courier companies the right tools to maximize resources through the streamlining of operations, as well as to attract new business. With courier software enabling businesses to automate the flow of valuable, time-sensitive and customizable information, what the company gains is greater accuracy, accountability and, therefore, profits.

All these go a long way in helping courier companies save a fortune on operational costs, while also increasing efficiency and their reputation.

The courier industry is taking a new direction as a result of technology. Unlike in the past, the services are currently more flexible. Nowadays we have software such as courier tracking software, dispatch software, distribution software, courier software management, and dispatch software. In our business, we need to have these things to fully satisfy our customer. Failure to have the new trends in our business may cause us to lose our clients.

People are shopping for goods at home and in no time the items are on their premises. Therefore, as a business, we need to adapt to the recent technology to even make more transactions. All the orders we make need to be delivered with no delays; consider services from a courier company. Some of these trends include:

COURIER MANAGEMENT MOBILE APPS

Due to vast usage of cellphones, the mail industry is also adapting to the mobile aspect of the services. It has started using the courier management software application in its services. As a result, the data entry into the books has been minimized. This trend provides the information of the package location and delivery confirmation message to the customers. As a business, we ought to go for the courier company that has this trend as it will fasten our services and eventually have a significant impact on our daily transactions.

THE SAME DAY PARCEL DELIVERY

In the past, it could take a while before receiving the package. Over time this type of service has been improving. A majority of companies are now offering same day delivery. For most retailers, same day parcel delivery is the best option because of its attached benefits. We can adapt to this trend and make instant orders online having goods delivered straight to our premises.

AUTOMATED PARCELS TERMINALS

With this type of service, a customer can collect, return, and post products at any time of the day. Therefore as a business, we need to go for those couriers that are offering this service. At any particular time, we will be able to send goods to our customers.

DRONE DELIVERIES

It is amazing how a drone can be used in courier services. Recently, drones have been used to transport small items to different locations. At the moment, drones can’t carry a heavy load but with time Amazon has promised to invent a drone that is capable of carrying goods weighing up to 25 kilograms. As a courier company, we ought to start offering this service as it has some advantages. Some of the benefits associated with drones are: workforce cost is cheap, it’s very fast in delivery, and it is not subject to traffic jams.

COURIER SOFTWARE

It provides a system to place and track delivery orders of goods. Courier software gives the arrival estimation, client data, and the dispatching coordination. This type of software gives an individual the options to track and book a space for cargo on the business website. Thus it is a requirement for all business to have this in operation; this will significantly increase daily transactions and eventually lead to expansion.

For our services to be of high quality and satisfactory to our clients, adapting to the trends in the courier industry will be a great idea. Some of the trends we should have are carrier management mobile apps, distribution software, and many other trends.

An eCommerce business thrives on two factors – product quality and the robustness of its delivery network. However, with recent advancements in technology and major players driving intense competition in last mile delivery, the latter factor seems to be gaining prominence today. Fortunately, for buyers, the digitization of the entire supply-chain system, has resulted not only in faster deliveries of products, but also access to high quality products even for those living in remote locations.

In an article published in Supply Chain Management Review, it is mentioned that digitization of the supply chain has forced traditional logistics providers to automate their process. The article also says that this has led to the emergence of successful, small-scale e-commerce enterprises. A fact also stated in an article on Forbes, about the shipping strategy of small and midsize retailers.

SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS TO THE RESCUE

Advantages like real-time updates on shipping, enhanced visibility, advanced tracking and uncomplicated product returns are some of the benefits that logistics providers of all sizes stand to gain with the use of courier software applications. In addition, such solutions allow the service providers to efficiently map consumer journeys, leading to greater customer satisfaction. Let’s take a look at some of the features these solutions offer:

1. Such easy-to-use software solutions are compatible across all operating systems. They help companies to get real-time as well as historical data of their courier business. For example, an order-entry system, which allows customer service representatives to access five screens at once, allows businesses to handle more work with less manpower.
2. Inventory and distribution software become easy to use with synchronized barcode scanners. Scheduling dispatch software allows you the freedom to create, add and delete routes in the most profitable combination possible.
3. Nowadays, even if the client sends spreadsheets with hundreds of orders, distribution software systems can quickly import the data through a Mass Import Tool, thereby easing the process for the service provider, says an expert at Key Software Systems.
4. Robust accounting modules help reduce invoicing time.
5. Dispatchers can easily identify, anticipate and address delivery management issues in real time, with color-coding options for late or potentially late deliveries. Color coding also alerts dispatch to new online orders and driver communication problems.
6. A business can partner with other businesses, in different parts of the country, by a virtual nationwide courier management network. This enhances business capabilities and brings in new clients.
7. They run on all popular mobile platforms, with key data and communications becoming accessible on smartphones.

Companies, as a result, can have a multi-channel presence, agile processes and robust IT support, enabling the growth for their business.

In today’s fast-paced, competitive environment, being the best supplier available to our clients requires managing several facets of the delivery process. Not only are we concerned with the physical transport and delivery of the products, but precisely how those products can be tracked, managed, and viewed by the client, using what we call courier software solutions.

EXAMINING THE SOFTWARE

The world of courier delivery software provides a plethora of resources for supply management needs. Consider using something like MobileTek to seamlessly interconnect your workforce. When communication between employers and drivers needs to happen immediately and clearly in order to deal with any situations that may arise, MobileTek from Key Software gets this done, and more. With MobileTek, we’re able to keep track of drivers, enforce accountability via electronic signature, and even use document image capture to protect businesses from possible liabilities. This allows an increase in efficiency of supply lines by providing a way to instantly and reliably communicate with drivers and customers. In addition, we can eliminate possible delays before they happen by locating the drivers in case they do encounter a problem along their route. All of these are clearly beneficial to the business owner, especially a small courier dispatch owner looking to find a solution that works for them.

CONSUMER BENEFITS

But such courier delivery software is not only highly effective on the business side of things; it’s of great benefit to our clients as well. The average consumer these days is not only tech-savvy, but has a certain expectation with regard to their goods. Our culture tends to emphasize instant gratification, meaning customers want what they order immediately. They also expect to be provided with access to track their package up to the minute, including any stops or delays along the route. They like to know they can get in touch with the supplier if a change or problem arises, and that the supplier has the software solutions to meet their needs. No one in courier dispatch wants customers abandoning their services because expected features are not implemented properly. Courier software solutions from trusted names like Key Software Solutions provide affordable, easy, adaptable platforms that require little input or management from courier companies.

LAST MILE DELIVERY

In addition, courier services can set themselves apart from the competition by making last mile delivery a focus. It may seem obvious given that last mile delivery is simply moving the goods from the hub to the final destination, but there is a huge surge in the logistics of it due to trends like same day delivery. Proper courier software management that includes last mile delivery software can take care of this, as well as other rising trends in the market.

Whatever the needs of suppliers and couriers, using software that fully integrates both courier and customer seamlessly into every aspect of the delivery process will ensure continued stability and future growth for carriers of all sizes.

Product delivery is known as the process of transporting goods from one location to a predefined destination. Packages have been being delivered since as early as the 1600’s and the process is continuously evolving today, in the 21st century. Product delivery has ranged from homing pigeons all the way to what we are now familiar with, which are trucks and drones. As technology continues to evolve, it will continue to transform.

Cargo, the physical goods, is typically delivered through railroads, shipping lanes, and airlines. The delivery of physical goods is commonly known as the distribution process, which goes hand-in-hand with the study of logistics. Postal and courier services deliver goods for commercial and private interests and play a significant role in the evolution of product delivery.

1600’S AND EARLIER

There were many firsts in the 1600’s for the mailing system. Three of the most important options for sending messages during this time included by foot, homing pigeons, and by ship.

• Delivered by foot: In the 1600’s the term “cursus publicus” came about. This was a relay system where a messenger would travel about half way until they reached a rest house.
• Homing pigeons: Pigeons carried messages for thousands of years, especially in times of war. It was believed that pigeons were reliable for delivering messages because they could always find their way home.
• By sea: Ships were also used to transport goods and cargo across seas. From as far back as the Phoenicians and Ancient Greeks, these vessels were used to cross individual goods in crates and barrels across the ocean.

1800’S

Horses and railroads were key to successful mail and product delivery in the 1800s. These two methods introduced unique approaches to mail delivery that have impacted the system today.

• Horse drawn vans: In America, between 1860 and 1861, the Pony Express delivered mail and parcels on a relay network from East to West across North America.
• Steam powered railroads: The use of steam engines on railroads drastically changed the landscape of product delivery as large amounts of goods and raw materials could be delivered across vast distances. Trains could deliver these to places far away at a fraction of the cost of traveling by wagon.

1900’S

In the 1900’s, which is popularly known as the 20th century, the creation of automobiles in America was separated between electric, steam, and gasoline-powered models. The post office tried out all three of these vehicle types for mailing purposes. They found that gasoline powered vehicles were able to cover the cities most efficiently and were gradually adopted by the mail transportation contractors.

• Gasoline-fueled cars: With the long journeys, mail carriers were having to replace their batteries every eight hours, and they weren’t always guaranteed to pass a location that had extra batteries.
• 1907 was a historical turning point. The first of the big four carriers was born when Jim Cassey asked to borrow $100 from a friend. This $100 started a messenger service in Seattle. It eventually became known as UPS, which is widely known today.
• Cargo airplanes: These planes were originally used for transporting military men and their supplies during the war. Eventually these planes began to be used for non-military shipping as well. UPS offered air services from the East coast to the West coast of America in 1953. UPS then was able to offer air service to every single state in America in 1977.

2000’S

Now, in the 2000’s, The Postal Service has tested electric light-duty vehicles for city delivery, hoping to add to its fleet of cost-effective, environmentally friendly alternatives to gasoline-powered vehicles. They have also been testing two-wheeled Segway for mail delivery, the three-wheeled T3s, Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs), and the drone for more convenient courier delivery purposes.

• Courier Services: Courier services are one of the main ways that products are delivered today and computers gave companies the capability to evolve into full-service courier management firms. Web-enabled programs provided companies greater interaction between drivers and operation managers across all aspects of operations.
• The emergence of smartphones sparked a trend to develop courier applications for mobile devices. Courier management companies began to introduce driver support and productivity applications for a variety of purposes.
• Drones: These are being used to deliver products in a timely matter. Eventually shipping companies plan to have drones be able to deliver your packages directly to your door. Drone deliveries look like the future: unmanned quadcopters rapidly delivering packages to our doors, eliminating both wait times and the cost of human labor.

HOW TECHNOLOGY IS HELPING

Technology is greatly helping the world of product delivery. Companies will be able to save money on shipping costs, which will in turn reduce the costs for the consumers. Alongside, we will receive packages quicker and won’t even consider our packages getting lost in transit ever again. With this, courier management software solutions will play a significant role in product delivery.

• Courier dispatch management software automates the flow of valuable, customizable and time sensitive information.
• The management software ensures accuracy, accountability, and greater profits.

THE EVOLUTION CONTINUES

Over the centuries, we have seen the incredible evolution of product delivery. What was once as basic as delivering a note or package by foot, is now as complex as delivering a pizza by drone. With the help of new software and technology, product delivery will continue to transform at lightspeed and it will become more convenient than ever before. Although we are unsure what the future will hold for product delivery due to ever-changing technologies, we know it will be quicker and easier than ever before.

If you run an ecommerce site that delivers products to clients, there are a couple types of solutions that are available to you, to increase productivity. Typically speaking, you can look at an enterprise resource planning system and a separate freight forwarder, or fulfillment house software like Amazon. You can also choose to use a courier management system that combines all the elements into one integrated package.

For shippers, the decision can become important because if your competitors are able to leverage their own software and port their data over to a forwarder or courier more efficiently, it can put you at a cost disadvantage.

Here are some ways that you can compete effectively with companies that utilize services like Amazon:

ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE ALL OF THE COMPONENTS FOR SUCCESS:

Most firms are used to using a CRM or an ERP to help them guide their work processes in ways that can be shared with all the employees and stakeholders. ERP software can bring you large economies of scale. At the same time, shipping and courier software features that are built into online malls often extend the software that you are already running onsite. They can make you more competitive.

The primary problem is that features on websites are not necessarily integrated with your existing software. This means that you can end up doing twice the work as you port your data over to a place like Amazon.

When you use courier dispatch software or courier delivery software that is built into solutions like Key Software Systems, you will be giving your employees the capability (and advantage) of easily accessing integrated data using computers or smartphones.

Of course, whether you are using delivery software or distribution software as part of your system, you will recognize how having the capability to make changes and customize your client’s experience starts to give you more power than someone selling on Amazon and relying on their own dispatch management.

OUTWARDLY INTEGRATE YOUR COURIER SOFTWARE:

Since your software package can accept EDI and other types of connectors that allow you to seamlessly go out on the market and work with global companies to deliver your products, leveraging your courier dispatch software to build a network of companies is actually a plan that has already been put into place for you by the software vendor.

The benefit of using existing dispatch management in your delivery software is that it is your courier delivery software features that will bring you access to lower prices that allow you to compete head to head with Amazon. Courier tracking software that gives you accurate delivery estimates and advance price quotations is another feature of distribution software that can beat online malls.

Implementing a courier management system that offers all the benefits of an ERP can help build your infrastructure in a way that makes you more cost competitive. When you add integration with outside firms via your courier tracking software, you end up with an advantage that will save you even more time and money.