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Today’s consumers have the ability to instantly transfer money, watch any show they want, and access music with the tap or swipe of a finger. When those consumers order a product, they want to get it quickly! A recent survey of consumers found that speed trumps loyalty when it comes to which company a person will choose for making an order. With our dispatch software, your business will be able to improve your courier management system and get deliveries to customers as quickly as possible.

CONSUMERS PAY MORE FOR FASTER SERVICE

In a poll of 995 American consumers, 47 percent of them said they spent more in order to get faster service when placing an online order. Of those surveyed, members of the Millennial generation are the most likely to spend more for faster service. More than 54 percent of Millennials say they will pay more to get their item delivered on the same day. Luxury shoppers also want their goods delivered quickly. People buying high-end items will also pay more to get their things faster. If a company does not offer same-day delivery service, it could be leaving a lot of money on the table. Our courier tracking software makes it possible for a company to offer same-day delivery service within a specific geographic area.

SAME-DAY DELIVERY INCREASES ONLINE SHOPPING

When a person can get their order on the same day that they place it, they will shop more frequently. In that survey of consumers, 50 percent said that they would shop more frequently when they can get their orders on the same day. Past research has shown that the more often a consumer shops, the more money they spend. For retailers, this could be a big boon to the bottom line. With our courier tracking software enabling your company to offer same-day deliveries, it can also grow your online sales.

LOYALTY INCREASES WITH SAME-DAY SHIPPING

Our courier management system also has the potential to boost customer loyalty. A whopping 74 percent of American consumers say that they are more likely to shop again with a business that offers same-day deliveries. Once a company has managed to attract a customer, it is important to maintain their loyalty. Fast shipping times are as important as the quality and price of the product to today’s savvy consumers. Our software also reduces late and lost deliveries, helping you keep your customers happy and satisfied.

SMALL BUSINESSES GAIN A COMPETITIVE EDGE

Over the past few years, delivery software has only been available to retail leaders such as Amazon. Today, the affordability of our dispatch software means that smaller businesses can take advantage of the ability to get their goods to their customers on the same day as the order is placed. Instead of choosing the big retailer with the faster shipping option, a consumer might be more likely to choose the smaller local business if they can get the item within the same frame of time. With our delivery software, small businesses gain a competitive edge.

Global e-commerce sales is expected to reach $3.3 trillion in 2019, rising to a whopping $4.5 trillion by 2021, says an article on Shopify Plus. This increase in online sales has also led to an accompanying increase in demand for high-end last mile delivery software.

There are some excellent comprehensive delivery management solutions to choose from today, which provide dynamic route optimization for effective and timely last mile delivery.

WHAT IS LAST MILE DELIVERY?

Last mile delivery is the movement of goods from a transportation hub to the final destination. It is the last step in the process of delivery. An ideal last mile delivery model will ensure that the order is delivered to the consumer on time. It is also greatly desired that the entire delivery process remains transparent, finite and centrally controlled.

For instance, if the delivery person is an hour late in delivering a package, without any prior notice, it might ruin the customer’s entire plan for the day. Moreover, it would have a domino effect on all the other deliveries planned for the day by that delivery person. This is only one reason why efficient last mile delivery can prove to be a great boon for ecommerce businesses.

CHALLENGES FACED IN LAST MILE DELIVERY

The last mile condition can get out of hand and lead to delayed delivery schedules, higher fuel expenses or even incorrect deliveries. The challenges that might occur during this stage are usually due to weather-related issues, lower predictability of road conditions in rural or unorganized areas, lack of route optimization and poor communication within the delivery chain, says an article in Business Insider. Also, since same-day or next-day delivery options are becoming increasingly popular, customers are demanding transparent ways to track their package.

SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE THE LAST MILE DELIVERY PROCESS

Last mile delivery software is built to tackle the most significant hurdles in the delivery process. It increases visibility, improves customer engagement, optimizes delivery routes and provides driver tracking and advanced payment modes. Some of the best software, such as Xcelerator and MobileTek, are designed to increase the speed and accuracy of the delivery process. They work great with all major platforms, such as Android, iOS and Windows.

Using the best software not only increases the geographical reach of the ecommerce of courier company but also helps your brand develop long-lasting relationships with your local and global customers.

Holidays and the ensuing winter months are tough times for courier and delivery services. Increased parcel volumes on account of the holiday season shopping binges or heightened purchases from businesses before the advent of the tax season provide significant challenges for these companies, who often have to bear extreme weather conditions, such as snow and hail, on their routes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cites winter as one of the most difficult seasons for driving in the country, during which vehicular accidents are rampant, owing to slippery road conditions, poor visibility and increased unpredictability of other drivers during the holiday season.

Here are some tips that smart drivers use to stay safe in such conditions.

DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS

Better late than never is a proverb especially applicable to the winter season. We know that you have to meet delivery deadlines, but icy roads can sometimes overwhelm even the most robust anti-skid controls. Stay within the recommended speed limits, so that you have adequate “stop-time” in case of sudden halts. This is especially important for heavy-load vehicles.

KNOW YOUR VEHICLE INSIDE OUT

Before venturing onto snow-bound roads and extreme weather conditions, check features like forward sensors, headlights, vehicle batteries, back-up camera and tail lights to see if they are functioning optimally. Check other features like electronic stability control and antilock brakes and familiarize yourself with their applications beforehand, according to instructions given by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for winter driving.

KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE FROM VEHICLES IN FRONT

When visibility is low or it is snowing heavily, following the tail lights of vehicles ahead of you is not advisable. Aim to keep a safe driving distance from the vehicles ahead. Since fleet vehicles tend to be larger and carry heavy cargo, their drivers need more space and time to bring their vehicle to a complete stop, according to an article on Wex.

STOCK YOUR VEHICLES WITH ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES

Accidents and breakdowns do occur, and it is a good idea to stay prepared. The battery could run out or drivers could get stranded due to heavy snowfall. Keep contact numbers of towing services and other emergency respondents handy. Carry things like a snow-shovel, broom and ice-scrapers to handle common tasks. Jumper cables, flashlights, hot water bottles, extra blankets, first-aid kits, phone chargers, flares and emergency markers are some other useful tools to keep in the truck.

Drivers should plan their routes using GPS systems to get an idea of the weather and traffic conditions, while courier and delivery companies can use dispatch software to monitor vehicles and send help as quickly as possible during emergencies.

If you run an e-commerce shop and want to stay relevant throughout 2019, it’s vital you learn what your customers want and give it to them. Failing to meet their expectations can cause them to leave you and go straight to your competition. When you don’t fulfill the hopes of your clients, your business will suffer more than you might think. The good news is that you can defeat that problem by learning exactly what your customers want in 2019. The information below will let you stay relevant and move in the right direction.

FAST DELIVERY TIMES

Over the past few years, many delivery companies have implemented software for the fastest possible delivery times. Some companies try offering two-day shipping at a low rate, so more and more customers expect prompt service. People want instant gratification when they place an order online, and you have to keep up to avoid falling behind and losing customers. Even if you have trouble offering next- or two-day shipping, you can take steps to improve your delivery times, and every bit helps. Your customers will notice the effort and be much more likely to shop with you again in the future.

STATUS UPDATES

Almost every delivery company now offers status updates on the orders it ships, allowing customers to get real-time updates on package locations. This lets them know the day on which they will receive their order, and many of them plan their schedules around this information.

Find a way to let your customers know where their packages are at all times, or at least provide location updates each day. Customers are quick to abandon companies that don’t offer updates in favor of ones that do, and you can’t afford to fall into that trap. Delivery software lets you track that information and pass it on to those who need it most.

CARING SUPPORT

In addition to fast delivery times and status updates, customers are going to expect support in 2019 and the years that follow. If packages are delayed or other issues come up, customers want to know you will give them helpful support. They won’t want to shop with you anymore if your team does not answer their questions or offer the solutions they need. Since your customers are the life of your business, go out of your way to keep them happy and treat them well. You will be pleased with the result when you see how much of a difference a courier management system with a helpful support team can make in your customer service effort.

HOW COURIER TRACKING SOFTWARE HELPS

The competitiveness in the delivery industry has caused customers to raise their expectations. Staying ahead of the pack and maintaining the loyalty of your customers requires you to understand and meet their expectations at each turn. Dispatch software can let you reach that goal without much effort. With the right software, you can track each shipment and find the best possible routes.

Key Software Systems offers a complete courier management system on which you can depend. When you use our courier tracking software, you can keep track of your vehicles and spot problems you would have otherwise missed. These and other features let you optimize the speed at which you get your deliveries to your customers, and you can enjoy the rewards for years to come.

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.

Cost efficiency has become a buzz word for business all over the world. More than 65% of businesses plan to cut costs in a year, of which less than 30% actually meet their target, says a PwC study. Cost cutting is only possible if a business maximizes its efficiency.

WHAT IS BUSINESS EFFICIENCY?

Efficiency of a business is not just about managing costs, it also has to do with operational efficiency and the efficiency with which goods are produced or services are provided in a given timeframe. In simple words, a business is said to be efficient when it is able to achieve the highest output using the minimum possible inputs.

Streamlining business operations is a proven way in which small yet complex businesses like courier companies can drive down resource needs, operational costs, and increase profits, says an expert at Key Software Systems. This can be best achieved with the use of good courier management software that leverages a central database to automate business workflow and achieve greater transparency through charts, graphs and reports.

NEED FOR BUSINESS EFFICIENCY

Business efficiency is a must for the smooth functioning of a company and competitive advantages over the competition. Efficient small businesses are also major contributors to jobs within an economy.

In 2015, small businesses created nearly 2 million jobs, according to data published by the US Small Business Administration. In fact, firms that had less than 20 employees were responsible for creating more than 1 million jobs for the economy, boasting the largest gains amongst all types of firms.

The prime aim, however, of increasing efficiency for any business is reduced costs and increased profits.

WHAT ELSE CAN BE ACHIEVED WITH BUSINESS EFFICIENCY?

Financial efficiency, often calculated as the percentage of expenses over revenue, is the main aim of increasing business efficiency. It is usually calculated in the form of:

• Asset turnover ratio
• Operating expense ratio
• Depreciation expense ratio

Then comes labor productivity. Increasing labor productivity helps businesses reduce costs in terms of wages, since less workers will be needed to finish the task in an efficient way. In a courier business, route planning makes it easier for the business to increase productivity, by saving time and effort, which would otherwise be wasted due to unexpected scenarios like traffic congestion, climate change and more.

Business efficiency is also dependent on the efficient efforts made to improve its operations, which can increase the return on investment (ROI).

If you are in the courier industry and want to provide your customers with the best possible results, you already know that Black Friday is the most difficult time of the year trying to please everyone. People find out their orders are delayed, and your phones may be ringing with complaints. Keep reading to find out how you can combat this problem with customer support and a courier management service. With this software, you can keep your orders on time and your customers happy.

INCREASED ORDERS

Black Friday shopping once meant people had to drive to their favorite stores early in the morning if they wanted to get the best deals of the year. That is no longer the case, and shoppers can now enjoy many of the same deals just by shopping online. A lot of companies are not able to handle the influx in orders and end up falling behind. You don’t want to face that barrier so use courier delivery software to stay on top of your game.

INCREASED SHIPMENTS

When a package reaches the buyer, sometimes it has not yet reached its final destination. Many people will order products online and then send them to friends and family as gifts. This situation makes it even harder to keep up with the increased order volume that occurs during the holiday season. Businesses that use courier software can reduce stress and keep orders coming and going efficiently by tracking shipments every step of the way.

INCREASED RETURNS

While increased orders and secondhand shipments can make your life much more challenging, they are not the only issues you will likely face. Some people take advantage of Black Friday sales and later discover they don’t even need the product they ordered.

Most businesses see a significant peak in return shipments in the days and weeks following Black Friday, putting even more chaos on an already overburdened system. Companies that use courier delivery software have much less trouble than those that don’t since the service is mobile device compatible, allowing you to work on the go.

COMBATING THE PROBLEM

Although Black Friday sales can make things difficult for your business, it does not have to be that way. Courier tracking software lets you find parts of your operation that need improvement. Making a few calculated changes can save you more time, and you will be pleased with the outcome. Also, letting your customers know orders take a little longer during this time of year will help.

FINAL THOUGHTS

People buy, exchange, and return many products during Black Friday, a situation that puts stress on the courier industry. You can overcome that problem by using tracking software to improve your productivity and effectiveness. Even if your shipments will still be a little behind, letting your customers know about it in advance makes a world of difference. You might be surprised to see how understanding your customers are when you make an effort to communicate. Using the latest software and crafting a viable plan can do wonders for your business.