The process of making sure that goods are moved from one location to another effectively and efficiently is known as Delivery management. It seems easy, doesn’t it? Since you are reading this article, you are aware of how complicated it is.
Effective delivery management software is a major challenge for organizations these days since customers are expecting more from them than in the past. We’ll go into great detail about the delivery management process in this post. We’ll talk about how choosing the appropriate solution might make it easier for you to fulfill your obligations.
What does a Delivery Management System do?
All businesses, regardless of size, are always looking to streamline their operations. Cost reduction is the main objective for individuals who manage delivery operations. How? by using fewer cars and less fuel to make more successful deliveries.
All of this must take place without sacrificing excellent client delivery services. However, if you have the right delivery management system, you may accomplish this aim.
Delivery management systems assist companies in organizing, coordinating, carrying out, and refining their delivery procedures. They can serve as a single point of contact for all parties involved in the delivery process. This serves as a single source of truth and gives visibility into the supply chain.
Your delivery management platform must have the necessary capabilities to make that feasible. You’re looking for anything that can streamline and automate processes. This might involve, among other things, client communications, electronic proof of delivery (ePOD), and route optimization.
Delivery Management vs. TMS
Delivery management systems and transportation management systems (TMS) are frequently confused. The former is ideal for fleets managing last-mile deliveries and provides a comprehensive approach to delivery management. The efficient and quick transmission of information between teams and delivery personnel is made possible by delivery management software. This facilitates “right-time” deliveries, increases delivery efficiency, and supports delivery operations proactively.
A TMS, on the other hand, is primarily concerned with things like customs procedures, external fleets, and lane rates. A TMS prioritizes freight drop-off planning and routing over last-mile logistics.
Advantages of the Right Delivery Management Solution
Delivery operations are being revolutionized by delivery management technologies. How? We appreciate you asking:
Route optimization
Companies that continue to manually route every delivery assignment will unavoidably provide their clients with erroneous estimated times of arrival. Additionally, they could be more likely to miss the scheduled delivery windows. To put it simply, manual route planning eventually leads to less satisfied customers.
Fortunately, sophisticated route optimization skills may be obtained with a “right-time” delivery management system. You may optimize delivery routes by accounting for many restrictions with the aid of an appropriate solution. These limitations might be related to the capacity of the truck, delivery windows, driver schedules, traffic patterns, current weather and road conditions, and so on. To optimize delivery drivers’ time and vehicle capacity, delivery route optimization can play a crucial role.
Automated dispatch
Additionally, any fleet that relies on manual operations will find it difficult to increase production. Orders can be automatically routed to the appropriate drivers via delivery management software, saving dispatchers’ human labor.
This eliminates the requirement for daily distribution of printed assignments. It also frees up dispatchers and other staff members to concentrate on more worthwhile responsibilities. After that, the program needs to enable drivers to access their tasks using a user-friendly mobile application.
Fuel cost reductions
The biggest expenditure for a fleet is often fuel. However, tracking gasoline expenses and creating a budget is difficult due to fluctuating fuel prices. Fuel expenses can be reduced by identifying driving behaviors such as excessive idling.
Similarly, route optimization ensures the shortest distance between each pair of stops, which reduces fuel usage. Similar effects may be seen from other last-mile delivery software optimization strategies.
Real-time tracking
Fleet management must always be aware of the whereabouts of their drivers. Do they have a traffic jam? Are they traveling in a different direction or according to route plans? Do they plan to deliver their orders within the allotted time frames? Have they encountered any roadblocks, such as clients refusing delivery or staying at home?
Managers may see all that and more in a matter of seconds due to real-time tracking. Customer care personnel are also better equipped to give consumers precise delivery updates and information due to real-time tracking. In this manner, you may contact clients before an issue arises.
The importance of having real-time visibility into last-mile logistics cannot be overstated. And a highly developed delivery management system ought to offer precisely that.
Improved driver safety
Any manager’s first concern is always the safety of the drivers. A delivery management solution’s ability to offer real-time visibility into driver behavior is one of its main benefits. Data on things like hard braking, cornering, and other risky driving practices may be included in this.
Managers can monitor drivers more readily when they can track them in real time. This places you in a position to address risky driving behaviors through specialized training courses and other approaches. In this regard, your delivery management application must be simple to combine with other corporate solutions. In particular, asset management and other related transportation software or telematics solutions.
Custom reporting options
To assist you in making data-driven decisions, a delivery management system may also provide you with comprehensive, personalized reports. These reports may help managers recognize patterns, get a deeper understanding of their business, and ultimately pinpoint areas where fleet operations need to be improved. Your delivery management software will automatically collect and store data from each last-mile touchpoint to enable this.
Electronic proof of delivery
Additionally, drivers should be able to obtain electronic evidence of delivery using your delivery management software. For example, client signatures, images, messages, and more. By ensuring an appropriate chain of custody, electronic proof of delivery reduces the number of fabricated reports of missing or damaged shipments.
Higher customer satisfaction
You may achieve high customer satisfaction levels by using technology to give consumers real-time delivery alerts, precise estimated times of arrival, and real-time order tracking. When it comes to keeping customers, it is crucial. Ultimately, software of any kind should assist you in achieving this goal.
From a routing standpoint alone, the optimal solution ought to increase client happiness. You can reliably arrive on time when your route is accurate. This is of paramount importance to contemporary clients.
In addition, your delivery management system needs to provide you with the ability to design a comprehensive delivery experience that enhances your brand. To notify customers along the way, you may send out branded, personalized delivery notifications. You may use a specialized site to give them self-serve, real-time tracking. Additionally, you have the option to provide surveys for post-delivery follow-up.
All of this does more than just keep clients informed. It increases credibility and aids in the development of a powerful brand that your audience will identify with superior performance.
Businesses that operate delivery operations must progressively make the necessary investments in the proper technologies given our increasingly interconnected economy. Some of the most effective instruments available to delivery companies to enhance fleet operations are delivery management solutions. You may save operational expenses and enhance customer satisfaction with the correct solution.
