Ever wondered how top logistics teams optimize their routes to deliver faster while cutting fuel costs?
Delivery management software! Without it, each part of the delivery process becomes scattered. Drivers are scrambling, routes are inefficient, and deliveries are delayed.
No one is winning, not the business, not the driver, and certainly not the customer.
Top logistics teams aren’t just getting parcels to customers faster; by pure luck or having access to more resources. They use powerful delivery management software.
Analyzing traffic patterns, optimizing routes, sending customers to live tracking links, reducing fuel costs, and meeting tight deadlines are all part of the outcome.
In this article, I’ll teach you six simple ways delivery management software can streamline last mile deliveries.
What is delivery management software (DMS)?
Delivery management software is like the control center of the delivery process. It’s a platform used by managers to optimize the entire delivery process, from dispatch to delivery.
It gives specialized insight into which routes to choose, ensures customers’ needs are met, and helps the delivery drivers work smarter, not harder.
What is last mile delivery?
Last mile delivery is that final stretch of the process, of which the customer wants to know exactly where their parcel is and when it will arrive. This part of the delivery process is vital; it can make or break a delivery.
A significant portion of customers (86%) are willing to pay extra for faster deliveries. Same-day deliveries are no longer a luxury. Customers (81%) expect same-day delivery options when they shop online.
With this in mind, your business needs sophisticated delivery management software to enable drivers to deliver parcels at the best speed, choose the right routes, and allow customers to follow with a live link.
How can delivery management software improve last mile delivery?
Here are some of the features delivery management software consists of:
1. Real-time tracking for delivery management
Real time tracking is used to follow drivers, assets, or equipment.
Delivery drivers use a mobile app that shares a live trackable link with the customer. They can follow how far a driver is from his/her home and plan when to wait outside. Hardware is installed for assets like vehicles or equipment.
Not only does it provide live updates on driver locations, but it also gives a status on the delivery. It might be delayed, or missed.
However, there are also other ways live tracking can enhance delivery operations.
Locate2u CEO and founder Steve Orenstein says for food delivery live real-time tracking is ideal. “If you’re running a food truck or a mobile business that goes to a particular location, you want your customers to see that you’re actually turned up at this location.”
A real time tracking link is one of the functions of delivery management software.
You can actually choose how long you want to share your location for: one hour, two hours, 24-hours. You then share the location.
“This live track link will show your live location, and at the end of the time period, it will auto-expire,” says Orenstein.
Here’s an example of a bakery that uses a live tracking link to share on Facebook with their customers where their food truck is. It also requests customers to comment on where the truck must go next.
From a management perspective, having access to the live location of your assets and drivers or creating visibility helps to proactively address any delays that may occur during the last mile.
Read more in-depth about real time tracking here: What is real time tracking?
2. Route optimization for DMS
Choosing the shortest route is one thing, but it’s not always the most effective one. Delivery management software enables route optimization to work out the most effective route for the driver.
Route optimization helps to fast-track deliveries and improve delivery accuracy.
Delivery software enables route optimization to choose the most effective routes based on the weather, traffic, road conditions, and other deliveries that still need to be made.
It gives managers full visibility of where the drivers are and allows them to make quick decisions to avoid a delay.
Read more in-depth about route optimization here: What is route optimization?
3. Customer notifications for delivery managers
Customers want to know exactly what happens with their parcel. From the time it leaves the warehouse until it’s in their hands.
But for many, the delivery process doesn’t turn out to be a smooth experience. Failed deliveries do happen often in courier businesses. That’s where delivery management comes to the rescue. Delivery software helps streamline deliveries.
Delivery management streamlines the last-mile delivery process by knowing exactly where the hiccup is. Customers can easily be informed about the hold-up. An informed customer is a much more patient one.
Delivery notifications can explain why delivery was not made, where the issue is, and how it can be resolved before the next attempt.
Read more in-depth about how customers get notifications: How does tracking a package live work?
4. Proof of delivery with DMS
Proof of delivery is important for customer satisfaction. By streamlining deliveries with delivery management software, proof of delivery ensures the customer knows exactly where the parcel was left.
Unfortunately, sometimes a delivery doesn’t go as planned. In this instance, a photo of the completed delivery can help a delivery manager see where it can be corrected.
Let’s say a parcel was dropped off at the wrong address, or worse, in a spot where it can get wet. With the right software, a delivery manager can easily dispatch a driver to correct it.
Without delivery software, this customer would have been left fuming and probably written a poor review of the entire delivery business.
Proof of delivery helps to improve customer satisfaction if the delivery operation has been completed successfully.
Read more in-depth about proof of delivery here: What is proof of delivery?
5. Automated dispatching in delivery management
Delivery managers use automated dispatch to assign deliveries to drivers based on factors like their van capacity, how far they are from a new stop, and whether their schedule for the day allows it.
The software intervenes automatically, reducing the need for manual problem-solving. When new deliveries come in, the software automates dispatch. A driver receives an auto-assignment.
This results in faster and more accurate dispatch. It increases productivity and makes last-mile delivery efficient.
Read more in-depth about dispatch and delivery planning here: What dispatch and delivery planning?
6. Driver performance
You want your drivers to be fast, efficient, and on time with their deliveries. Who doesn’t want a happy customer?
Customers complain when the estimated time of the delivery is not met. How else will a delivery manager know where the problem lies? With driver performance, delivery management software can assess all the driver feedback and analyze where there is a problem, either with the team or individually.
Driver performance is measured by customer feedback, usually via email notifications or an app. The DMS analytics will provide accurate data that can help managers train staff better to avoid more bad delivery ratings.
Read more in-depth about driver performance here: What are driver ratings?
The final journey: Optimizing delivery with DMS
Open communication, accurate and efficient routes and real time notifications all contribute to giving the best customer experience. Whether you are in retail, fast food, sales, or a courier company.
Customers want to see and know more about where their package is. Delivery management software helps to streamline the last mile delivery process, whether you are a small company or a large successful business.
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About the author
Mia is a multi-award-winning journalist. She has more than 14 years of experience in mainstream media. She's covered many historic moments that happened in Africa and internationally. She has a strong focus on human interest stories, to bring her readers and viewers closer to the topics at hand.
