“Your order is delayed. ETA 15:00.” This effective delivery notification with delivery management software can save your entire delivery business.
No one likes a delayed order or, worse, being left in the dark with no information. With delivery management software, common problems can be handled professionally without costing your loyal customers.
The entire industry battles common problems like missed deadlines, delayed deliveries, clogged roads, high operational costs, and lack of driver accountability.
Luckily, we now have technology that can help solve these problems. Locate2u (ASX:Z2U) CEO, Steve Orenstein says technology is key to a logistics business’ success. “Twenty years ago, it simply wasn’t possible to do what we can do today with delivery.
“We didn’t have the technology for these efficiencies. However, many courier companies are still using outdated, inefficient methods. Many company owners and CEOs simply don’t know how solvable the last-mile delivery problem is,” says Orenstein.
Problem 1: How do you improve delivery delays?
Same-day delivery is still not common, making it a great way to set yourself apart from your competitors. Delays can impact your customer satisfaction.
If a certain expectation was created, it needs to be met, or a pretty good explanation needs to be given.
Delivery delays can also increase your costs. The business has to carry the financial burden of the missed delivery, which has to take place again.
If it was perishable goods, the company had to replace the order before attempting to deliver it again.
Delivery management software improves delivery operations
First, figure out what caused the delays. Are there discrepancies with delivery times?
Most of the time, it’s congestion on the road or a longer-than-usual route.
With route optimization, traffic jams can be avoided, and the most effective road can be taken. Even if new stops are added along the journey, route optimization works out the most effective route in minutes and is updated in real-time.
Read more about how delivery management improves delivery driver productivity.
WATCH: Route optimization for medical transport
Problem 2: How do you fix inefficient route planning?
Inefficient route planning wastes time, fuel, and money. A common problem in the logistics industry is delivery drivers, who have been in the industry for years. They believe certain roads are shorter than others when, in fact, they are not.
Taking the wrong routes can have a ripple effect on so many of the company’s expenses.
Delivery management software improves route planning
Delivery software’s algorithms find the fastest, most efficient routes in real time. A delivery driver can’t always predict what the weather will do or how an accident can affect peak traffic. But route optimization software can.
That’s why you need software that is easy to use and updates delivery drivers in real-time, as the routes are affected.
Delivery management software helps managers and drivers to make more informed decisions that can save time and costs.
Problem 3: How do you improve communication with customers?
One hour has passed, two hours have passed, and yet, there is still no courier man knocking on the customer’s door with a parcel in his hand. A customer has a certain expectation, and if that’s not met, he or she will get frustrated.
Yes, even if you don’t know what the problem is, communicating that there is a problem and that you are aware of it almost seems more bearable for some customers.
“Your delivery is delayed. No ETA.” This is a message that no customer enjoys reading. But at least they know you are aware of the delay, and there is a chance that you are working on fixing it.
A lack of real-time tracking links to customers can make loyal customers consider leaving. They want to track deliveries, every step of the last-mile delivery, until it reaches their front porch. Failed deliveries can harm your brand reputation.
How do you inform your customers of all the updates?
Delivery management software (DMS) improves communication
DMS allows for live tracking, with SMS delivery notifications sent to the customer’s phone. With this live link, the customer can follow as the parcel leaves the warehouse and makes its way to the address.
This might sound like a lot of work, but with delivery software, these messages are all automated, making your life easier.
Instead of answering all those calls from people enquiring about their individual delivery, the system works in the background by answering the questions.
Read more about seven reasons why you need better communication during delivery of parcels.
Problem 4: How do you cut high delivery operational costs?
High operational costs are a significant challenge for logistics companies, especially when deliveries are managed manually.
When drivers don’t use optimized routes, they use more fuel and take longer paths, costing the company more for every delivery.
It also leads to more time spent on the road. More time on the road also increases fuel consumption and the wear and tear on the vehicle. That can increase maintenance and insurance costs.
Delivery software cuts costs
Automating tasks with DMS lowers fuel costs and enables the business to use the fleet better.
With analytics, the delivery software can pinpoint which vehicles are not performing as they should and who should drive better to improve fuel consumption.
Read more about 8 ways delivery management cuts costs.
Problem 5: How do you improve driver accountability?
Here’s a pain point many businesses battle with their fleet: not being able to track driver performance makes it hard to address and adjust any issues.
You would never know if the driver is stopping in between deliveries for long periods to buy lunch every afternoon, delaying work. These unproductive stops and long breaks can make a driver unproductive and cost the company money.
DMS improves fleet visibility
DMS provides data on delivery activities, making it easier to manage and monitor driver performance.
Delivery software collects data, checking whether drivers are keeping up with on-time deliveries. It also tracks things like the number of stops, ideal time, and average speed.
Using this information, managers can evaluate how efficiently drivers complete their routes. These reports are automated and don’t require extra hours or extra work for managers.
Problem 6: How do I handle last-minute order changes?
With online orders dominating the digital age, last-minute changes from customers are common. Businesses struggle with this when they don’t have optimized software to handle this quickly and effectively.
Manually adjusting routes and orders can lead to a lot of human error and confusion. Think about miscommunication, order delivery errors, and schedules that are not lining up anymore.
In the end, it’s the customer who suffers.
Delivery software improves visibility
There is no need to panic when customers change their orders at the last minute, even if you are flooded with orders during peak season. Delivery software incorporates these sudden changes.
It automatically adjusts routes and notifies drivers in real time. Drivers won’t even notice a change, as it seamlessly accommodates new instructions.
Final journey: Delivery management adds value
Overcoming these common challenges can help your brand stand out from your competitors. It can divert customers to your business and drive up your sales.
Let’s face it: every business faces challenges and pitfalls, but it’s how you turn them into an opportunity to learn and improve that matters.
Delivery management helps businesses overcome common challenges that every business faces from time to time. The difference is that with the right software, problems are resolved and improved instead of damaging customer trust.
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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.
