Last-mile delivery is the final step of the supply chain. More than often, this is the epitome of consumer satisfaction. The dynamic nature of the business can make the management a stressful job.
To meet the growing demands of the customers, there is a need to come up with a solution that can solve managing the last mile delivery problem efficiently. This is where a fleet management software comes in.
I will tell you the 8 top reasons why your company must invest in a fleet management software and integrate it with the last-mile delivery.
1. Inventory tracking can be cost-efficient
With the best fleet management software, you will lay your hands on a technology that can help you monitor the driver and the vehicle until the end of the destination. The management can keep a tab on the fleets’ movement and ensure that it’s on the right way.
This feature can help you keep your goods safe, help your drivers when they are stuck, send help in distress among other things.
It helps you understand if the fleet is moving away from the diverted route or if more than the expected time is being taken for any delivery.
Tracking along the delivery route allows businesses to see where inefficiencies lie, to better plan their routes going forward.
From large companies to small ones, the ability to track where all drivers are at any given time results in greater efficiency, both on the cost as well as the operations sides.
2. Monitors drivers, helps them with navigation
Just like the fleet, the software can be used to keep a tab on the drivers as well. Constant supervision ensures that your delivery package is safe, good driving practices are followed and company rules are being adhered too.
The managers can monitor key metrics including success deliveries, on-time deliveries, time taken on the road, customer feedback scores, distance traveled, and much more. This can be filtered as per the category of the delivery, driver, day, week, or even by the hour of the day.
It also helps you identify the weak spots of the drivers. This data can provide a lot of fodder for training classes where the management and the driver can both work upon the specified areas.
3.Optimizes routes and reduces idle time of the vehicle
Despite the best of planning, chances are that things might go haywire. Traffic, vehicle breakdown, driving speed can all be a speed breaker in the faster delivery process.
This is why you need real-time monitoring with route optimization. When integrated with a fleet management solution, the last mile delivery application can enable businesses to optimize delivery routes in real-time and hence avoid unnecessary delays.
The software automatically optimizes delivery routes by automatically factoring elements like time, location, vehicle capacity, and estimated traffic. It then recommends efficient routes accordingly.
There are times when the consumer is not available for taking delivery. Any change in the route is automatically messaged to the driver through the inbuilt communication system.
As a result, drivers can receive updates on the best possible route to take to ensure faster deliveries. This helps them not only to increase the number of deliveries but is also a big timesaver and a cost-cutting factor.
4.Auto dispatch
With auto dispatch, the system automatically assigns the most suitable driver for the right task at the right time. Hence, the managers have nothing to fret about.
The deliveries can be allotted automatically based on driver location and route distance. The managers can put in an option to limit the number of tasks per driver, to avoid burnout.
The auto dispatcher also looks after assigning deliveries on the fly. Dynamic on-demand dispatching, formulating a route accordingly can be easily done by the software
5.Helps in managing third-party sources
Many times delivery companies fall short of hands or vehicles. This is when a third party system or a crowdsourced driver agency comes into the picture.
The fleet management system allows you to manage these third party sources on the same dashboard and through the same system as your own fleet.
6.Improves transparency, accountability
Real-time monitoring, GPS navigation, route optimization ensures that drivers take the most efficient routes to execute deliveries. It reduces drivers’ idle time and you can be sure that there are no diversions.
The software allows management to know exactly when an order was placed, who placed it, who will deliver the order, when exactly will the delivery be completed, which route is being taken, and much more.
Additionally, the proof of delivery in the form of a digital signature or a digital timestamp is a concrete delivery proof. This can be used in cases of legal troubles or consumer complaints. This can also be integrated with the software.
7.Enhances consumer satisfaction
Right from placing the order, shipping information to when will they will receive the order, everything is at the customer’s fingertips.
Because the customer can also have a look at the estimated time of delivery, they do not have to wait all day long. The in-built communication system also allows them to directly interact with the drivers in case of a change of time or address.
8.Boosts productivity
With the software, the management can have an overlook at all aspects of the delivery in one system. The software takes care of all the needs — fuel management, scheduling maintenance, need for extra drivers or fleets.
It also reduces fuel consumption, shrinks managerial expenses, improves the consumer experience, and ensures client retention.
Conclusion
By integrating the GPS fleet management software with the last mile delivery system, companies can cut costs, build their brand value, and enhance the customer experience.
It will no longer be a strenuous job. So, when are you making the move?
Click here to read the Best Guide To Fleet Management Software
