How to choose the right software for managing last mile deliveries?

Today, thanks to the exponential growth of the e-commerce market, the habits and behaviours of end consumers have changed drastically. Digital shoppers want to receive their packages quickly, with more efficient deliveries and at a lower cost.

In order to meet these requirements and listen to the needs of consumers, companies must reduce logistics costs and optimize last mile deliveries.

Last mile delivery is the most expensive phase of the shipping process: controlling the process means eliminating overruns, increasing performance and simplifying the work of partners. In order to always have everything under control, there are dedicated software applications that can make the activities of your company easier, generating benefits in terms of time and money. Let’s see together 5 elements to consider when it comes to software for managing last mile deliveries.

What is a delivery management software?

Last mile delivery is the last stage of the delivery process. In other words, when a product is purchased and transits from a shelf to a truck, the last mile delivery represents the step in which the package arrives at the buyer’s address.

Management software was created to help companies control this process. Depending on the functionalities it provides, this software can offer the possibility of monitoring the fleet in real time, obtaining KPIs on deliveries and optimizing the drivers’ routes.

In general, the goal of a fleet management software is to provide the company with data to work on, to optimize the process and reduce costs.

How can you optimize your fleet’s delivery system?

According to a BusinessInsider statistic, last mile deliveries are the most expensive part in terms of time and money, representing about 53% of the entire shipping process.

The problems of last mile deliveries are linked to several factors that, if you deal with deliveries, you will surely have experienced in your daily life.

Let’s talk, for example, about problems such as:

• An ever-increasing number of parcels to be managed at an ever-increasing speed, due to the growth of e-commerce.

• Minimize lost deliveries and the need to redeliver at the same address several times.

• Deliveries in the city, with congested traffic and restricted traffic areas.

• Better manage your vehicle fleet trying to minimize technical downtime due to maintenance.

This generates the risk of creating an expensive and inefficient system, but it can be managed, optimized and controlled through software.

Technology can become your best ally in this situation, because it helps you to read data, understand the progress of your deliveries and simplify activities.

What are the factors to consider in an efficient delivery system?

There are 5 main factors to consider when it comes to optimizing last mile deliveries:

• Cost reduction
• Accessibility to data
• Route planning
• Real-time monitoring
• Maintenance management

All these activities can be conducted with the help of software. But let’s see in detail what are the benefits you can get thanks to technology.

# 1 – Cost reduction

As explained above, last mile delivery can be very expensive. Software can help you control these high costs and reduce overruns, managing the entire process in the best possible way. A few examples?

With a software such as GoTraxx, you can monitor your fuel consumption by comparing it with the optimal ones and, by planning the routes of your fleet, you can also warn customers of the courier’s arrival, to save time and fuel. With the time saved, you can make more deliveries and limit your employees’ overtime, increasing profitability.

# 2 – Accessibility to data

To know the strengths and weaknesses of your fleet, it is essential to have historical data. Reading the data means understanding which are your critical areas, intervening to improve them and optimizing deliveries. For example, by choosing GoTraxx, you will be able to access a control panel with the main performance indicators of your activities. The data is presented in a clear and intuitive way, to facilitate reading even at a glance.

# 3 – Increased efficiency

The efficiency of a last mile delivery system can be significantly improved by putting some actions into practice. These actions can be “suggested” and guided by an Artificial Intelligence. For example, route planning times can be cut by 90% using software.

# 4 – Real-time monitoring

Delivery tracking in real time offers a real “snapshot” of daily deliveries.

With GoTraxx, for example, you can have a complete picture of these aspects, through the location of your vehicles, the control over deliveries and the verification of the behaviour of your drivers.

# 5 – Maintenance management

Another key point for an efficient delivery system is maintenance management. Vehicle maintenance is important because it extends their life and ensures their safety, for your company, your customers, your partners.

By the use of software you can have all the deadlines related to the maintenance of your fleet under control, without any safety risks.

How to choose the right software for last mile delivery?

We’ve told you a lot about technology and how you can use it to improve the performance of your fleet. But what are the elements to consider before choosing the right software for last mile deliveries?

A good software must be:

• Intuitive. Technology needs to improve your fleet management, not complicate it
• Packed with useful features to improve the efficiency of your fleet. Access to data, monitoring and reporting are essential to allow you to optimize deliveries
• Simple to use. The right data presented in the best way, with no duplicate functions or incomprehensible screens
• Able to save you time and money. Technology can do the “dirty work” for you, controlling fuel consumption, optimizing routing and providing you with updated statistics on your drivers’ trips

With GoTraxx you can have all this and easily integrate it into your fleet: with our software you can control the whole process with a real-time notification system, and an updated control panel. In a single suite, you can access all the tools you need to optimize your fleet, simplify the work of your partners and reduce delivery costs.

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