The logistics industry, being the backbone of trading, plays a crucial role in boosting a country’s economy. The major factors that determine the success of a logistics company are precision and promptness. Therefore, it has been observed that leading logistics enterprises utilize smart and automated mobile app solutions to eliminate human errors and maintain the desired standards.
Mobile logistics apps are indeed powerful tools that boost efficiency and streamline the workflow. They help in replacing the traditional methodologies that are not only time-consuming but also lack efficiency. The key functions of Logistics Mobile Apps are:
- Efficient fleet management via tracking of routes
- Supervision of a vehicle’s location via GPS
- Tracking of cargo employing smart technologies such as RFID, NFC, etc.
- Booking of clients’ parcels or cargo
- Managing stocks and warehouses
So, looking at these indispensable advantages, you should be thinking of building a robust logistics app. But before hiring mobile app developers for
architecting a profitable logistics application for your business, you must know the essential features of such an app.
This article enlists the must-have features of a competent Logistics Mobile App. Let’s get started.
The Must-have Features and Functionalities of a Logistics Mobile app
GPS-enabled tracking of vehicles and their drivers
GPS-enabled tracking notifies the owner or managers about every move of the driver and the vehicle’s location in real-time. So, the managers can effortlessly supervise whether a
specific vehicle is operating according to the pre-decided schedule or whether the driver is on-time or is running late. This way, the managers come to know about the exact arrival time of drivers, based on which they can assign the next task. Thus, GPS tracking ensures efficient time-management.
Prior planning of routes
If the drivers are allowed to select the route, they might end up choosing a longer route, which may cause a delay in the delivery time and raise fuel costs. So, the logistic management software in the app should offer the feature that calculates the shortest path and then assigns a pre-planned route to a particular trip. Syncing this functionality with digital maps is advisable to provide accurate directions to drivers. Owing to this feature drivers are bound to take the pre-planned route thereby saving time and fuel costs. Furthermore, combining this functionality with first tracking will allow you to monitor whether they are complying with the desired route or not. Click here
a definitive guide to route planning
to know more about route optimization.Drivers’ Daily Log Schedule
The drivers’ daily log feature records the daily log information of drivers. This information comprises the distance traveled, the total number of deliveries and pickups in a day, working hours, number of road trips made by a driver, etc. These records prove useful to drivers and employers unanimously.
Notifications displaying the nearest Support Center during Emergencies
Quite often drivers encounter problems such as shortage of fuel and vehicle breakdowns while their trips. So, the fleet owners must devise a strategy to deal with such emergencies. Wouldn’t it be great if logistics apps have a feature to locate the nearest available fuel stations and vehicle repair shops? Well, this is a standard feature that a logistics mobile app must have. This feature provides information about the nearest gas stations, repair shops, and towing services along with their contact numbers to the drivers. It also notifies the drivers about the fuel levels and sends fuel shortage warning signs in advance.
Offline Support
Logistics business apps, particularly those dealing with supply chain management, involve tracking information of drivers, traveling routes, and vehicles. As such, these apps are likely to encounter connectivity woes or entire loss of connectivity in some areas. Therefore, the presence of offline support is essential so that the app is functional regardless of the location or connectivity. The drivers should be able to execute tasks like entering data, using GPS, updating the status of assignments, etc. anywhere, anytime.
Support for Multiple Languages
The multiple language support feature is desirable specifically on the drivers’ side of the logistics mobile application. This is because drivers hail from diverse backgrounds and are generally well-versed in their respective local languages. So, an app that can be operated in their local language will help them to fully utilize the app, thereby reducing the challenges encountered while traveling.
Other impressive features
- Features that facilitate booking appointments with clients save time, and efforts. Such a feature allows the clients to self-service, wherein the clients can view your calendar and choose the free slots available.
- Certain apps offer a chat function for communicating with the fleet via images and text messages.
- Cloud-based features to optimize inventory help in forecasting and planning the inventory accordingly. They also detect obsolete and excessive stock levels.
Final Words:
These remarkable features of logistics mobile apps save a lot of time, effort, and expenses needed to manage the workflow of a logistics company. Apart from these must-have functionalities, businesses may also include certain on-demand features during mobile app development that meet the specific requirements of their drivers and customers.
If you would like to hire proficient mobile app developers for building an on-demand logistics mobile app for your business; Biz4Solutions, a distinguished mobile app development company is worth a try. Our team of expert professionals has 9 + years of experience in crafting customized software solutions for our global clientele. For any technical assistance or queries reach us at sales.enquiry@biz4solutions.com