Top Things To Consider While Building A Logistics App
App Development
05Mar 2021
Business expansion is every entrepreneur's dream. But have you ever thought of how frustrating it can become with the increasing orders, deliveries, and dispatches a day. But have you ever thought about how you will track the record of payments, stock, shipping, & customers single-handedly? You might recruit a big team, but coordination & communication between different individuals will cost you lots of money and noise pollution at the day's end. It can get annoying to go through monitoring transportation and logistics operations throughout the day. The logistics industry is all about continually running activities that need the right direction.
Management does not just mean coordination of things. Things are referred to as managed when they are coordinated efficiently & effectively. A mobile app for logistics could help you with the same.
There is a massive rise in on-demand delivery apps in recent years because of app user's demand for doorstep services. Business investors are showing interest in the logistics tracking app for ease of delivery businesses. As per Marketwatch, the worldwide logistics market estimates are anticipated to rise by $287.1 million in the coming 5 years.
Logistics is the easy way of planning the process of inventory, transportation, and shipment of your items under a specific format. As the numbers keep changing with the customer orders, logistics aim to make business owners notified of the demand & supply of items held in your warehouse.
In a nutshell, it makes a continual effort to align the supply with demand cost-effectively.
Hierarchy Of Supply Chain Management
1. Strategic Management – This level contains the whole substitute of the investors, C-level executives, and executive admins. It is a stage in which the long-term planning & decision-making is executed with the proper strategic planning.
2. Tactical Management – Here, the logistics middle management and engineers make monthly, quarterly, and yearly plans for the supply chain. Moreover, the medium-term decisions, minimizing risks, and cost control are also performed at this level.
3. Operational Management – This stage is where the logistics manager makes the decision-making in routing, dispatching, and workers' tasks. Moreover, one can access the day reporting and daily analysis of the worker's tasks, i.e., contractors, routine partners, and employee management.
4. Execution Management – Here, warehousing and transportation are performed with warehouse staff and drivers' assistance. The supply chain task execution is also preserved at this stage.
Above are the major aspects one needs to remember while working on logistics app development. It is essential to know the operational, tactical, and strategic levels to understand the project's planning & analysis.
What Is The Logistics Tracking App?
The term logistics originated from the military. It refers to the motion of equipment and supplies from one place to another systematically.
The logistics app refers to the tool that records your deliveries, orders, payments, all under one roof. It works to optimize your resources to generate the maximum output with few efforts. The logistics app is not just suitable for on-demand delivery apps but is equally effective for warehousing, transportation, and truck logistics apps, and many more.
Any mobile app that stores your resources and optimizes them for the best productivity could be referred to as a logistics app. Logistics apps do not need to be limited to business owners. It is equally useful for the middle-men and end-users, which we will go through later.
Logistics Industry Market Statistics
Suppose you wish to know about any sectors that it is best to get the facts and figures straight of that particular domain. It will provide you a clear idea of what this sector will be like and how promising it will be in the future.
It is forecasted that by the end of 2024, the logistics market will surpass the level of $28.71 million. You can say that the logistics sector's possible future is in the light of the proper development module. Suppose we go with the trucking & logistics sector's market share; then it will come to 35% according to the total analysis.
Importance Of Logistics App
When you are in the transportation, warehouse, or delivery business, you must be in continuous touch with what activities are being performed. These activities relate straight to the supply chain management if you deal in stocks or not.
The good entrepreneur must know where their services are being demanded, what the action plan is for it, and how their services work for sales. The logistics tracking app records all this 24/7 without much hassle.
There is a sudden increase in on-demand delivery apps & services, mainly due to Covid-19. People want everything at their doorstep as it makes them feel safe and saves their time. The logistics app development serves the purpose of effective and efficient delivery of products or services.
Let's learn about these reasons shortly for why you should choose the logistics app development to make your business a huge success.
1. Improved Customer Service
The on-demand logistics tracking app helps you to attend to your customer's orders as fast as possible. This enhances customer satisfaction levels. The user can have easy access to their order concerning track. Moreover, if they aren't available to receive the order, they can just communicate or reschedule delivery as per their convenience.
The logistics tracking app enables you to manage all the customer's on-demand needs without disturbing the entire process chain.
2. Brings Assurity
People are often afraid of delivery failures in on-demand delivery apps. Users do not want to purchase the item or service from a brand that doesn't mention the delivery details. The logistics tracking app facilitates you to get the data related to the route, expected arrival time, and order ID. This gives users a surety and chance of using your product or service more.
3. Constant Attention
In one of the surveys by medium, over 57% of people use mobile phones for business purposes, and on-demand logistics apps are a great idea. These apps help business owners to keep a constant eye on the current proceedings happening in the business.
The logistics tracking app displays the full detail of requested orders, attended requests, shipment processes, payments, and incomes all under one roof. This makes the entrepreneur confident with his item/service.
4. Professional Decorum
The logistics app development is done to optimize business activities and bring symmetry & professionalism to its nature. There is a constant update about the activities that are under function with the logistics tracking app.
Moreover, when they get all information about their orders, their shipment, and the estimated arrival time, it displays your brand's efficiency from the user's viewpoint. The constant efficiency & effectiveness gives the impression of mobile app company to the app users.
5. Cost Saving
Transportation & delivery is a hectic process. You need many people to act as an intermediary between the users and the dealer for seamless functioning. This mostly creates chaos and needs a big team to manage the tasks smoothly. The logistics tracking app allows for you to cut off the middleman in the process, which keeps the communication clear and saves you tons of money.
6. Reduces Paperwork
Go green with your business. It saves time and a tedious journalizing process. You can track the payment receipts, invoices, and your order records online in the logistics tracking app. There is no need to provide everything written over the paper. The logistics tracking app does all that automatically.
Besides tracking, the logistics app development is done to serve the business and industry needs, including lots of transactions and moving the pieces of equipment. It is not necessarily limited to the retail and food sector. Though on-demand delivery apps for food are huge in demand, logistics apps are also highly demanded in the following sectors.
Essential Things to Remember While Building Apps for Logistics
Technavio claims that the logistics market has a vast growth potential up to USD 95 billion between 2020 - 2024. Now since we know about the rising scope of logistics app development, let's learn about some of the essential things to consider while building apps for logistics.
These things could be segmented into 4 categories as follows:
- Control & Usability
- Features
- Development
- Cost
Control & Usability
Below are the main things that are included in the first pointer of control & usability.
User Application
In the user panel, there should be all the features rendered to the user that provide insights about the items and placing of order. The panel should be capable enough to direct the user from where to browse the products or services, book them, & then do the payment & tracking. It should even provide the user benefit of rescheduling the delivery date & time.
To add all the above in the panel, below are the sub-features you need while doing logistics app development.
1. Simple Sign Up Or Registration
The user should be able to log in easily into the app. There shouldn't be a lengthy process of manually filling in the information, even for signup. The person should easily register through email address, mobile number, or social media platform. Moreover, this information should be stored. So that later, when the person logs in, he lands straight on the app's main page.
2. Convenient App Navigation
The app should have a user-friendly experience. The graphics & placement of the features should be done so that the user doesn't get confused about how to use the app.
3. Bookings
When an app user goes through the app, they should view the product details that help them make the booking. The order placed with the Id and product description must be mentioned for user convenience.
4. Schedule Delivery
Once the booking happens, the app user should have the facility to plan the schedule. He can determine the location and fill in information if it is a residential space or office location for delivery timings. Alongside, having options to reschedule delivery is a major plus point.
5. Easy Payments
Offering users easy payment options raises the chance of more business orders. Building a mobile wallet for logistics apps will cut the process of manual card filling information that will save customers time.
6. Location Search
The app should be able to locate the user's geographical location. With the help of GPS mapping or geofencing, the mobile app should identify the user's place. This helps the brand and the user to filter out the searched results based on feasible locations around.
7. Ratings & Reviews
Users value those apps that value their user experience. By facilitating feedback and rating features, enable your users to share their purchase experience with you.
Driver Application
The driver is the bridge that links you with the app user. Build this connection solid with the foundation of a multifunctional smart panel. This panel is super crucial for on-demand delivery apps. Opt for an app development that renders smart solutions to all the driver's queries. This will bring delivery ease and also, professionalism to your business.
You can seek for the following sub-features to include while logistics tracking app development of the driver panel.
1. Order Requests
The panel can notify the drivers of the user's request based on their geographical location. The driver should have the facility to either accept or reject the order request depending on their convenience.
2. Onboarding
The drivers should easily mark their availability or attendance to receive orders, just like an attendance sheet. They can display their status online when they are prepared to take an order request and snooze off the notifications when offline.
3. Route Navigation
Enable an app with a GPS navigation system that renders the shortest route without traffic and the user's correct address. It saves their time and energy to locate the place.
4. Payments
Sync an inbuilt payment system that enables the users to accept the payment that users render at the time of order delivery. This will even let you keep track of payments & an eye for any unjust practices.
5. Bill Approvals
The driver panel must have a feature of bill approval that permits drivers to submit their bills and ask for reimbursements that occurred at the time of order delivery. It could be associated with toll taxes, fuel expenses, and much more.
6. Order Details
In the logistics app, keep a section in the driver panel to easily access details related to the order they are attending. Information such as the scheduled date, order ID, delivery location, total billing amount, payment status, etc.
Admin Panel
The admin is the support system of any business. Being the owner, you must know your warehousing, orders, their shipment, and revenues. Handle all that with mobile app development for logistics which includes an admin panel. The sub-features that should be listed under it are as below:
1. Dashboard
The panel should include a dashboard from where it's easy for the owner to access all details of the placed orders, orders shipped, and warehouse.
2. Driver Management
This feature will permit the admin to have a track of drivers that are enrolled with the app. For instance, the number of orders they have delivered, their ratings, and user feedback, and a lot of other information.
3. Fleet Management
This is an essential feature to consider while building a logistics tracking app. Here, the admin has access to know the status of orders shipped so that if he needs to inquire about any of the orders, he could get the details from the app.
4. Bills & Tariffs
The ledger of bills and invoices should also be synced into the app. It helps the admin keep a log of all transactions related to the business & intermediary involved.
5. Push Notification
This feature allows the admin to share the special messages and notifications to the middlemen, users, and drivers. The messages about discounts, offers, or any latest introductory launch. All this could be modified and sent to the concerned parties via push notifications.
FEATURE
Additional Features
A few additional features could be a great idea. Including more features in your mobile app would make your app more unique and user-friendly. You can include features like options to chat. The user and driver can have a chat & so could the user or shipping authority. They can discuss particular needs or preferences for delivery ease.
The other feature you can add is displaying your app in multi-languages based on different countries or regions. Therefore, adding more features will act like USP to your logistics app.
DEVELOPMENT
1. Front End Development
For logistics mobile app development, you should visit the top logistics app development companies in 2021 that are adept at delivering what you are demanding. The app development company should have a proficient project manager that understands your needs. A smart and innovative designer designs UI, which keeps the audience engrossed as UI experience matters a lot.
Always remember to look for app developers that bring your idea to life with smart display and programming.
2. Back End Development
Backend development is considered the support system of any app development. Opt for the app development company with great experience in the framework over which you wish to design your mobile app. In case you are confused about which framework to pick, book free mobile app consultation to know.
The backend developers code your mobile app and turn your vision into smart reality. Try to reach out to expert backend developers that render you various features easily over a single app.
Last but not least, the testers ensure there aren't any mistakes. They recheck and run your app via various processes to ensure seamless working.
Development Cost
For building logistics apps, the most vital thing is to discover the cost estimation for it. The app's costing depends on your needs and wants to add or minus features in your mobile app.
The cost pricing even fluctuates from the app's nature to nature. Meaning, there will be different costs for on-demand delivery apps for fleet management and different for food. Moreover, the cost depends on how many panels you wish to make for your app with the features mentioned above.
The Bottom Line
Creating mobile apps for logistics is not a piece of cake. But for logistics app development, you must focus on 3 things: purpose, need, & budget. Ponder over the purpose for which you want your app, what features you want to include, and the budget you are willing to invest for the same.
Once you can respond to these questions, you can reach out to our expert team and ask them to create you the finest apps. However, keep in mind the features mentioned above as they are essential for your logistics tracking app.
Harnil Oza is the CEO & Founder of Hyperlink InfoSystem. With a passion for technology and an immaculate drive for entrepreneurship, Harnil has propelled Hyperlink InfoSystem to become a global pioneer in the world of innovative IT solutions. His exceptional leadership has inspired a multiverse of tech enthusiasts and also enabled thriving business expansion. His vision has helped the company achieve widespread respect for its remarkable track record of delivering beautifully constructed mobile apps, websites, and other products using every emerging technology. Outside his duties at Hyperlink InfoSystem, Harnil has earned a reputation for his conceptual leadership and initiatives in the tech industry. He is driven to impart expertise and insights to the forthcoming cohort of tech innovators. Harnil continues to champion growth, quality, and client satisfaction by fostering innovation and collaboration.
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