Introduction
Running a start up or large-scale business these days requires covering a lot of ground including how products and services are delivered to existing and new customers. Even with massive developments in transportation and technology, there still exist challenges in distributing goods to people on time, anytime and everywhere. How does one get a leap ahead of routing delivery in the 21st century?
Challenges in Route Delivery
A business transaction can be narrowed down into 4 models: (1) business-to-consumer, B2C (2) business-to-business, B2B (3) consumer-to-consumer, C2C and (4) consumer-to-business, C2B. With the unique characteristics in each relationship, one must have a realistic view of business logistics and a little bit of the options out there that digital technology now offers. A strategic businessperson should also know what hurdles come with help routing delivery to expecting customers and how to practically map routes in cost-effective and time-efficient ways.
- Unique Customer Specifications
Both loyal and eager consumers require specific delivery time windows and instantaneous communication whether through online desktop or mobile chatting or electronic correspondence. Should there be any deviation from the expected time of shipment or arrival of goods, the customer will have to be informed through real-time tracking systems and the logistics team will have to be equipped with ways to find alternative delivery pathways. These can all be done now through route optimization software that reduces route planning time thereby positively impacting customer communication.
- Real-time Data Reporting
Delivery tracking systems – whether accessed through desktop computers or mobile devices like smartphones and tablets – have revolutionized the way businesses drive operational efficiency and data reporting. With these applications or software in place, both parties (the supplier and buyer) can monitor the goods delivery process. Some of the amazing ways this is done include the following, all of which are essential in documenting key performance indexes (KPIs) which can be used for business and employee evaluations:
- Send notifications on completed deliveries and goods statuses
- Report delays or changes in delivery routes due to varying transportation conditions (such as re-routing, heavy traffic, weather-related issues)
- Breakdown the distribution activity into stages with estimated times
- Diverse Home or Work Delivery Options
Different customers require different residential or workplace delivery specifications. Usually, newer customers will have one or two delivery addresses but existing or long-term patrons will have several home, work or business address details. This puts pressure on the business by catering to their needs and planning diverse routes for pick up or delivery at any specified time. With a tracking program or system in place, the logistics team is able to manage shipments and customer service experience better.
Even with the growing supply of drivers in the market, the demand for moving goods freely still surpasses what business can provide. Using route optimization software can help to manage and address short staffing issues and improve a business’ employee experience. Keep track of the delivery team performance by considering their work day preferences, break times, distance-to-residence status, and overall number of hours of work in employee timetable and see the business’ staff satisfaction rates soar.
Digitizing Logistics in the 21st Century
The key here is to be able to minimize delivery time and increase fuel efficiency through mapping effective routes that can target customer time windows and satisfy the distribution team schedules. The best route optimization system should also be easy-to-use and can report real-time data including both macro (such as number of destinations and distribution channels, distance and estimated times, volume of deliveries) and micro (like the amount and length of stops in-between deliveries) parameters.
Conclusion
MapAnything is full-route management software that can deliver the above metrics to any start up or medium- to large-scale companies that want to strengthen their sales force, focus on territory optimization, enable dynamic routing for multiple destinations, and prioritize data collection. Not only is the application fully customizable but it also employs visually-appealing representations through a user-friendly interface. MapAnything is a complete program that saves time and fuel costs, improves business operational efficiency and workforce productivity, increases positive consumer experience, and generates more revenues.