The Role Of Dispatch Management In Delivery Tracking Software

The client of today is drastically different from the customer of just a few years ago. The fast rise of Ecommerce and the "Amazon-ization" of home delivery (same-day, 24-hour) has provided customers with an abundance of options! He wants alternatives, choices, timeliness, free delivery, and so on.

Furthermore, your customer wants to know everything about his order at all times, such as where it is, the ETA, any potential delays, what if he changes his delivery window (and so on).

However, providing this level of convenience to customers has made order delivery and tracking a complex and difficult task. It necessitates persistent concentration, extensive resources, and the utilization of cutting-edge technology.

So, how can a retailer or logistics company not only run a successful and profitable delivery operation but also keep their customers informed of the sequence of activities that are carried out chronologically from the time an order is placed?

The answer is through Dispatch Tracking and its control.

The term "dispatch" refers to the process of distributing resources (workers, drivers, cars, packing materials, and services) to efficiently handle product transit and delivery. It is at the heart of a well-optimized order-fulfillment experience.

2) Why is dispatch management becoming more important?

You already have an efficient distribution system. So, why should you devote more time, money, and resources to dispatch management? Isn't everything under control?

Customer Expectations are Changing

Customers nowadays demand their orders (particularly online orders) to be delivered as soon as possible. Delivery firms and packaging divisions are under increasing strain as e-commerce grows. You must have an effective dispatch procedure to meet client expectations.

However, with rapidly changing customer demands and trends, efficient dispatch management is becoming increasingly important for running a profitable business operation.

Here are some of the most compelling reasons:

i) Same-day delivery: Needless to say, we like receiving our packages as soon as possible! Same-day, next-day, and 30-minute grocery...Even a decade ago, shipping times like this were unheard of!

Customers are accustomed to quick delivery times, and as a vendor, you must provide them to compete.

With such short delivery cycles, good dispatch management becomes even more critical. Without it, your managers will not only be unable to organize the necessary shifts for qualified personnel but there will also be no smooth delivery operation, limiting your ability to send that order out the warehouse door on time.

ii) Constant margin pressure: We live in a time of fierce competition! Innovation is fleeting, technology proliferates quickly, and possibilities and substitutes abound! There are thousands of rivals who sell the same things as you. The competition for new clients and market share is fierce.

The intensity of this rivalry keeps margins under continual strain. Allocating a disproportionate amount of money to speedy delivery will be counterproductive.

A reliable dispatch system is the foundation of a successful delivery operation. It saves time, and money, and eliminates mistakes. You will not attain logistical excellence unless you have optimized dispatch and tracking systems.

iii) Driver attrition: According to common figures, driver attrition ranges between 33% and 50% every year. Unfortunately, businesses frequently overlook the importance of top-quality delivery drivers to the profitability of a delivery operation!

Efficient dispatch management finds competent drivers, creates an appropriate payment plan, and ensures that they become long-term assets for the organization. It optimizes work hours, gives drivers necessary rest moments, and prioritizes driver needs.

3) Dispatch management: critical stages

A dispatch operation consists of numerous critical processes that vary depending on your business configuration, 3PL (and so on).

Some common steps are given below:

i) Order processing: it?includes receiving, confirming, and processing order information. Inventory audits are performed, and the delivery is prepared for shipment.

i) Packing: Once the order has been processed, the products are packed in appropriate boxes and containers to prevent damage during travel.

ii) Labelling: The containers are labeled with important information (customer address, method of transport, specific instructions).

iii) Carrier selection: The shipping business or carrier is chosen. Delivery address, shipment mode, timetable (and so forth) are all criteria.

iv) Parcel transportation: Depending on the carrier/transportation mode, the items are transferred to 3PL warehouses or even direct-to-consumer.

v) Delivery tracking: A tracking number is used to trace the delivery during the shipment procedure. This allows the sender and consumer to track its location and estimated arrival time.

vi) Final delivery: Delivery of the shipment to the recipient's address. The delivery person finished it. As evidence of delivery, an e-signature, photo, and barcode scan are used to confirm delivery.

3) What exactly is delivery tracking software?

As previously stated, "goods dispatch" is the process of delivering things to their final destination.

When a shipment is shipped, the order delivery process begins at the point of origin and continues to the final destination. This might mean loading products onto a vehicle, rail, ship, or plane, depending on the mode of travel.

Once dispatched and on its way, the order must be tracked as it passes through various delivery zones and pit stops. As previously said, this has grown increasingly important in modern times for a variety of reasons, including the stresses of on-time delivery applied by ever-demanding clients and increased competition.

This is when delivery tracking software with robust integrated functions like delivery tracking comes in handy. It collects all dispatch-related data and distributes it to all stakeholders via cloud servers, data repositories, and real-time notifications.

This enables total transparency in the end-to-end activities involved in sending a product from its point of origin (e.g., the manufacturer's warehouse or factory) to its end user (e.g., the consumer).

It facilitates operational coordination between dispatchers, drivers, and available resources (e.g., fleet cars, packaging services, and supplies). It also simplifies operations and resource usage across the supply chain.

As previously said, dispatch management is an essential component of a successful delivery operation. In today's market, contemporary technologies like dispatch tracking and delivery software are vital to success.

Get a FREE Trial of delivery software?

Read More about The Role Of Dispatch Management In Delivery Tracking Software