If you are a business owner who wants to expand their business globally, then this article is for you. You may already know the transportation and logistics sector is one of the most crucial factors in the worldwide success of a business. Without the areas mentioned above, you will not be able to run your company internationally. In order to clarify, the Logistics sector is the reason for the smooth transportation of any business's goods and materials.
Not only that, but the industry is also responsible for different processing related to transportation, including supply chain management, warehousing, material handling, and many others. Now, for the logistics sector to perform efficiently, it needs tremendous technological support. It is the stage when Logistics Mobile App Development becomes indispensable.
Moreover, in this article, you will have in-depth information about the On-demand App Development. So let’s dig in:
What are the Types of Transportation and Logistics Management Mobile App?
There are four main types of logistics and transportation apps to help you with your business. They are:
Fleet-management apps
These types of apps are used to record every data related to the management of the fleet. By assigning the app to the driver of the vehicle, you will be able to do fleet-management quite easily with a thorough mobile solution.
Apps on demand
On-demand apps such as logistics management mobile apps are the latest trend in the business arena. These apps have several benefits since you will be able to deliver your goods to your users according to their requirements. The app is especially crucial in the logistics business because it lets you make a connection with your client quite smoothly.
Warehouse apps
In any logistics business, managing a warehouse could get pretty hectic. But with the help of the warehouse apps, storing and accessing all the data related to the warehouse becomes a piece of cake. By the inclusion of the app, you will be able to maintain a good and precise management process.
Tracking apps
These apps are there to help you track the position and location of your delivery driver. Through this app, you would know the time-to-time update on your delivery and the fleet-route.
Essential Features of a Mobile App for Your Logistics Company
The features mentioned below are essential for the working of any logistics app. They are classified into three parts. They are:
Customer Panel
In any logistics app, this panel is used by the customers. The following features are standard in it:
Registration - It is a pretty simple process. The customers would need to sign-up for the app through either their email id or one of their social media accounts.
Vehicle list - When the user registers into the app, they would be diverted to a file that contains different vehicles. They can choose the vehicle according to their convenience so that your company could do the delivery on one trip.
Booking of vehicle - By entering their preferred date and time, any user can book the automobile by selecting it without any problem.
Alerts displayed in real-time - In this panel, the users will get every detail and information regarding delivery status, tracking or any other service daily. The user will even get to know when the delivery vehicle has left the warehouse.
Payment Gateway - This panel is for users who choose to pay online. The process is completed with a payment gateway. They will be provided with the bill through the app.
Consignment tracking - Through this panel, the user will get to know the location of their package right after it's on the delivery vehicle. The feature also lets users track their parcel on a real-time basis.
Review - The rate and review panel come after the completion of the process of delivery. Users will be able to rate the service for delivering their package.
If you want to enhance your Transportation Mobile App Development, then you can also add the estimated charges panel in the app. Through this panel, the users will be able to see the estimated charges on their desired vehicle.
Driver Panel
This panel of the app is for the drivers of the vehicles. They are:
Registration - The drivers will also have to register to the app in the same way as the users. That is by signing up through a social media account or a valid email id.
Management request - Through this section, the drivers get requests from the users for delivering the shipment and manage the packages until the order gets delivered.
Details of the shipper - In this section, the driver gets to know every aspect of the user like address, name, contact number, and location.
Tracking the route - With the help of GPS, drivers are now able to detect and determine the location route without any problem.
To make your app more efficient, you can add the "payment receipt" feature on the driver-side of your app.
Admin Panel
To develop logistics management mobile apps, you must enhance the admin panel since the app is centered on this panel. Some crucial features of this panel are:
Dashboard - In this section, the admin gets to see every information related to the users and the drivers. They will be able to see every completed and pending order details live.
Monitoring the driver - Through this section, the admin is able to monitor the activities of the driver even if he/she is on the road. They also get to manage any pending orders through the panel.
Push Notification - The admin can send any notification regarding an order, payment, and more through this feature.
Bills - By this feature, the admin gets to confirm, approve, or analyze any pending bills.
Management of vehicles - Through this section, the admin gets to track and manage the vehicles. Some apps even allow the admin to monitor the fuel consumption of the vehicle to avoid any discrepancies.
Technology Stack Needed for On-demand App Development of Logistics
In order to create a successful transport and logistics app, you need to choose the correct technology stack. The following technologies are essential for the betterment of any app in the current world.
For triggering any notification, you need to use Twilio or Firebase.
If you want to authenticate login, you need to use Twilio or Nexmo.
In case you are trying to incorporate payment gateway in your app, then use Paypal, Braintree, or any other popular e-Wallets.
To completely fulfill your app's database requirements, you should use Hbase, Cassandra, or MongoDB.
If you want your app works on any cloud platform, then consider choosing Google, Azure, or AWS.
If you want every live analysis on time, then choose Hadoop, BigData, Spark, Cisco, and many more.
Development Process Needed to Build an On-demand App
An on-demand app also goes through several processes of development before getting complete. Below given is the processes for the same:
The first step in the event of a logistics app is the planning of the concept.
The second step includes the visualization and design of the app.
The third step includes the leading construction and development of the app.
The fourth stage includes training and testing the app for real-life usage.
The fifth stage includes the optimization and final launch of the app.
In order to complete the entire process, a full team of Logistic Management Services is essential. Moreover, the group includes a manager for the whole project, Designers, developers, and finally, quality-testers.
Exclusive Tips For Logistics Management App Development
1. Reduce your app to essential
A report says 77% of users leave the app within 3 days after the installation. This is because users install many apps to try and abandon most of them within the first 3-7 days. The reason behind this is the app’s complexity and difficulty in navigation. Sometimes, to keep the app simple, developers end up making the logistics app lifeless, resulting in a minus point.
As for the decent apps, it’s said users retained for 7 continuous days stick around longer. It concludes how critical the first 3-7 days are to hook users on your app. So, the question is how to make it simple yet elegant. Here are a few tips:
- Keep your app features limited to its core functionality
- Offer the most straightforward support system to cut short customer’s time
- Follow users’ hearts by accepting & implementing their meaningful suggestions
- Eliminate unnecessary requests and make service execution quick
- Try to avoid frequent app updates
2. Intuitive & Responsive UI/UX
Simple UI/UX not only attracts but also retains more users than fancy designs that require time to understand. It accelerates the process for users. Users simply install your logistics app, register, and get started with your services intuitively.
Besides an intuitive app design, user experience equally matters for the success/failure of your app. You should never forget there are tons of devices with various screen resolutions. Your users could be using any device. Therefore, mind to develop a logistics management app that runs equally on different devices.
3. Focus on loading time
The speed of your app reflects its performance which is essential as life and death. Nobody likes to stare at the screen, waiting for results to appear for more than 3-4 seconds. On the other hand, the loading time has been a setback for app development that you must prevent. Because loads of alternatives are out there to replace your logistics app as soon as your app halts.
Above all, the transportation business’s dynamic nature calls for rapid task execution. Hence, it’s better to achieve as little loading time as possible. You can test analytics, fields, sever, and other third-party connections to ensure a fast loading time before the release.
4. Take feedback from early adopters
To develop a user-friendly transportation application, you have to prioritize your users. By offering them a chance to share their opinions on your app concept. Their constructive criticism will help you create a roadmap to improve your application. By listening to their feedback, you can grasp what features & functionalities to keep in the app.
Developing a Minimum Viable Product is the apt choice to test your logistics app idea from the actual market. You can continue developing your app based on early adopters’ feedback. This way, building a user-friendly app becomes more effortless. Bonus, you can share the MVP with potential stakeholders to collect funds for further development.
5 Latest Tech Trends In Transport & Logistics App Development
1. Blockchain in Transport & Logistics
It makes logistics business operations efficient and cost-saving.
Documents on a shared distributed ledger ensure secured coordination.
Approvals & custom clearance become quicker with the help of smart contracts.
Secures data across the transportation and logistics app network.
2. Cloud in Transport and Logistics
Offer robust scalability and flexibility
Come up with better data security
It makes data accessible any time, anywhere
Extend control on aspects of the logistics operation
3. IoT in Transport and Logistics
Real-time traceability
Helps in threat detection and prevention
Efficient in monitoring real-time vehicle data, including fuel & engine maintenance
Reduces operational cost and improves productivity
4. RFID/Barcode in Transport and Logistics
Paperless digital inventory tracking
It helps in warehouse management, freight transportation, manufacturing, and retailing.
No resource requires to manage
Provides precise data compared to human work
Provides high levels of data security and decrease the amount of time and labor needed
5. AI/ Business Intelligence in Transport and Logistics
Improve transportation forecasting
Helps in route optimization, thereby reducing shipping cost
Enhances data collection and analysis and helps understand different datasets
Automate accounting tasks
What is the Cost of an On-Demand App for Logistics and Transportation?
The cost of the logistics management mobile apps depends on many factors like platform choice, integration of special features, duration of the entire development process, and many more. That is why the cost could be so varying. Moreover, it could range from $10,000 to $40000.
Final Words
Building an on-demand logistics and transportation app is not an easy task. Every aspect of the process is essential for the successful completion of the logistics management mobile apps. Since, in today's fast-paced world, you have to be on par with your competitors, you need to opt mobile app development for the betterment of your company.
Sanjay Kidecha
CMO
by Manav Patel
by Sagar Bagasariya
by Mihir Mistry
by Drashti Pandya
