Shipment Tracking Software: What It Does, Which Features Matter and How to Roll It Out
What is shipment tracking software and which features matter? Live location, proof of delivery, e-waybills, integration and rollout steps for hauliers.
9 min read
Logistics & Transport Software
Logistics Software: Know Where the Load Is Before the Customer Calls
Logistics software gives a transport or distribution company one record for dispatch plans, vehicle positions, proof of delivery and trip costs. The operations desk sees where a load is without ringing the driver, customers receive status updates automatically, and delivery paperwork reaches head office as the trip ends. Digital Bridge builds it around the way your operation runs.
What frustrates a shipper most is often not the delay itself but not being told about it. If the operations desk finds out where a load is by ringing the driver, every answer it gives is a guess, and while proof of delivery sits on paper, invoicing waits too.
We build transport and distribution companies one system covering the whole chain, from dispatch planning to proof of delivery and trip costing. Drivers use a mobile app, the operations team uses a web console, and both work from the same record. It connects to your order source and your accounting software.
What Does Logistics Software Cover?
Dispatch Planning & Routing
Vehicle loads are built from the order pool with capacity and weight checks, and stops are sequenced geographically. The aim is fewer empty kilometres and fewer half-loaded trips.
Live Vehicle Tracking
Position, speed and stop durations appear live on the console. If a vehicle leaves its planned route, the operations team is alerted automatically.
Mobile Proof of Delivery
Drivers close each drop in the app with a signature, photo and any shortage or damage note. Proof of delivery reaches head office as the trip ends, with no paperwork to chase.
Automatic Customer Updates
Departure, estimated arrival and delivery confirmations go out by SMS or email without anyone lifting a phone, so customers no longer need to call to ask.
Per-Trip Costing
Fuel, tolls and driver cost are calculated for every trip, showing which lanes and which customers are genuinely profitable without waiting for month-end.
Maintenance & Compliance Documents
Servicing, inspections, insurance and driving licence expiry dates are tracked, and a vehicle with missing documents cannot be assigned to a trip.
Which Operations Is Logistics Software Used For?
- Long-haul road freight
- Urban distribution and last mile
- Cold chain transport
- Container and port logistics
- Warehousing and 3PL
- Fuel and dangerous goods
- Courier and express delivery
- Fleet leasing and operator services
How Do You Move to New Logistics Software?
01
Operations Review
We look at your shipment types, how planning is done today, the tracking tools and reports in use, then set out scope and cost in a written proposal.
02
Vehicle & App Design
Tracking hardware, the driver app screens and the rules for who is notified about which event are agreed.
03
Build & Integration
The system is built and connected to your order source, accounting and, where there is one, your customer portal.
04
Pilot & Rollout
A handful of vehicles pilot the system; once driver feedback has been worked in, it is rolled out across the fleet.
If Drivers Won't Use It, It Doesn't Work
Field software fails most often because drivers stop using it. So we design screens simple enough to use one-handed, in gloves and in direct sunlight, and make offline working a requirement so nothing is lost when the signal drops. For staff access at depots and cross-docks, see SmartPass access control; for customer and customs correspondence, see SmartMail and SmartFiles in the Smart360 family.
For more depth, see our guides on what a fleet management system does, route optimisation for deliveries and email fraud in logistics firms, or browse all software development guides.
Example: A Day of Deliveries
In the morning a vehicle-by-vehicle loading plan is drawn from the order pool and each driver sees their trip in the app. When the vehicle sets off, the customer automatically receives departure and estimated arrival details, so the operations desk isn't fielding status calls all day. At the drop, the recipient's signature and a photo are captured and any missing parcels are noted; the paperwork reaches head office before the vehicle is back at the depot, and invoicing no longer waits for a paper delivery note. By close of day, the fuel, toll and driver cost of every trip is ready.
Why Digital Bridge?
- An Adana-based team building software since 2013
- Software, vehicle and field devices and installation from the same team, so you have one point of contact when something goes wrong
- Every project starts with discovery and a needs analysis; scope, phases and cost are set out in a written proposal
- 24/7 technical support once you are live
Common Concerns
“Our vehicles already have trackers.” During discovery we check whether your existing devices can feed the system; new hardware is only recommended where it is needed.
“Our drivers won't take to an app.” We pilot with a few vehicles first, and the whole fleet only moves over once drivers' feedback has been acted on.
“What about our order and accounting systems?” The system connects to your existing order source and accounting software, so the operations team never enters the same data twice.
Tell us about your shipment types and how planning works today; after an operations review we will set out scope and cost in a written proposal. If you want business email for customer and customs correspondence straight away, buy SmartMail.
Questions we hear most often
Frequently Asked Questions
What is logistics software and what does it manage?
Logistics software gives a transport or distribution company one record for dispatch planning, live vehicle tracking, mobile proof of delivery, customer updates, per-trip costs and vehicle maintenance and document tracking. Drivers use a mobile app and the operations team a web console, both working from the same record, so the desk knows where a load is without ringing the driver.
How does mobile proof of delivery work?
Drivers close each drop in the app with a recipient signature, a photo and any shortage or damage note. Proof of delivery reaches head office as the trip ends, so there is no paperwork to chase and invoicing does not wait for documents. Screens are designed to be simple enough to use one-handed, in gloves and in direct sunlight.
How do customers find out where their delivery is?
Departure, estimated arrival and delivery confirmations go out to customers by SMS or email automatically, so they no longer need to call the operations desk to ask. The desk answers from the live position on the console rather than a guess, and if a vehicle leaves its planned route the operations team is alerted automatically.
How is per-trip cost calculated?
Fuel, tolls and driver cost are calculated separately for every trip, showing which lanes and which customers are genuinely profitable without waiting for month-end. Dispatch planning builds vehicle loads from the order pool with capacity and weight checks and sequences stops geographically, with the aim of fewer empty kilometres and fewer half-loaded trips.
What happens if a driver loses signal?
Offline working is a design requirement of the driver app. Deliveries, signatures and photos captured without a signal are stored on the device and sent to head office once the connection returns, so nothing is lost. Field software fails most often because drivers stop using it, which is why screens are kept simple and pilot feedback from drivers is worked in.
Can we keep the trackers already fitted to our vehicles?
That is answered during discovery. We check whether the trackers already in your vehicles can pass location data to the system; if they can, they stay in place and no new hardware is needed. New devices are only recommended where existing data cannot be received or does not give operations what it needs. The decision is set out, with scope and cost, in the written proposal.
How do we move to new logistics software?
We start by reviewing your shipment types, how planning is done today and the tracking tools in use, then set out scope and cost in a written proposal. Tracking hardware, driver app screens and notification rules are agreed, and the system is connected to your order source and accounting. A handful of vehicles pilot it before rollout across the fleet.
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