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The logistics sector plays a crucial role in helping the world move goods across multiple markets, countries, and locations.
However, managing a wide range of elements, like fleet, schedule, resources, manpower, etc., is a huge challenge most logistics businesses face. Failing to manage these crucial aspects can lead a company to inefficiency and operational failures.
The best option for managing all these critical elements of a logistics business is to develop an app to help them.
If you don’t know how to develop a logistics app for your business, this blog post will help you learn all about logistics app development.
Let’s start.
Logistics app development is a comprehensive process where a team of mobile app developers work together to create a mobile application to manage the activities and functionalities of a logistics company.
The app is developed to be used across different devices like smartphones and tablets.
The primary objective of such apps is to improve the business’s operational efficiency and productivity while making it easier to manage diverse resources from a single platform.
Depending on the objective of the app or what the app is developed for, we can divide logistics apps into various categories.
Let’s discuss them here.
A logistics company needs to manage its driver personnel efficiently. This is not easy without a centralized platform that has details of its driver personnel.
A driver management app helps a logistics company manage its drivers and their schedules, locations, breaks, and more.
The app also enables the company to understand the drivers’ behavior, find areas for improvement, etc.
This type of app brings customers and service providers together to satisfy users’ instant delivery requirements. Uber Freights is an example of this type of app.
The app has an interface for the users to place their orders and an admin panel for each delivery business.
These types of apps must also satisfy the requirements of the users to be popular.
These types of apps help manage the delivery of goods from one location to another via courier services.
Apart from helping the company schedule its pickups and timesheets, the app also lets the company track its transportation. With the app’s help, you can know who’s transporting the goods, where they are, when they will arrive, etc.
These apps also help inform the customers about the status of the shipment, track the goods, and more.
Tracking time is a complex challenge most logistics companies face regularly. A company must also share shipping updates with its customers.
Real-time tracking logistics apps make it easier for the logistics company to communicate with the driver, get their route, understand potential ETA, etc.
The company can also reroute the drivers in case of emergencies or traffic with the help of time-tracking apps.
With supply chain management apps, a company can track all the details of its shipment. The app shares a lot of necessary information about the supply chain, including the schedule, details of goods, route, location, and ETA of shipments.
Using the app, you can have all the information you need to manage the cargo and other arrangements for the shipment.
The app also brings extensive data from each shipment to improve service delivery.
Storing goods and managing efficient dispatches is another critical function of a logistics business. A warehouse management app can help you successfully address this challenge.
The app allows you to schedule your shipments, understand the stock level, choose the right shipment strategy, etc. This ensures that the inventory never sits idle and moves to your clients smoothly.
You can also use the app to manage the personnel working on each shift and take care of their schedules.
As a logistics business, you need to manage your fleet, which is vital for the efficiency of your business. You need your fleet to work at maximum productivity.
Using a fleet management app makes sense, and it allows you to schedule, reschedule, and operate the fleet at maximum efficiency.
The app also records the working hours of the fleet drivers, their locations, and all other details needed to operate the fleet smoothly.
Large logistics businesses need a variety of functions in a logistics app. They need fleet management, warehouse management, employee management, delivery management, and more.
An all-in-one logistics app offers all the functionalities that a logistics company needs to manage its operations, teams, fleet, and shipments.
Due to its extensive features and capabilities, this app often requires a lot of time and resources to develop.
Before learning about logistics app development, you must understand how they work.
Here is a quick rundown of how logistics apps work.
A logistics app is a comprehensive platform that helps a logistics business optimize its shipment, movement of goods, fleet, and other resources. It also enables effective communication between every party involved in your business.
The app’s primary task is to integrate various manual logistics tasks into comprehensive automated operations. As each task is taking place, the platform collects the data and shares it with the required nodes via a shared network. This communication is responsible for providing the required parties with updates in the form of shipment alerts, schedule updates, routing details, employee schedules, etc.
In a nutshell, a logistics app is similar to a command center in the digital space. It collects crucial data from various logistics functions and makes it available to predetermined admins and users.
With the updates and changes in technologies businesses use, the future of logistics app development seems bright and technology-driven.
Here are a few insights determining the prospects of logistics app development.
The benefits offered by logistics apps are what make businesses want to develop and use the app.
Here are seven benefits of developing a logistics app for your business:
A logistics app can streamline and automate various processes, which improves your business’s efficiency.
Using a logistics app, you can carry out a range of tasks, such as route planning, order tracking, delivery scheduling, etc. Each of these functions is crucial to running your business successfully.
When you manage all these factors well, it leads to increased operational efficiency and reduced costs.
An important aspect of logistics management is tracking the goods in real time. With an app to help you constantly track the goods, you can share real-time updates with your customers and other stakeholders.
With real-time tracking, you can also monitor the status of your shipments, enhancing transparency and customer satisfaction.
Understanding and optimizing routes is crucial to reducing the operational cost of your logistics company.
Logistics apps can utilize advanced algorithms and real-time traffic data to optimize delivery routes and reduce fuel consumption, travel time, etc.
Apart from cost cutting, it also helps reduce carbon emissions.
Another benefit of using a logistics app is efficient inventory management. Your inventory is integral to your business, and overstocking and understocking can lead to wasted investment.
However, the app can integrate with inventory management systems, providing real-time updates on stock levels.
This helps you better forecast demand and ensure efficient inventory planning.
Logistics apps can collect and analyze data related to delivery times, route performance, and customer preferences. You can now use the data to drive insights about diverse aspects of your business.
These insights enable data-driven decision-making for continuous improvement in your business.
Since your business operations also generate data, the app can also help you make strategic plans to ensure continued business growth.
As a logistics business, you usually have a large mobile workforce. As they are on the move, managing their assignments and performance is tricky.
However, logistics apps facilitate communication and task assignments for mobile workforce members, such as drivers and field technicians.
When you can do this regularly and with the help of accurate data, it leads to better employee coordination and productivity.
As a logistics business, you have competitors trying to take over your operations and markets. The only way to stay ahead of them is to build operational advantages for your business.
Developing a mobile app to manage and improve your logistics business is a strategic way of establishing a competitive advantage in your sector.
With the help of a user-friendly logistics app with advanced features, businesses can differentiate themselves from competitors and provide a superior customer experience.
When you run a business, you need to do a lot of paperwork to ensure that every process is documented and updated properly. This can make your business operations challenging and complex.
However, with a mobile logistics app, you can upload all your documentation online. This helps you keep all your teams, departments, and other app users updated in real time.
Further, reducing paperwork also means that you contribute to protecting the environment.
A logistics app can help your logistics company reduce delivery time and cost. The app provides all the details you need to schedule the delivery as quickly as possible.
Likewise, the app’s data and insights can help you optimize the delivery processes.
All these factors help you deliver your shipments faster at reduced cost.
Building a logistics app takes time and effort. You need to work on diverse elements to create an app. However, when building a logistics app for your business, it needs to have certain must-have features.
These features ensure that the app can perfectly meet your requirements. If you are wondering, let’s understand each of these features here.
| Sl. No | User | Features | Functionalities of the Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | End Users | Registration and Login | This feature lets new users register on the app to use it. Registered users use the login feature to sign in to their account to manage their profiles, track the shipment, etc. |
| 2 | In-App Payments | This feature allows users to make secure payments within the app. It often has a two-step authentication mechanism to ensure a safe transaction. | |
| 3 | Tariff Calculation | Using this feature, the app users can calculate and estimate the required cost, time, etc., to avail of logistics services in their preferred location. | |
| 4 | Shipment Booking | This feature allows users to book a shipment service for their goods to be dispatched to any location. Using the feature, users can provide the pick-up and delivery locations along with other details. | |
| 5 | In-app Communication | Using the in-app communication feature, the user can contact the driver or a representative of the logistics company. | |
| 6 | Order Status | Using this feature, users can track the status of their shipment. Communications regarding the shipment will be sent directly to the customer via the app, which helps improve customer experience and trust. | |
| 7 | Real-time Tracking with ETA | This allows customers to track their shipments. Users can take advantage of the feature to know where the package is, where it will reach the next location, when the package will be delivered, etc. | |
| 8 | Delivery Proof | This feature lets the logistics company deliver the product to the receiver and receive an acknowledgment that they have received the item. It is done electronically for everyone’s convenience. | |
| 9 | Ratings and Reviews | This feature ensures that users can leave reviews and ratings of a company’s logistics services. This helps the business spread the word while working to offer the best services. | |
| 10 | Push Notifications | Using this feature, you can share any updates with the customers on their devices. It could be anything from early shipment arrival, delay, or new information about the shipment. | |
| 11 | Drivers or Staff | Login | Using the login feature dedicated to the drivers or employees of the business, they can log into the app to check the shipments assigned to them for delivery. |
| 12 | Accept/ Receive the Order | This feature allows the driver to either accept or reject the assignment. This empowers the drivers to accept only those assignments that are viable to them. | |
| 13 | Profile Management | This feature allows drivers to update and manage their profiles, including their availability, shift preference, route choices, etc. This helps the admin manage drivers and assign shipments according to the drivers’ profiles. | |
| 14 | Vehicle Details | Using this feature, an admin can check all the details about a vehicle. Details like the vehicle number and type, fuel consumption, distance traveled, route assigned, etc., are updated using this feature. Anyone with clearance can check these details in the app. | |
| 15 | Route Management | Route management helps the drivers get all the details about the route they are assigned. Efficient route management results in faster delivery, reduced costs, etc. | |
| 16 | Proof of delivery | When a delivery is carried out successfully, the driver needs to capture the proof of delivery. Often, this is a digital signature secured from the receiver using this feature. In other cases, the drivers can also upload scanned documents. | |
| 17 | History | Drivers and admins can use this feature to check the history of the driver’s deliveries. This helps them learn about successful deliveries, customer complaints, etc. | |
| 18 | Admin Features | Customer Information | This feature provides customer details. It often includes shipment history, order statuses, payment details, etc. |
| 19 | Employee Information | Using this feature, an admin can view all the details pertinent to an employee, including the assignments offered to them, the vehicles they handle, routes they cover, and other details like leaves, salary details, ratings, etc. | |
| 20 | Fleet Information | The admin needs to know the details of their fleet for various reasons. This feature provides them with these details. It ranges from the inventory of vehicles, their condition, service requirements, and other information. | |
| 21 | Warehouse Information | This feature allows admins to view details about the warehouse, where the shipment is at, the delivery destination when the shipment needs to be made, etc. | |
| 22 | Analytics Dashboard | In this analytics dashboard, the admin has various options to analyze diverse data sets and drive insights. These insights help them manage their operations, fleet, drivers, shipment strategy, etc., and optimize the area that needs attention. |
Developing a logistics app takes time and effort. You need to research the industry, figure out the pain points, and understand your requirements before jumping into the logistics app development process.
Here is the step-by-step process we follow at Fullestop to develop a custom logistics app.
Before you do anything remotely related to app development, you need to define what you want. Understanding the pain points you want to solve helps you build an app that empowers your business and its users.
You can understand these requirements in a range of ways, such as:
Each of these elements will help you understand what features your business specifically needs for the app to help you. The market research will also help you understand the pain points of the end users and drivers so that you can address these issues as well.
After understanding the requirements and finalizing the features, the next step is to design the app’s UI and UX. Since the app is going to be an integral part of the business, you must never compromise the design.
Along with impeccable user experience, the aesthetics must also be top-notch. The admins, users, and customers must be able to use the app intuitively. The design must also welcome and encourage the users to try the app.
Going with a simple design with a sleek feel is always the best. Work with your logistics app development services agency to finalize a design that satisfies users.
Once you have finalized the app’s features and other functionalities, hire a logistics app development company to build a minimum viable product. It means that you develop an app with minimum functionalities for the market.
You can gain extensive insights from developing such an app, like:
Gain early feedback from customers.
Validating your feature ideas and core concepts.
Reduce your time to market or for faster business usage.
Assess market demand and adjust the app based on real user interactions.
All these elements help you in the development process and make your app even more feature-rich while bringing the development cost down.
In this stage, you can start developing the app. You need to finalize the architecture and choose a platform, which helps you be in full control of the app development.
To make the app feature-rich and functional, you need to utilize diverse third-party apps, screen transitions, and security features.
The development team will also use the necessary tech stack to make the app highly user-friendly and intuitive for all types of users.
After developing the app, you need to test it extensively. From the features and navigation to security and document support, every single element of the app needs to be checked and tested.
Often, the mobile app development company will also do the testing.
Most of the time, any or all of the following types of testing will be done to make sure that the app performs as expected.
These tests help you ensure that the app performs and functions as you expect it to. If it does not, you can correct it before it hits the market.
Developing the app is just the beginning. You need your potential customers to find and install it on their mobile devices. The best way to reach customers is to host your app in app stores.
There are several popular app stores. The most popular ones are the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store.
Hosting your app in these stores can instantly bring you to millions of customers. With the proper marketing and promotional content, you can quickly get users to install your app and make use of it.
There are also other ways to improve the installation of your app. However, this is optional if you are using the app only internally.
When your users start using it–internally and externally–you will start getting a lot of data about your app. Users will also provide feedback and ratings on your app.
You need to be proactive and responsive on these issues when customers post a good or bad review. Bad reviews must take precedence as you need to get to the bottom of it and address it immediately.
Based on the user reviews and ratings, you can understand where your app is failing and how you can improve.
Errors, bugs, failures, etc., need to be addressed immediately, while requests for features can be rolled out as regular updates.
The cost of developing a logistics app depends on the type and size of the app. Naturally, a large app with multiple user types, screens, accounts, etc., will cost more, unlike a smaller app.
| Sl. No | App Size | Cost of Development | Features of the App |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Small | USD 25,000 – USD 100,000 | Basic functionalities required for a logistics company. |
| 2 | Medium | USD 100,000 – USD 180,000 | Medium functionalities and features needed to meet the needs of a mid-sized logistics company. |
| 3 | Large | Above USD 180,000 | Extensive capabilities, features, and complexities to help large logistics businesses meet their operations, fleet, admin, and customer management needs. |
Further, a range of elements also affects the overall logistics of mobile app development costs.
Let’s look at each of them here.
A complex app requires a lot of development resources, like multiple platforms, human resources, programming time, etc. As such, the cost of developing such an app will be higher.
It is the same with apps having a variety of features.
Hence, you need to be smart about the project. Finalize the features and functionalities you want before you start the development process.
You can check with the app development company to help you with the same, as well.
This is another factor that can drive your cost up or down.
The logistics app may be the backbone of your logistics operations, so it needs to have an efficient and robust architecture. The connections between different modules must work smoothly, which will cost more.
Another factor leading to higher costs is the front end of the app. It must be intuitive and enable users to use the app seamlessly.
However, smaller businesses may not require much focus on the front end and back end, unlike large businesses.
The security features are an integral part of your app. You cannot compromise on this as it directly affects the data collected from users and business information.
You need to use the best security systems and protocols. You must also update them as newer, better systems are introduced.
Integrating these security systems and technologies into your app can also add to your overall logistics app development cost.
When developing the app, you also need to choose a platform to host it. Usually, there are two platforms in the market: Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store.
The development cost changes depending on the platform. Creating a native app for iOS or Android is more expensive as you need to develop separate apps for each Operating System. However, you can go with hybrid app development to reduce costs.
Another factor is the platform cost. You need to pay the required fee to host the app in these app stores.
When you develop an on-demand logistics app, you need a team to help you. And the size of the team is another factor affecting the overall app development cost.
Having a large team will cost you more. However, it can reduce the development time and help you bring your app to the market faster.
On the other hand, developing the app with a small team will cost less, but it may make the project take a long time.
Hence, the best idea is to choose the team based on your immediate app goals.
After developing the logistics app, you must integrate it with other business management tools like ERP, CRM, etc., to fully utilize the app. The integration helps you get a full picture of your operations and better manage your customers.
To integrate the logistics app with your business management platforms, you need to use suitable APIs.
Here are a few APIs you can use.
| Sl. No | API Name | What Does the API Do | Supported service providers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shippo API | Provides access to shipping rates, label info, tracking details, and other logistics information. | USPS, UPS, FedEx. |
| 2 | EasyPost API | Offers access to shipment charges, label info, tracking details, and other courier information. | USPS, UPS, FedEx. |
| 3 | FedEx API | Gives access to shipping rates, tracking information, labels, FedEx location, etc. | FedEx |
| 4 | USPS API | Offers access to USPS shipping rates, label info, tracking details, and other necessary logistics details. | USPS |
| 5 | Shipwire API | This fulfillment API allows logistics apps to manage their inventory and all types of order details, such as real-time shipment data, tracking details, location info, etc. | Multiple |
Developing a logistics app requires extensive planning and strategy. Even then, you can face a lot of challenges.
Let’s discuss a few of the common challenges businesses face.
Logistics companies often have legacy systems and processes for managing their operations, which makes integrating the new logistics app challenging.
You need careful planning and execution to ensure seamless data flow and compatibility. Integration without the help of experienced professionals can also bring in new issues or errors.
The best way to address these issues is to work with a reliable team.
A core feature of a logistics app is tracking shipments and providing real-time updates to customers.
This requires using various tracking systems and ensuring reliable and accurate data transmission. Implementing this functionality can be challenging for most logistics businesses.
Working with an experienced team like Fullestop can help you address this.
The logistics app needs to be user-friendly and intuitive for both internal staff and customers.
You need to design an optimal user experience that caters to different user groups with varying technical proficiencies. And it is not easy.
Addressing this challenge is not complex either. Look at the UI/UX of popular logistics apps in the market and take cues from them.
Logistics apps handle sensitive information, such as customer data, shipment details, and tracking information. Protecting this information from hackers and other cyber threats is a huge concern.
By using the proper security standards and data privacy regulations, you can address this to a great extent.
But the best way is to keep working on the security and updating it regularly.
Everything you do for the business is to grow it.
As your logistics company grows and the app’s user base expands, the app must be able to handle increased traffic and data volumes. And all these must happen without compromising the app’s performance.
Design a scalable architecture to accommodate future growth and handle peak loads when your business is growing. This is the best way to handle these challenges.
What Are the Main Challenges in Logistics App Development?
Developing a logistics app requires extensive planning and strategy. Even then, you can face a lot of challenges.
Fullestop understands that a transport and logistics app development project requires creativity, analysis, and research. As such, we offer this to each of our clients as logistics and transport app developers.
Here is how we help in your transport app development project.
An efficient and robust logistics app can change the way you run your business and serve your customers. With a user-friendly and feature-rich app, you can manage your business, operations, resources, and customers efficiently, ensuring your business growth. Hence, a logistics app is an integral part of your business.
However, developing an on-demand logistics app is complex and requires extensive research. At Fullestop, we conduct extensive research and market analysis when working on any development project, including logistics and transport app development.
Talk to our client support team and learn more about our logistics app development services and how we can help you.
