Shipment Tracking Software - How To Choose The Best For Your Business?

[1] Barcode Generation

As soon as the seller hands over the product to the carrier for delivery, a barcode with a tracking number is generated by the shipment tracking software and is attached to the parcel. The barcode is unique to each parcel and contains all the relevant information about it, such as pick-up and destination details, product name, ID, buyer's contact information, and so on.

[2] Barcode Scanning

The carrier then scans the barcode to track the parcel after it gets shipped, and once done, the carrier receives all the relevant information about the parcel, which is then stored in their shipment tracking system for further reference.

[3] Package Tracking

Once the package has been scanned and shipped, the seller and carrier can track it by simply entering the tracking number into their package tracking software, which will then provide them with real-time updates on the package's movement, thereby allowing the seller to send notifications to its customers based on various events, such as :

1. When the package is dispatched

2. When it is in transit

3. Estimated date and time of delivery and so on.

[4] Receiving the Product

As soon as the product arrives at the destination hub, the 3PLs scan the barcode to store the package received time into their database.

[5] Product Delivery

This is the final step in the shipment tracking process, in which the 3PLs scan the barcode for the final time to record the time the item leaves for delivery. And, once the product gets delivered to the end user/buyer, the parcel tracking system gets automatically updated with the delivery status of the item, delivery time, recipient's name, and so on, notifying each and every participant in the process.

[1] Route Optimization

By incorporating a route optimization system within your package tracking software that can :

[a] Monitor and analyze historical route data to identify low efficiency routes

And,

[b] Use real-time on-road traffic pattern and contingencies knowledge to plan an alternative route via machine learning

You will be able to identify the most efficient route for delivering your package, ensuring on-time deliveries and higher customer satisfaction.

[2] Real-Time Visibility

If you are constantly on call to keep a track of the whereabouts of your shipments, then you are doing it in a wrong way. Honestly, it not only wastes your valuable time but also leads to frequent miscommunications between you and your delivery partner.

And, that’s exactly where a shipment tracking software can help you by utilizing the data generated from GPS trackers that are attached to the cargo and freight shipments to provide you with real-time updates on the cargo's location as well as allowing you to efficiently and accurately track the shipment as it passes through various checkpoints. This provides you more control over your goods and allows you to take corrective action if something goes wrong.

[3] Delivery Status Updates

With the e-signature module integrated into your shipment tracking software, you will be able to get an instant confirmation of the delivery once your customer signs it. This serves as a proof of delivery (POD) and ensures that the package is delivered to the correct recipient, thereby enhancing customer loyalty. Furthermore, it also aids in the reduction of fraud and associated costs, as well as protects your delivery staff from false allegations or negative feedback from customers, resulting in improved delivery management processes.

[4] Centralized Order Management

Checking, managing, and analyzing each and every order manually, reduces transparency across your operational processes and increases the risk of inaccuracy, resulting in lower operational productivity.

However, with a custom shipment tracking software, the task becomes significantly easier.

Wondering how ?

Basically, using a shipment tracking software that has an in-built dashboard makes it easy for you to see, monitor and sort data based on your needs, such as viewing order status, sorting orders based on order delivery and received dates, monitoring driver performance, analyzing SKUs, and much more. Not just that, it also analyses which orders are being repeated and which orders are being replaced or returned, as well as analyses KPIs and provides you with real-time insights on the same. This assists you in identifying areas where your business is improving and where it requires more attention, thereby improving business’s bottom line.

Also Read : Ecommerce Order Management - How To Choose The Best!

[5] Automated Billing

With the help of integrated automated billing modules, a bespoke shipment tracking software can help you generate and send out invoices to your users as well as produce sales reports in a matter of seconds by collecting and analyzing financial data from your accounts department. Additionally, the generated invoices also support multilingual, multi-currency & multi-invoice formats and can be customized based on the needs of the customer, thereby improving customer satisfaction and boosting customer confidence by keeping them informed on their shipment price details.

Talking about Payment Gateway Integration our guide may help you out !

[1] Software Scalability

With time your business will grow, you will have more customers, more orders, employees, expand into new locations and so on, necessitating the addition of new features into your package tracking software to make room for such changes. However, with off-the-shelf software (OTS), it will be challenging to do so because an OTS is designed to meet the needs of the majority of businesses that require digital assistance with shipment tracking & delivery management, thus emphasizing a prevalent need.

A custom parcel tracking software, on the other hand, is tailored to your specific needs and goals, and can easily scale any specific segment of your software.

[2] Software Integrations

While opting for a package tracking software that is customized for your business is definitely a smart move, that doesn't necessarily mean there would be no provision to continue using your existing tools and solutions. That being said, the objective is to tell you that you don’t have to discard your old tools to start using a new custom software, instead you can always make use of your existing solutions by integrating them to your custom software to improve and maximize your business operations.

But, with an OTS, on the other hand, you will face difficulties in doing so as it might not be compatible with your existing tools and solutions and will only provide integrations with a few handpicked softwares that will not be ideal for your business in the long run.

[3] Adaptability

If you want to make your shipment tracking software adapt to new digital trends, an OTS will disappoint you yet again since it is designed with the majority of businesses' needs in mind. So, in general, if a new digital trend boosts your company's growth but does not meet the needs of its community users, an OTS will not implement it, leaving your software unable to adapt to tech advancements.

However, a custom software implements all of the digital trends that are of interest to you and are not influenced by the needs of other businesses, making your software digitally flexible.

[4] User-Friendliness

Just like any other system, you'll want your parcel tracking software to be as simple to use as possible. However, with an OTS, you may have to deal with unwanted and junk features that you may never use, inferring compromised performance, increased costs in terms of money and time, and the unnecessary hassle of accustoming your employees to such undesirable features.

A dedicated shipment tracking software, on the other hand, allows you to select features that are important to your business and simple for your employees to use, thereby increasing business efficiency.

[5] Quality

Ready-made softwares may be less costlier than a custom-made software, as they are designed to serve a wide range of businesses and hence will not be able to meet your specific needs effectively. Whereas, a custom made software will need more time, efforts and money as it comes off as a solid packed software that consists of all the necessary functionalities that you require for your business to flourish and optimizes your business’s existing operations, making it a smarter choice for your business in the long run.