The term logistics is predominantly used in various perspectives. If you had to give a simple definition then, it is a task of managing the flow of things from the point of origin to the point of delivery. It may involve a varied number of jobs such as packing and transportation of the goods and materials, warehousing, material handling, maintaining and managing the inventory or stock, the flow of information through the supply chain management and much more.

ECommerce and even the online retailers are largely dependent on the logistics company. Therefore, whether it is shipping the cargo through courier, the movers and the packers, storing the necessary goods at a warehouse etc. The logistics company will hugely get benefited by online manufacturing industries as they would deliver the goods products right at the doorstep within quick time.

However,  be aware that since the number of logistics companies are increasing in the market, the level of competitiveness will also enhance. The customers usually rate these companies based on how optimal their services are. It means that the goods need to be delivered within the shortest possible time.

So, if you want to compete then, you have to adhere to the latest technology and the need of the hour is an attractive but user centric mobile application. It will just simplify all your tasks as you can carry out your work through a single app.

The mobile apps are just more than a boon; it helps in improving a number of activities like managing the inventory, keeping an eye on the warehouse, supervising the goods carrying vehicles and so on. So, let’s discuss the various aspects and see why the logistic company requires the support of mobile apps.

Monitor the Location of Vehicle

Today, you know that most apps have the geo-location facility and indeed this pivotal feature is a must add in the logistics mobile app. You can instantly receive the information on the location of the vehicle.

You can even track the location by using the GPS technology. The GPS system is basically based on the satellite tracking. The trackers track the location of the vehicle and then send the information to the server via mobile network or satellite modem.

On the other hand, we also have the cellular tracking, which is more dominant in the urban areas due to much better network coverage. The location of the truck can be traced in real time. If there is no network, the data then gets stored in the memory and becomes available once the network is back.

Helps in Managing your Fleet Appropriately

The logistics company has a fleet of vehicles, specifically the trucks, which needs to be maintained well and managed appropriately. This step is necessary if you want to enhance the services of cargo transportation. In addition, the performance of your trucks will also improve.

The app will keep a data of all the trucks operating at various routes and also can store the registration numbers of all the vehicles included in the fleet. You can also note down which truck driver is driving which truck and where he is currently located.

Even the inception of the vehicle is necessary. The app keeps you informed if your vehicle needs a servicing including the condition of the engine and brakes etc. You can also be familiar whether your truck has developed a snag on the road and see if it is getting overloaded or not.

Online Booking of Cargo and Parcel

Most of the renowned courier services such as FedEx or DHL offer the facility of online booking. Using this facility a user can easily book his parcel or goods. This can be done using the mobile app as well.

All you need to do is login into your account, choose the appointed date and time for pickup, enter the two places, from where the goods is sent and what is the destination, what type of parcel it is, for example, cloths, books, medicines, etc.

The app offers you the benefit of not only scheduling the appointment for the pickup but also set your own time for the delivery of the goods.

You can get the tariff rates based on whether is a domestic or international cargo. This saves a lot of time as you don’t have to travel to your next courier service center.

Tracing the Cargo through App

Well, this is supposed to one of the most important job profiles as far as the logistic company is concerned. They have to continuously monitor and keep a track of the cargo movements. This means keeping an apt record of what type of cargo is traveling in which truck.

To simplify the task, you can opt for either of the prescribed alternatives. It includes using the QR- code and secondly you can use RFDI or NFC technologies.

The first option is relatively easier as you just need to scan the QR- code for each of the assets using your Smartphone. You can use the camera of your phone or you can make use of the specific scanner or QR-code app.

In the second technique, which is using the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), one uses the frequency or the waves of the radio for scanning and identifying the goods. Here you will find a scanner and a tag which is fixed to a chip or antenna. The tags are active and passive. The tracking capability of active tags are about 100 meters, whereas the passive tags have the capacity of only 25 meters.

There is also NFC or Near Field Communication Technology is based on the same technique, but the difference lies with the distance. The NFC tags are placed in very close proximity with the scanner. So, it has a drawback that you cannot scan all assets using this technology.

Get Rid of All Paper Work Formalities

One of the biggest advantages of availing a mobile app for your logistic company is that you can go paperless and get rid of the complexities involved there. Instead each of the activities has got automated right from preparing the e-bill to receiving online payments and noting valuable information.

Information about the Driver

The app contains a driver profile which keeps and maintains the track record of the driver including his name, age, driving license number, date of its expiry, whether he has any police case registered against him and so on.

In addition, you can also note down the duty hours of each of the driver and if they are reporting on time or not.

Management of the Warehouse

Logistics is not only about transportation and delivery of the goods, but it is also about managing your warehouses well. Warehouse is an important space where all the inventories are stored before being dispatched to the final destination.

The app will guide you better regarding the proper storage locations and it will be easier to check the inventory. All information is stored in a database.

Conclusion

As time is passing the world is moving more towards a technological friendly applications and mobile apps have certainly changed the facets of several industries including the logistics and transport.

The app will be a platform through which you can establish your brand name such as Uber in cab booking. However, most importantly, your tasks will become much easier as managing everything will be stress-free.

Moreover, you can also give your impetus to your employees with mobile apps and it will also help a great deal in cost reduction.