Most fleet managers will tell you that optimizing fleet management processes can be highly challenging. Managers who are least likely to complain about logistics problems are already using delivery routing software to manage delivery times, track transport costs, as well as meet compliance and government regulations.
While you may already know that delivery routing and dispatch software are superior to manual route planning, you may not know that this logistics technology has benefits beyond just handling additional orders or cancellations.
What Is Delivery Routing Software?
Delivery routing software is a collection of algorithmic tools designed to optimize the process of fulfilling a target number of orders per day. To carry out the primary purpose, route optimization monitors fuel costs, maintenance costs, driver activity, delivery delays, traffic conditions, and route characteristics.
Essentially, delivery routing software gives you a dynamic routing solution with automated tools to replace the standard routing system comprised of labor-intensive human requirements, like filling out a routing table by hand.
Understanding How Delivery Routing Software Works
Delivery routing software helps you find the easiest and most cost-efficient route between points A and B. It allows you to include maximum delivery stations while avoiding bad road conditions and dense traffic. It performs this function by uploading data collected from assorted third-party software and installations into its system. At this point, it helps dispatchers by automating the route planning process to run at an optimal level. The results deliver numerous tangible benefits for your fleet management team, customers, and stakeholders. As such, here are seven empowering benefits of implementing delivery routine software.
1. Optimized Route Planning Promotes Delivery Efficiency & Fluidity
Efficiently tracking critical transport data with delivery routing software can help you identify kinks in your transport strategy and develop actionable solutions. Also, this software enables you to optimize route planning by replacing the traditional manual route planning process with automation to make it easier for you to track customers, depot, warehouse, and order data.
Just as important, you can connect your existing cost and delivery tracking apps to it. Solera scheduling and planning tools seamlessly integrate with current logistic systems.
2. Better Managerial Control Through Parameter Settings
Delivery routing software allows you to set parameters according to the order delivery window, vehicle requirements, customer business hours, average driving speed, load types, and average order quantity. This capability allows you to adapt your setting parameters to accommodate current consumer trends, whether regional or situational.
3. Optimizing the Importing & Use of Order Data
Order data is essential to peak performance within logistic operations because it is the chief component in calculating and plotting various routes. Throughout the order data collection process, delivery routing software retrieves pertinent information, including storage facility, vendor location, and product type.
Delivery routing software makes scheduling faster and more efficient by automatically scraping product type and delivery location from order data, as well as pulling delivery window and collection time. It also reduces the double entry of data.
4. Boosting Productivity & Driver Morale
Delivery routing software can help you reduce labor expenses by managing drivers’ time more efficiently. It uses GPS tracking and other techniques to help drivers with time management issues. Also, you can use real-time tracking to optimize driver productivity.
Route optimization software works to achieve the maximum number of daily order fulfillments without overloading the drivers’ workload. By precisely optimizing the distance traveled and driving time, route optimizing software’s powerful algorithms will assist you with driver workload assignments. It accomplishes this task by mapping precise routes and creating optimized schedules by using real-time GPS tracking and historical time/distances for specific times of the day.
5. Optimized Route Scheduling & Planning Improves Safety
Studies published by the National Library of Medicine show that commercial drivers’ service hours directly correlate with driver response times, attention spans, and decision-making. Less time on the road equals improved safety. By reducing unnecessary vehicle road time, this software reduces driver fatigue time and makes your fleet safer.
Another way delivery routine software adds safety is by automatically planning routes to avoid possible driving hazards. Along a route, a driver can face dangerous U-turns and tight curvy roads. For instance, whenever a driver chooses a destination, the software plots routes that avoid right turns, left turns, and U-turns. It also factors in the weather forecasts.
6. Optimizing Your Fleet Management Can Increase Customer Satisfaction
Delivery routing software helps your fleet avoid delays and build a more substantial reputation for timely delivery service to your customers and potential customers. To find the best route, delivery routing software constantly scans traffic patterns and conditions.
To reduce vehicle breakdowns, the software uses GPS tracking to assist you in detecting drivers in the vicinity and assigning the delivery job to a new driver. This benefit allows you to meet customer expectations by re-optimizing the route to ensure the order reaches its destination on time.
7. Saves Money for Your Business
With routing optimization software, you can consistently choose the most cost-effective routes. This advantage can significantly reduce your fleet’s fuel cost by effectively dealing with detours, weather conditions, and last-minute order changes or customer requirements.
Industry research reveals that route optimization can lower fuel costs by 20%. However, the primary cost-saving objective of route optimization is lowering maintenance costs by reducing the number of hours your vehicles spend on the road. This strategy also increases the vehicles’ available time between maintenance sessions. As a result, slower deterioration of your vehicles equals lower premiums and replacement costs.
When You Implement Delivery Routing Software
Optimizing your fleet operations with delivery routing software can reinforce your commitment to increasing efficiency, cutting costs, improving driver productivity and safety, enhancing managerial decision-making, and boosting customer satisfaction. In addition, its potential to increase profit margins, brand reputation, and stakeholder benefit is tangible. If you have more questions about route optimizing software, visit Solera Holdings.com.