by Lina Martinez
The delivery business is incredibly competitive and if you want to get ahead, you need to offer a service that your competitors can’t. The rise in online shopping means that there are a lot of opportunities out there for delivery companies, however, that also means that there is a lot more competition because everybody is trying to get a slice of the action. If you can’t find ways to set yourself apart from the rest of the delivery companies out there and offer a better service than they can, you’re not going to survive. One of the best ways to do that is by making good use of route planning software. You can be sure that a lot of your competitors are already using this kind of software so if you aren’t, you’re going to fall behind. These are some of the main benefits that route planning software will bring to your delivery business.
Faster Delivery Times
People have high expectations when it comes to deliveries, especially as some retail companies are offering next day or even same day shipping in some cases. If you can’t get products out quickly, you’re not going to get much business. Having the right infrastructure in place is an important part of that, but you also need to make sure that your routes are efficient. If your drivers are taking a longer route than they need to, they’re not getting as many deliveries done in one day as they could be. But if you use route planning software, you can find the quickest possible route which means faster delivery times for your customers.
Use Less Fuel
All businesses need to find ways to reduce their running costs and the best way to do that in the delivery industry is by using less fuel. If you’re driving a shorter distance because you’re using route planning software to create more efficient routes, you’ll use less fuel and save yourself a lot of money.
Increased Safety
If drivers are navigating unfamiliar roads that are packed with traffic, and they’re driving over long distances, they’re far more likely to make mistakes. If one of your drivers is involved in a crash, the other driver may take legal action against you (click to learn more about this process) and that will cost you a lot of money. But route planning software will help you to find the safest routes so you can reduce the chances of an accident.
Reduced Maintenance
Unless you want to spend a lot of money on repairs, it’s important that you keep your fleet well maintained. If your drivers are driving shorter distances, that means that the vehicles will be under less strain and it will be easier to stay on top of this maintenance. Any accidents will also be incredibly costly in terms of repairs, but route planning software will help you to avoid that as well.
If your delivery business isn’t using route planning software, you’re missing out on all of these amazing benefits that improve your service and save you money at the same time.