Best delivery management software for your small business

Foram Khant
Read Time: 6 Minutes
Best delivery management software for your small business

Delivery management software is a useful and common tool to get your logistics under control.

Even if a company is small, that doesn't always mean its logistics operations are easy to run. Every business has a unique set of challenges that delivery management software might help address. 

Just to mention a few:

  • Route and load optimization;

  • Real-time life delivery tracking;

  • Fuel and safety management

  • Driver shortage

It is unlikely that a single ideal system can address all of the issues. Yet, there are always options that will be a better fit for your company. 

In this guide, we'll compare some of the most popular logistics software providers so you don't have to worry about making the right choice. 

What to look for in delivery management software?

Let's break down the functionality you need from your delivery management software.

Route optimization algorithm 

When time is money, no one wants to drive in extra circles. One of the most important aspects of improving the efficiency of your delivery operations is route optimization.

If you're working with a very small fleet (1-2 vehicles) and limited number of orders, free route planning tools like Google Maps or Waze will come in handy. 

A manual route planner won't cut it if you have a large fleet (2+ vehicles) or make more than a couple of deliveries per day.

Essentially, the goal is to build the fastest routes for the maximum number of completed deliveries. 

  • Dynamic route optimization vs. static route optimization

Static route optimization only lets you add deliveries that have already been scheduled in advance; your routes won't change after that. 

Dynamic route optimization tools, on the other hand, can change your routes based on real-time or statistical data (traffic, weather conditions, last-minute orders, etc.), as well as support order transfer and update estimated time of arrival (ETA) as you go

When your small business has a limited fleet, dynamic route optimization can help you get the most out of your resources.

Depending on your end goals, both ways of optimizing routes have their good points.

  • Multiple trips & warehouses

Make sure your preferred route optimization algorithm can handle multiple routes per driver per day if you offer on-demand delivery.

You can use this tool to upload multiple delivery orders and set up drivers with round trips. 

If you operate multiple storage facilities, your route optimization software must support a warehouse directory with multiple locations.

  • Multi-day / complex routes

A multi-day routing tool is a great asset if you have the ambition to expand your shipping region and offer long-distance delivery services. 

While making deliveries over state lines or overnight, extra features like driver breaks setup and vehicle safety checks come in handy.

All in all, a route optimization algorithm should allow you to toggle between several routing strategies as well as add and modify specific route start and end points, delivery time slots, and vehicle types.

Easy implementation process

Businesses of all sizes benefit from the speedy implementation of new software. The best logistics tools combine easy navigation with an intuitive dashboard. 

Small businesses will find it much easier to use cloud-based one-screen solutions that are easy to install on laptops and mobile devices.  

Ideally, one day should be enough to implement the software, learn how to navigate the dashboard, teach employees how to use it, and start using it.

Real-life delivery tracking

Live tracking is one of the crucial functions to look for if you value great customer service. 

When it comes to e-commerce deliveries, customers are usually eager to get their orders on time and want to have full control over the delivery process. 

After all, the logistics software you choose should be useful not only to you but also to your customers.

Small business is in constant competition with industry giants, and a personal approach to deliveries might be a huge asset. 

Your logistics software should be able to send SMS and email delivery alerts to your customers, in addition to allowing actual live tracking with a dynamic estimated arrival time (EAT) of the order.

Shipping labels & Proof of delivery

Whether dealing with a spike in seasonal order volume or unexpected weather, things can get chaotic. Human factor is a common cause of order switches, missed or late deliveries, and other inconveniences.

Shipping labels help minimize the possibility of human error and avoid customer complaints. It goes without saying that a shipping label generator and a QR / barcode scanner are must-haves for all delivery apps. 

Another form of delivery documentation that is essential for a great customer service is proof of delivery (POD). 

Delivery confirmation can come in the form of a photo, a client's signature, a custom note, or a geotag. Using electronic POD to guarantee timely and problem-free order fulfillment is an alternative to traditional customer invoices

A small business that has to keep track of its deliveries would benefit from logistics software that offers a paperless proof of delivery option. This way, when the shipment arrives at its destination, you and the customer will be notified immediately.

We analyzed several apps to find the finest logistics software for small business needs. Here are our top five recommendations.

Delivery management software shortlist 

  1. Track-POD

Track-POD is a last-mile logistics software supplier that offers tiered pricing to fit businesses of different sizes.

Track-POD's pricing options ("Per Driver" and "Per Order") and strong feature set (even on the most basic plans) make it a great choice for startups and small businesses.

Let's see what Track-POD is offering by comparing the most affordable plan with the most expensive one.

Here are a few more reasons why Track-POD is a good fit for a small company:

  • Multi-depot route planner & native optimization algorithm

  • Shipping label generator & barcode scanner app

  • Different user roles & customizable permissions

  • Custom Proof of Delivery template in PDF 

  • The most versatile driver app on the market

  • Same-day implementation & easy scaling 

  • No hidden fees or paid add-ons

2. OptimoRoute

OptimoRoute provides all the basic functions for a small business to manage daily delivery operations. 

 On top of essential features, like multi-stop route planning, OptimoRoute can offer:

  • Customizable SMS & email delivery notifications

  • 3 different proof of delivery options: signatures, photos, and notes*

  • Route data analytics 

  • Advanced courier scheduling

* Only with the OptimoRoute Pro plan

3. Routific

The last-mile logistics solution that Routific provides is both advanced and affordable. 

Like OptimoRoute, Routific charges only "per driver," and some of the more advanced features are only available in their "Professional" plan.

Let's take a closer look at what makes Routific a good match for smaller companies:

  • Powerful dynamic route optimization

  • Accurate ETAs

  • Real-time courier tracking 

  • SMS or email customer notifications*

  • Photos and signatures as proof of delivery options

4. Onfleet

Onfleet provides logistics software that many companies trust, including those in the food and drink, e-commerce, and retail industries. 

Onfleet offers all the key functions necessary to keep small company logistics under control:

  • Dynamic route optimization

  • Proof of delivery (photo, signature, and barcode)

  • Real-time delivery tracking + automatic status updates

  • Driver productivity reports

Let's have a look at the cheapest and most advanced Onfleet pricing plans:


5. Detrick

Detract&rsquo's last-mile delivery software is great for smaller businesses since it offers essential features like proof of delivery, order live tracking, and more for free with a single-vehicle subscription. 

Please note that Detrick doesn’t have a native route planner solution and relies on a paid integration with ElasticRoute instead.

A bundle package with ElasticRoute can make up for the fact that the premium version doesn't come with a built-in route planner. In such a scenario, users will have to switch back and forth between two dashboards in order to access all of the features.

Detract's primary features include:

  • Proof of delivery (signatures, photos)

  • Live tracking and ETA

  • Delivery notifications

  • Contactless delivery

To sum up

By using delivery management software, small businesses can streamline their logistics operations and improve overall efficiency. 

Most last-mile logistics applications already have all basic features, such as route planning, proof of delivery, customer alerts, and others,so there is no need to reinvent the wheel.

However, If you want to find the best software for your small business, you need to take into account the features that are most crucial to you and your business. To mention a few:

  • Money/value balance

  • The optimal number of users/orders for an affordable price

  • Implementation timeframe and learning curve

  •  

Hopefully, you've learned enough from this guide to make the decision that's best for your company.

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