subject: Testing Dispatch Demo Software [print this page] If you own or manage a courier or dispatch delivery company and you're shopping for dispatch software, there are a ton of different features that you want to make sure and look at in each package. Depending on which features each software package has and how they are implemented, there could be a huge difference in the overall improvement that it could bring to your business. Certainly, first and foremost, you will want to look dispatch software demos to get an idea of what the software actually looks and feels like and to test drive its features.
Be wary of any software company that does not offer a demo of its product. When you are playing around with the demo, look carefully at its user interface. Look to see how easy it is to navigate, and make sure and test out each feature individually before you even think about purchasing. One feature that is becoming more common is electronic driver dispatch. This feature is critically important to have for most courier companies. However, it can vary greatly in how well it is implemented. So be certain that, when you download and install the dispatch software demo, you test out this feature thoroughly.
Why is this feature so critical? When implemented correctly, it will allow sending a driver for an emergency or "hot" pickup to be easier than ever before. If you have a multitude of drivers in the field, a good implementation of electronic driver dispatch will automatically cross-reference the address of the hot shipment with the real time location of your drivers, and send the pickup to the closest one. When you are testing your dispatch software demo, be sure that it includes this functionality and that it is intuitive to use. Many on the market are very intuitive, so don't waste money on a package that is overly difficult. Having an intuitive interface for electronic driver dispatch can save you a huge amount of time and money over the course of a year.
When you are testing a dispatch software demo that includes this feature, you will quite often find added bonuses that you did not even anticipate when you first downloaded the software. Some of the benefits, like those mentioned above, will be obvious. However, others that may not be so obvious could include the ability to automatically track your drivers' locations throughout the course of the day. Make sure and try this out, and while you are testing, make certain that the software will also transfer this data into your drivers' electronic logs. This will save them time, which will save you money. And remember, new versions of dispatch software are being released on a quite regular basis. Each new release will include new features such as this. You will want to regularly, perhaps on a quarterly basis, download a new dispatch software demo to try out.
