subject: Electronic Pod And In Cab Technology [print this page] Proof of delivery systems, otherwise known as electronic PODs, have been around for a while, as has satellite navigation and fleet tracking. Integrating all three using smartphone technology is a somewhat more recent idea.
Being able to keep track of where your drivers are, where deliveries are being made and at what time is a necessary part of running a successful haulage business. Keeping track of your fleet and any contractors you may have hired will enable you to see where time is lost and which drivers are making the most efficient use of their time. Those businesses that have already tried an integrated system have found it much easier to give approximate delivery times rather than a customer having to wait at home all day.
Using smartphone technology to integrate fleet tracking, satellite navigation and proof of delivery should result in improved customer service and an increase in the amount and accurate timing of future deliveries. Although integrated systems that use smartphone technology are still a relatively new idea, those businesses that have been involved in piloting the system have reported positive results.
Timely delivery is an important factor in any haulage business and can make the difference between commercial success and failure. Being able to keep track of what is going on in your business is essential to its success and a vital part of protecting your company's financial future.
When you can accurately judge how long it will take a driver to make a delivery to a certain location, allowing for acceptable break times, then the accurate scheduling and timing of deliveries is more easily accomplished. Nobody appreciates having to waste a whole day waiting in for a delivery, and when you have all the information to hand then you can assure your customers that deliveries will be made within an acceptable time frame.
When fleet tracking, satellite navigation and electronic POD are combined using smartphone technology, you can actually keep track of the progress of a delivery online, right through to the actual signing of the advice slip. When you have this kind of control over your business you will be able to see where the weak links are and what might need to be done to strengthen those aspects. An integrated system makes entering new jobs a simple process, because the technology stores addresses and you only have to key in the information once.
The ability to check the progress of any given job means that you will know ahead of time if a delivery will be delayed for some reason and you can alert the customer to that fact. Customers are much more appreciative of companies that keep them in the loop as to what is happening with their delivery, as it gives them the option to reschedule if necessary. You can keep an eye on those contractors who are always falling behind and if necessary replace them with another driver.
Integrated technology will enable you to run your business more efficiently and therefore more profitably, which is exactly what you want.
