The last-mile delivery industry has changed substantially in recent years. In order to stay competitive in this shifting landscape, companies constantly look for ways to improve efficiency and cut logistics costs.
This can be especially challenging for small courier and delivery businesses. It's likely that you have an endless list of things to keep tabs on, from dispatching and scheduling to customer service and accounting. On top of that, you may be trying to manage your courier business using a combination of maps, sticky notes, and Excel sheets.
Is there any alternative?
Yes. Courier software can provide you with powerful tools to improve your business. For example, a high-quality software solution can automate tasks, including routes, notifications, customer requirements, customer pricing, and customer invoicing.
We estimate that courier businesses that transition to using OnTime could save up to 50% of their employees' non-driving time.
Having said that, you may already know that courier software can save time and money, but you're still hesitant to get started. The initial time investment and cost is often a barrier to entry.
Here are three common concerns about getting started with courier software—and three reasons why it is still the best choice for most businesses.
"I don't have enough time to get a software solution up and running."
Once you've determined the right solution, you will need to set it up, transition from your current system, and train your staff. This process requires time and effort. Here are a few ways that the right software solution can ease you through the transition period:
Easy data uploads. Automatically import mass amounts of your data from CSV and Excel files. This way, older company data can be brought into your account, without the need for manual entry. Some courier solutions provide import templates to help you to easily organize your data into a format that will work best.
Support staff. A capable technical support team can guide you through the transition process, freeing you up to focus on your business.
"I'm not ready to change the way I run my business to bring a software on board."
Choosing a software that can adapt to the way you run your business is essential.
Here are a few examples of ways courier software can be customized for your business:
Personalized communication. There are software solutions that allow you to customize notifications, invoices, and more. For example, with OnTime’s notification designer you can automate communications between your customers and staff and create custom notifications that are automatically sent when you choose. You are in control of who receives what information, in what format, when, and why.
Pricing. Some businesses prefer to price their shipments by distance, others by weight or zone, and most by a combination of charges. OnTime's price modifier system gives you the option to build as many unique price sets as you need.
"Courier software is too expensive."
In years past, it was difficult to find courier software that was a good fit for small businesses. These solutions were built for large logistics/transportation companies—and it was hard to find solutions for under $20,000.
Times have changed. Now, there is courier software built, and priced, with small businesses in mind. OnTime's essential plan has all the features you need, at a reasonable monthly price. If you'd like to see how much you could save with courier software, check out our savings calculator.
Ready to get started? Contact us for more information.