A Complete Guide To Transportation App Development

Posted by Kaira Turner on April 24th, 2023

The transportation sector has joined the ranks of other industries that have elected to become "Uberized" throughout the years. There have always been a lot of issues in this industry, such as the need for physical involvement, paperwork, time, and evidence of delivery. What that did was pave the way for innovative new transportation apps.  

Logistics and shipping are, without question, huge industries that pump billions of dollars into our economy. By 2027's conclusion, the logistics industry is projected to be worth ,975.64Bn, according to studies. Therefore, this presents a chance for the transportation industry to create a mobile app.

Reasons why your shipping company needs a mobile app

The following advantages accrue to logistics companies that adopt a mobile application strategy: 

1. Getting rid of documents 

Logistics mobile applications save businesses time and money by eliminating the need for time-consuming paper order forms and service requests.  

2. Speeds up delivery while cutting costs

Logistics scheduling, fuel cost estimation, and fewer wasted miles driven are all possible with the help of mobile solutions for fleet management. 

3. Streamlines routes and pickups

The delivery schedule tool allows you to pick the most convenient time and route ahead of time. Mobile solutions for warehouse management with built-in databases and barcode scanning features boost freight dispatching. 

4. Allows for the management of vehicle tracking

Adding a GPS tracking capability to a driver's logistics software allows for more streamlined shipping and precise vehicle dispatch time prediction.

Mobile technology may be used to automate mundane processes, monitor dispatched inventory in real-time, and provide transparency across all departments, all of which contribute to a reduction in empty miles and an increase in revenue. 

The Best Benefits to Create a Mobile App for Logistics

Your drivers and management can benefit from the convenience and efficiency of a mobile TMS. Apps like this can be useful for various logistical tasks, including inventory control, route planning, fleet management, and supply chain administration.

For instance, it addresses issues like clutter, paperwork, delays that have become standard in the sector, and other disjointed and time-consuming procedures. As a result of technological advancements, there are now more ways to cut costs, boost profits, and make your company easier to monitor and manage. All these are good enough reasons to hire a company providing mobile app development services in Dubai. Let’s look more closely at the benefits of developing a mobile app for logistics. 

1. Tracking Vehicles in Real Time to Save You Time

Easily monitor and pinpoint the whereabouts of your vehicles using a driver mobile app. Even better, your team will not have to do anything special to keep up with the real-time data updates.

There are a few ways in which this is helpful:

• Your transportation and logistics procedures will be clearer. The car's location is always available for viewing. This feature is for you if you are a delivery service and want to know how far away a driver is from a drop-off location or where your packages are.

• We will no longer squander money on meaningless chats. Since information is updated automatically, you and your managers will not have to bother drivers with texts or phone calls to find out where they are. The time they have gained can be used better on other projects.

• Use the mobile app to get immediate assistance in a crisis. In an emergency, you can send aid more quickly if you know exactly where the vehicle is.

2. Better Control of Vehicle Expenditures

The correct course of action is to base decisions on data. You can centralize all fleet-related data by developing your transportation management system.

That way, you can track when each truck goes in for its required inspections and any necessary repairs to its brakes, engine, etc.

The application will also record information on your drivers, trucks, routes, cargo types, locations, empty/full truck payload capacities, and other key performance indicators (KPIs) that can help you run your business more efficiently.

3. Put an end to the Red Tape

As we have established, a significant reduction in paperwork is one of the many benefits of developing logistics monitoring software. Paper is no longer needed when paying bills, tracking packages, or even receiving payments.

As a result, you save money, and your staff has easier access to data and more time to focus on what matters to the company.

4. Logistics Improvements

 But creating a mobile app for transport and logistics is about more than just the delivery procedure. Warehouse management and reducing inefficiencies in the supply chain are also important aspects to consider.

A TMS can help you better manage your fleet, warehouse, and the distribution of your goods. In addition, you can prevent empty runs of trucks by making better use of current routes and storage space with the help of AI-based technology.

5. Driver App for Trucking and Logistics Companies

The construction of a custom logistics app for drivers and the creation of an ERP system (Enterprise Resource Planning) for managers and administrators make up the two main components of a TMS.

As we have already discussed, having a TMS customized specifically for your transportation company's requirements is one of the biggest benefits.

Where Do We Start If We Want to Make a Transportation App?

Sticking to the correct procedures to carry out development without a hitch is crucial. The following graphic provides an outline of the five required steps.

1. Set Your Sights

Knowing your target audience is the first step in developing successful transportation software. There are two possible approaches to taking on the problem of app creation.

• Create a dedicated app for one's transportation firm, in which the business's fleet and drivers' shifts may be monitored, and individual customers' shipments followed in real-time.

• The goal is to make money from the app by making it available to other logistics companies as a SaaS.

2. Understand Your Target Audience

Here, as the owner of a transportation company, you need to know who you are selling to. The time and money spent on fleet management software would be well-spent with a solid concept.

On the other hand, logistics and transportation businesses would be your only focus as a business owner. They are the target audience for your pitch. Therefore, it makes sense to focus on selling them on your product's benefits.

3. Specifications Listing

The LMS includes many functions that can be broken down into three main sections:

• Control Panel (Fleet/Driver/Inventory/Order/Payment Administration)

• User Interface (Reserving vehicles, Monitoring Purchases, etc.)

• Control Panel for Driver (Checking Route, Order, etc.)

4. Combining Technologies

Combining many technologies to address mobile apps' unique needs is essential during development. Amongst these are

• Android, iOS, and Windows are all operating systems.

• There are a few distinct app types: native, hybrid, and web-based. Databases

• MongoDB, SQL Online Payment Options: Credit/Debit Cards, PayPal, Stripe, Mobile Wallet, Cash on Delivery

• AWS or Google Cloud for Online Backups?

• Hadoop for Real-Time Analyses

• Database: MongoDB, SQL

5. Meet a Tech Companion

Finally, it would help if you found a mobile app development business you can trust and rely on. You should also check the company's track record, namely how long it has been around and how many transportation mobile apps it has created.

Hiring a freelance developer is another option for creating logistics apps, although doing so will likely be expensive and time-consuming. It is not enough to hire a developer; you will also need a designer and other experts in transportation app development.

Conclusion

The transportation industry has also made significant investments in the development of mobile applications, with profitable results. With the support of mobile technology, there is no question that the industry will continue to expand rapidly.

Still perplexed? Get in touch with the industry-leading, decades-proven mobile app development company in Dubai. When creating mobile applications, the team has the expertise to assist you.