Imagine a world where vehicles are no longer wasting time on their delivery routes due to human error in mapping routes.
Keep on reading to find out more about the economic impact of implementing route scheduling software.
What is route scheduling software?
Route scheduling creates an efficient route for these vehicles to follow. Scheduling Software helps fleet managers to effectively optimise the routes taken by their delivery and servicing vehicles to create the most effective delivery or work schedule.
Keep on reading to find out more about what the economic impact means for businesses.
The costs associated with route scheduling software
As with all software, there are initial costs that business will undertake, however in time the investment will pay off. Initial costs associated with route scheduling software can include:
- The actual upfront price of the software or monthly fee for Software as a Service. Industry standard software using proven technology may command a premium. However, the price will prove more cost effective for the large deployments of vehicles and users.
- Employee training. Employees will need training depending on ease of use and many companies train an internal trainer to reduce implementation costs. Training will take time, but once users are up to speed with how to use the software, the benefits will be felt and time saved.
- Hardware. It’s all good having route scheduling software, but do you need a mobile device for turn-by-turn navigation, messaging or proof of delivery. Any in-vehicle device will need to be safe for drivers to use hands free whilst driving. For large deployments economies of scale will reduce the cost per driver.
It is important to understand the full costs and focus on the potential return on investment (ROI) to make the case to invest.
Some other economic benefits include:
Revenue generation
One of the main economic benefits includes revenue generation. The use of route scheduling software will help increase delivery capacity, meaning more deliveries will be completed within the same timeframe with the same drivers and vehicles. This will improve business productivity.
Cost reduction
Implementing route scheduling software will help to reduce costs, there will be a reduction in mileage and fuel consumed, due to optimised routes leading to fewer miles per delivery. This then filters through to reduced labour costs, due to efficient routes leading to shorter working hours for driving staff, who can deliver more in a working day..
Delivery process monitoring
With route scheduling software and real time updates on progress this allows live updates of deliveries to be communicated to customers during the last mile process. This fosters confidence and customer satisfaction as customers’ expectations can be continually updated.
This will increase customer loyalty over time, increasing the likelihood business will return for further business down the road. Customers being able to see the status of their deliveries will also reduce the likelihood of them reaching out to the business, taking up an employee’s time to ask about the status of a delivery.
Less demand on the roads
Optimised delivery routes will help to distribute traffic more evenly, leading to a reduction in traffic in key areas. The reduction in stop start traffic will also contribute to reduced vehicle emissions and improved air quality.
When working out if route scheduling and optimisation solutions are right for your business, always do your research and incorporate data points specific to your organisation when working out the potential ROI of adoption.