ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: Spreading seasonal cheer with timely deliveries

Date: Monday, September 26, 2022

Can your fleet logistics cope with the pressure and volatility of seasonal demands?

Peak business periods for the likes of e-commerce, merchandising and courier companies – such as Easter, Christmas and the New Year – sees planning and commercial resourcing ramped up months in advance.

The management of customer expectations, however, still remains commonplace.

“During the busy festive period, some deliveries may take slightly longer than usual,” is the message typically broadcast on websites in the run up to Christmas.

With the danger of seasonal spirits being dampened by shoppers’ gifts not arriving on time, the efficiency of delivery operations can make or break a business’s reputation.

The number of self-employed contract drivers recruited surges as a result, but effectively managing this gig workforce is no easy task.

The flexible tech solution to smarter planning

Operationally, managing time-sensitive deliveries calls for data insights to
digitise route planning and raise the bar in service standards.

The fleet visibility offered by telematics solutions, featuring dynamic scheduling and job dispatch systems, for example, can streamline operations and communication with drivers.

Dedicated driver terminals have long been the go-to devices for mobile workers, connected to the back office via in-vehicle tracking devices. Workflow management, tracking and navigation, however, can now be accessed via a standalone mobile application, requiring no hardware installation.

The recently launched Webfleet Work app enables drivers to use their existing mobile devices and fleets can be set up on short-term contracts with swift onboarding. This solution offers far greater flexibility for companies using contract drivers.

Furthermore, by equipping them with the tools to improve their life on the road and better manage their deliveries, they are less likely to face unrealistic timetables or to be frustrated by traffic delays. As a result, the business will be better placed to call upon their services again in the future, during trading spikes.

Raising the efficiency bar

With or without vehicle hardware, connected fleet management solutions can mean the difference between disappointed customers and efficient, dynamic operations.

Where companies have to contend with driver shortages, optimising workflow and vehicle utilisation is paramount, taking the strain off time-pressured drivers and resource-stretched fleet logistics departments.

Using Webfleet, jobs and orders are sent with automatic routing information to the driver’s device, helping them circumvent paralysing congestion.

The most appropriate delivery vehicles are dispatched, based on who will arrive the quickest, and itineraries can be planned more accurately, with the sequence of deliveries optimised at the touch of a button. Customers, meanwhile, can be kept up to date with automatic email or text notifications, making them aware of ETAs and changes to schedules as they happen.

Connected telematics platforms can enable drivers to digitally capture customers’ signatures for proof of delivery, with real-time updates on destinations.

So, what do you want for your fleet this year? A cost-effective solution for efficient, stress-free deliveries could prove the perfect gift.

Web: www.webfleet.com

Call: 0208 822 3605

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