GIS Technology for Tracking Courier Business

Posted On 11/02/201806/17/2019

Couriers who transport such items as medical specimens face special challenges without the presence of Tracking Solutions. Organizations such as clinical laboratories, blood banks, biomedical services, hospitals, pharmaceutical services, and tissue banks depend upon couriers to transport medical specimens safely and track time-critical delivery. Because of today’s mobile technology, clients can track individual packages in real time and validate deliveries, especially critical in life or death scenarios.

For companies offering time critical services, the ability to access information and packages quickly can result in time and labor savings and improve customer satisfaction. For some clients, efficient time critical service is truly a matter of life and death.

In addition to changes in devices used by drivers, highly sophisticated warehouse management solutions can have a tremendous impact on the business, allowing for reduced warehouse space due to increased efficiency, less labor, carrier freight savings, and improved overall service.

The benefits of using current technology for your courier business:

• Delivery confirmation signatures can be captured, stored, transmitted and reported electronically.
• Using handheld devices saves time and reduces labor costs
• Electronic information can be stored in formats that can be readily searched and reported, saving on labor and clerical costs.
• Using software and handheld devices increases accuracy, reducing the incidence of costly, time-consuming errors.
• Employing technological solutions allows for real-time tracking of information.
• Use of electronic data makes information easy to reconcile, track and implement in producing reports
• Removing the paper trail reduces paper waste, saving trees and other resources.
• Use of warehouse management system software enables a business to organize, schedule and monitor critical warehouse functions, increasing efficiency in order to save time and money.
• Using transportation management system software enables the business to streamline transportation routes, collect, organize and monitor data on drivers, deliveries and transportation resources. The streamlined business can reduce energy costs and other expenses.

Overall, the correct use of today’s technology can help to reduce errors, save time and money and develop more efficient, consistent business practices. These streamlined operations often are more productive and profitable. In addition, having access to accurate real-time data and information provides the opportunity to communicate clearly with customers, potentially increasing the level of service, support and customer satisfaction.

The technology currently available for your courier business

• Barcode scanners create business efficiency by recording information about packages, enabling them to be tracked throughout the warehouse and delivery processes. This ability to track packages is essential to meeting expectations and regulations.
• Warehouse management software solutions help to organize the storage, retrieval and processing of packages and inventory, as well as to produce useful, critical reports and provide visibility for customers and employees.
• Transportation management software solutions produce effective information tracking of drivers, deliveries, routes, and other critical information.
• Radio frequency (RF) facilitates the use of handheld devices in warehouses, allowing for the transmission of information from point to point, reducing labor expense.
• Handheld computers capture signatures electronically, allowing the data to be transmitted, stored, tracked and reported for a variety of functional uses.
• Global positioning systems (GPS) technology is essential in tracking packages, deliveries, and drivers throughout the logistics and delivery processes.

How to find effective technology solutions for your business

• Contact a company that has experience in dealing with companies in the courier industry and is a member in good standing of courier associations, such as MCAA and ECA as well as FMA and other state courier associations.
• Look for a single source supplier of technology. Ideally, your business should be able to contact one company from which to purchase handheld devices which are already configured. This company should be available for consultation, service, and support and be knowledgeable about selecting hardware to meet the specific challenges faced by your business and its users.

• Seek a company that has experience in dealing with warehouses, third-party logistics providers, transportation professionals, and supply chain/logistics providers. This experience is essential in helping you to locate solutions that will benefit your business while applying best practices to minimize inefficiency and waste.
• Contact hardware manufacturers such as Motorola, Honeywell, and AT&T for recommendations and company references.

• Find a company that comes highly recommended by other businesses in the courier industry. Information can be found by searching user groups and forum on LinkedIn, the professional social media network.

To learn more about how Tracking can help your business, click here.