Market Research Future claims that the logistic software market will grow from USD 10.9 bln in 2024 to USD 22.3 bln by 2032 at an 8% CAGR. Such rapid growth can be explained by the complexity of business processes that take place in logistics companies, due to which software vendors strive to cover all possible scenarios. At the same time, a large selection of off-the-shelf solutions is just a utopia, and many representatives of this business niche still have to resort to custom logistics mobile app development sooner or later. Since logistics is one of our priority development areas, we would like to share the insights we obtained while working on such projects.
Introduction to Mobile App Development for Logistics
In the context of distributed teams, some of which work in the office and some on routes, which is typical for logistics companies, having a mobile application for workflow automation becomes a full-fledged business necessity, and such applications themselves become an integral part of the logistics infrastructure. In particular, depending on the functionality, they can track cargo, manage routes, automate communications, and optimize overhead costs in real time.
As for WEZOM, thanks to many years of experience in custom logistics services app development, we have implemented dozens of solutions for logistics startups, transport companies, warehouse management departments, and 3PL providers. After their deployment, businesses in the logistics sector gained a sustainable competitive advantage and speeded up their work processes, making them more transparent, accurate, and cheaper. After all, unlike one-size-fits-all products, custom applications from WEZOM:
- Are tailored to the business processes taking place in a specific company;
- Can be scaled with a business;
- Take into account the nuances of a particular IT infrastructure and local legislation;
- Seamlessly integrate with the services and systems that are already used or are planned to use by a specific business.
Are you thinking about custom mobile development for logistics? We are ready to help you with this. Just sign up for a free consultation with our experts to get answers to all questions related to custom logistics services mobile app development.
Key Features of a Logistics Mobile App
Along with the unique functionality that we develop according to the individual requests of our clients, there is a kind of standard set of features that we implement for almost every custom project in the field of logistics.
Real-Time Tracking and Monitoring
By integrating GPS and IoT technologies, we can create a product that will allow dispatchers to track every cargo and every truck. In particular, our specialists can develop:
- Driver activity monitoring and a detailed map of truck movements with real-time updates;
- An analytical supply chain management dashboard with information on downtime and deviations from the route;
- Instant notifications about cargo delivery and status for comprehensive supply chain visibility.
All these features can be additionally integrated with third-party systems and services. If you did not find the needed functionality in this list, just contact us, and we will discuss their implementation individually.
Automated Scheduling and Route Optimization
Another essential group of features is logistics software integration with transportation management systems and the use of AI-based algorithms for automatic route planning and optimization. For example, with our custom product, its users will be able to:
- Take into account traffic jams and weather conditions, as well as plan unloading time to create resource-efficient schedules for drivers;
- Minimize the likelihood of "empty" runs for your trucks for supply chain optimization;
- Reduce fuel and operating costs thanks to end-to-end logistics process automation.
Of course, this is far from a complete list of the possibilities that can be achieved thanks to smart automation. If you have your own thoughts about what processes you can improve with its help, write or call us, and we will plan an individual development together, according to your needs.
Inventory Management and Reporting
Custom inventory management systems implemented by the WEZOM team can help logistics companies:
- Keep track of goods regardless of whether they are in the warehouse or in transit for full visibility of your stocks;
- Ensure end-to-end inventory management in real time;
- Generate and visualize logistics analytics and reports on KPIs, expenses, delivery times, and any other parameters.
This is not the end of the list of automation options for custom warehouse management systems. Therefore, if you have your own individual vision of these processes, schedule a free call with us to cover them with custom development.
Custom Logistics Services Mobile App Development
Based on our experience of working with well-established companies of the logistics sector, we concluded that custom logistics app development was the only viable option for them, since the deployment of ready-made solutions either limited the possibilities of automating complex processes (which often affected operations in several departments of the company at once and required complex integrations), or did not bring the desired KPI values. As for startups, custom development allows them to cover the needs of businesses in this niche that existing software solutions have not yet been able to meet (and, according to our experience, there are a lot of such needs).
In particular, let's consider this case of mobile app development for a logistics company, aimed at end-to-end automation of the vehicle transportation lifecycle from origin to destination. The main reason for the client to contact us was the complexity and high cost of licensing such popular systems as SuperDispatch and similar ones. As a result, our specialists built a brand-new product from scratch that was fully adapted to the "inner workings" of the client's business.
This radical client’s decision has already paid off 100% – the ROI of the custom transportation app development was only one year, and, from the first day of use, the product itself allowed the client’s company to reduce overhead costs by 19.5% and unloading time at the point – by 41%, which was impossible with any of the ready-made products tested by the client earlier.
If you would like to repeat and perhaps even surpass the success of this case, do not hesitate a minute, contact us right now to order professional logistics app development services!
Logistics App Development: Understanding the Process
The context of custom transportation software development always implies much more than creating “yet another mobile software for logistics”, and we at WEZOM understand this very well. Thus, our logistics software development experts will provide you with a customized digital tool that will improve operational metrics and scale with the specific business. Here are the logistics app development stages our team goes through to achieve this.
#1. Discovery stage
Work on any custom logistics mobile app always begins with in-depth analytics of business processes that require automation and the logistics software market as a whole. We study the supply chain, types of runs, fleet structure, routes, department interaction schemes, digital systems used, etc., through interviews, requirements collection, and identification of user pain points. Also, we analyze market competitors – both their pros and cons. All these insights give us the opportunity to create a comprehensive map of business processes and a list of technical specifications adapted to your unique business goals, as well as to determine the architectural scheme of the future mobile logistics platform.
#2. UX/UI design
Now everything is ready to start developing a user interface that would be understandable and convenient for both dispatchers and drivers (here, we also always take into account that interaction with the software can occur when drivers are on the road, the users themselves can use it with work gloves, and the screen of the mobile device can be exposed to sunlight or wet due to rain or snow like in this case of tire leasing software development – so, all user flows should be as short as possible). If necessary, we develop separate user scenarios and panels for different roles – for instance, for couriers, storekeepers, admins, etc. We also always follow the mobile-first principles, making all interface elements adaptive and not requiring onboarding.
Would you be interested in learning about typical mistakes in mobile UX/UI design? In that case, check out this article and be sure that with our logistics app development company, your product will never encounter them.
#3. Integrations
In 95% of cases, custom logistics solutions require third-party integrations with existing systems, such as TMS, WMS, FMS, ERP, CRM, BI/analytical tools, as well as payment and other APIs (e.g. geolocation, maps, etc.). To do this, we perform seamless connection of these systems through secure channels such as REST, Webhooks, and GraphQL, with logging and taking into account the potential number of user requests for a fixed period.
#4. Development
At this stage of logistics mobile app development, we begin software development of the frontend, backend, database, and API, using a modern technology stack, agile development methodologies, and time-tested architecture patterns. We also pay special attention to the protection of personal data (both at rest and in transit), traffic encryption, authorization, and access rights delimitation so that your product fully meets industry standards in the region where your business operates. Additionally, to ensure subsequent scaling, we prepare the software architecture for migration to the cloud, division into microservices, and containerization.
#5. Testing
This stage begins in parallel with program transport and logistics app development – in particular, we perform unit, integration, and e2e testing. Then, our specialists begin load testing to understand how the system behaves with an increase in the number of users and their requests. Finally, when all the detected bugs are fixed, we begin mobile logistics software testing in real conditions, with the participation of your drivers, dispatchers, and other personnel for whom this product was created. All this allows us to identify errors before they manifest themselves in work.
By the way, if you would be interested in learning more about the nuances of testing mobile software, we recommend reading this article.
#6. Launch and support
After deployment, your application will not be left without our attention. In particular, we will ensure automated updates and zero-downtime releases thanks to the implementation of CI/CD practices, real-time monitoring, and event logging, as well as training of your personnel, creation of manuals, and providing technical support.
#7. Scaling
Over time, as your business grows, we will extend the lifecycle of mobile app for logistics companies by implementing microservice architecture, CI/CD pipelines, and containerization without causing downtime. Thanks to this, we will seamlessly adapt it to new requirements, so that, for example, you can cover new regions, types of transport/warehouses, number and types of users, and so on.
#8. Monetization (optionally)
If your fleet management software eliminates the key pain points of a specific business, you should consider whether it can solve the pain points of its competitors as well. Thus, based on the ready-made infrastructure, WEZOM will help you adapt your product to the SaaS model, choose the optimal pricing option, integrate billing and access control, migrate the project to the cloud, and bring it to the market as a customizable solution. Thanks to this, the logistics companies app development initially aimed at solving internal needs will turn into a new source of income and a tool for strengthening the industry position.
If you would like to learn more about the prospects for monetization of logistics technology solutions, be sure to check out this case study on developing a custom TMS platform.
Don't know where to start? Perhaps MVP development will be the best option for you. Discuss the prospects of this approach with our experts privately right now!
Emerging Trends in Mobile Logistics Software
In general, observing the international logistics market for many years, we can confidently say that logistics processes are rapidly moving towards full digitalization, which is confirmed by the transfer of paper document flow to the digital plane through the introduction of smart contracts and e-CMR order management systems, the integration of alternative navigation tools in the real-time tracking systems (for example, through voice control), and, of course, intelligent planning of regular operations.
Such technologies as artificial intelligence and machine learning play an important role in all this – they are usually responsible for predicting delays, smart automation of driver schedules, and assessing delivery risks. No less popular technological solutions are IoT and telematics, which allow custom freight management systems to monitor temperature and humidity (which affects cargo transportation conditions), control the opening/closing of the truck’s body, improve transportation safety, etc.
However, if you are still at the initial stage of forming your product’s concept, you can start with an MVP, as one of our clients for whom we created a GPS attendance app.
Why Logistics Companies Should Invest in Custom Mobile Apps
Most ready-made logistics solutions look attractive until the first challenge: each additional module is paid (even though the license for the basic configuration of such software also costs a lot of money), integrations are available only with a limited set of third-party systems (and almost never – with those that your business already uses), and so on. Moreover, if you need something non-standard, you will have to be prepared for lengthy negotiations with the vendor's terms. If you add to this other typical problems, such as:
- Outdated interfaces with redundant functionality that is easy to get confused in;
- Inability to quickly adapt the off-the-shelf solution to new business areas;
- Lack of real-time control over KPIs;
- Dependence on the supplier's infrastructure and data migration difficulties;
...it becomes clear that such solutions will only slow down business growth. In turn, we at WEZOM work fundamentally differently, adapting each new project to a unique infrastructure, tasks, and even management style. Moreover, if you want to monetize the solution and offer it to other companies as SaaS, we will help you with this as well.
Want to automate logistics workflows but not sure how to start? Book a free call with WEZOM experts, and we’ll show how to turn your logistics chaos into a controllable system.