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What is Dispatch Software?: How Dispatch Software Can Boost Your Business.

Aug 9, 2024
what is a dispatch software
what is a dispatch software

Table of Contents

Dispatch software is a powerful tool for optimising your delivery operations.

As a logistics operator, you understand that operational efficiency hinges on maintaining a seamless flow of goods. Keeping the goods flowing through your facilities minimises clutter while also ensuring timely deliveries.

But bottlenecks at the warehouse doorway (so to speak) are one of the most likely ways that your otherwise efficient supply chain can break down.

So how do you avoid these pesky snarl-ups?  In this article, we will explore the features of delivery dispatch software, how it works, and how it can be a useful tool for your delivery business.   

What is Dispatch Software?

Dispatch management software is a type of logistics software used to manage and coordinate delivery operations. The right dispatch system software offers several key features scheduling deliveries, route planning, and efficient resource allocation (aka driver and vehicle allocation).

Dispatching software also streamlines delivery management by providing real-time visibility into the location of goods, tracking your shipments, and managing carriers.

Features of Dispatch Software

Dispatch software is designed to provide logistics operators with a range of features that can help them manage their delivery operations more efficiently. Lets zoom into key features to look out for when shopping around for a dispatch software solution.

Real-time location visibility

Imagine a delivery driver stuck in unexpected traffic while en route to an important drop-off. Without real-time tracking, the dispatch team would be in the dark, unable to update the customer or reroute other deliveries.

With this feature, dispatchers can see the exact location of every vehicle. You get real-time visibility into the location of goods in your warehouse (or warehouses) at every stage of the dispatch process. 

Carrier management and shipment tracking

Dispatch software allows logistics operators to manage their dispatch carriers, including scheduling, tracking, and billing. It can also track and monitor the time any consignment left your facility, who was in charge, and which carrier it was sent on. This can be of great use if you are using a carrier diversification system to send consignments using multiple carriers

A dispatch software system can also help you quickly identify and resolve any issues that arise during the delivery process. This will ultimately allow you to reduce carrier costs by optimising routes, reducing fuel consumption, and minimising carrier-related delays.

Order management

Gone are the days when you could run your logistics business using sheaves of dog-eared paper, grubby pencils and land-line phones. Modern dispatch software allows logistics operators to digitally manage order processing, tracking and billing. You’ll not only see a boost in delivery efficiency but also improved customer satisfaction.

Reporting and analytics

These days, big data is the Big Daddy of successful service operations. Being able to crunch the numbers is as important as keeping your pencil sharp. Dispatch software provides logistics operators with a range of reporting and analytics tools that can help them analyse their dispatch operations and identify areas for improvement. 

How Does Dispatch Software Work?

You start with a centralised portal for managing your dispatch operations. From here you can manage your fleet of carriers, track shipments, and manage orders in real-time. Let’s follow the flow of a typical shipment process to see where dispatch software slots in.

Order up

For most logistics operators, dispatching typically begins with the receipt of an order from a customer. The order is then processed using your dispatch software system in tandem with other software systems you may have operating such as transport management or warehouse management system.

The dispatch software will work with these to provide real-time visibility into the location of goods in the warehouse or factory. It then automatically allocates a driver or checks the availability of other dispatch carriers in your network, then schedule a carrier to pick up the goods.

dispatch management

On the road

Once the carrier has picked up the goods, your dispatch software will work in tandem with your TMS to optimize routes. Route optimization features ensure that deliveries are made in the most efficient way, reducing transit times and lowering fuel costs.

It will also provide you with instant proof of delivery and feed the details back  into your invoicing and accounting system. Pretty nifty, isn’t’ it? 

“Can we do better?”

There’s always room for improvement, even in the best setups. After the shipment has been delivered, your dispatch software provides a range of reporting and analytics tools that can help you analyse your dispatch operations and identify areas for improvement.

Benefits of Dispatch Software

Dispatch software delivers some key benefits for logistics operators in Australia. By implementing a dispatch software system you will begin to see improvements in your operation almost immediately.

Improved dispatch efficiency 

Time is money in the logistics game. The faster you can move goods through your supply chain, the better. By providing real-time visibility into the location of goods within your facilities, and the availability of carriers across your network, dispatch software can help optimise your dispatch operations and reduce dispatch times.

Reduced costs 

The bottom line is where it all comes together. Dispatch software is a simple way for you to reduce carrier costs by optimising routes, keep and eye on fuel consumption, and minimising carrier-related delays. By monitoring the location of goods in your storage and transport facilities, the software can also cut down on the amount of valuable time that your staff spend finding and collating shipments. 

Increased customer satisfaction

We talk about this a lot in our blog posts. But the simple truth is that one bad review or a dissatisfied customer can quickly damage your reputation. Word spreads fast on social media these days so if you are able to avoid problems before they crop up, you’ll soo get a reputation for being reliable and good to deal with. By providing fast and reliable dispatch of goods, dispatch software can help improve customer satisfaction and build customer loyalty. This is vital for generating repeat business and growing your customer base.

Increased scalability

By providing a centralized platform for managing dispatch operations, dispatch software gives you business room to grow. This scalability makes it easy to add new locations, products, or customers. By growing in a controlled and efficient way you’ll be able to remain competitive and adapt to changing market conditions.

Get That Stuff Out to the Customer

Dispatch software is a powerful tool that logistics operators in Australia can use to meet their performance goals and manage customer expectations.

Transvirtual’s dispatch software is designed to streamline and optimise your dispatch process by providing real-time visibility into the location of goods. Our platform keep your shipments moving through the warehouse and out the door (or off the loading bay), manage your fleet, and ensure that your carrier diversification functions seamlessly. 

So if you’d like your logistics company to be “mentioned in dispatches” by satisfied customers, feel free to get in touch. We can help design the perfect dispatch software system for your business. 

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