Logistic solutions have advanced tremendously by offering customers quick deliveries of products they like. However, this demands a lot of planning and efficiency at the end of the company to ensure that the deliveries are carried out smoothly and in minimal time. This is where the role of the route planning software comes in. It helps businesses to plan and schedule the best route for multi-stop deliveries to optimize their resources and keep their customers happy.

Manually determining multiple routes by considering factors such as traffic and roadblocks is a cumbersome task when one is looking for a multi-stop delivery route. The route planning software on the other hand assists in not only speeding up this process but also executing it in a more enhanced way and saving costs. In this article, we will look at how route planning software can assist businesses in better management of their logistics requirement. 

Benefits of route planning software 

Let us begin by understanding the centrality of the route planning software by understanding the benefits a business can accrue from its implementation. The core benefits include: 

• Reduced costs: Manually executing the logistics process is expensive as it demands employees who do this. Additionally, the cost also increases due to reduced efficiency resulting in more fuel and transportation costs. 
• Reduced planning time: Manually executing the process is not only less efficient but also increases the planning time. As against this, automated and optimized planning reduces the time from hours to minutes. Additionally, the software is better capable of handling complex logistics solutions as well.
• Enhanced customer service: The software provides accurate data and achievable ETAs that can be intimated to the customers. It has realistic arrival times that enhance customer satisfaction immensely.
• Better-focused drivers: By providing the drivers with a demarcated delivery route, businesses can enhance their productivity as well. There is no scope left for confusion or delays that help the drivers deliver better results and accomplish their targets. Their job satisfaction increases as well and they can avoid congestion and roadblocks better with preplanning. 
• Better accountability: The software promotes better and quicker KPI reporting that assists businesses in increasing their accountability. It helps in making the logistics operations more transparent for all the stakeholders and increases the accountability of the business.
• Enhanced change support: The software planning also takes into consideration hypothetical situations that demand changes in the routes. Additionally, it provides businesses with the prospective cost of increasing another stop or changing the route for a delivery addition to help them make quick decisions.
• Real-time changes: Most businesses have a strong logistics plan but are unable to track whether the delivery partners follow that route or not. The software tracks real-time data to analyze the difference between the actual and the planned routes to make real-time adjustments as required.
• Digitized services: Lastly, one key benefit of the software is that there is time-saving by process digitalization. Business employees no longer have to make manual entries and keep a record of the logistics. This helps in better management and recordkeeping while also saving time.

With the aforementioned pointers, the advantages of the route planning software become evident. It is because of these multiple benefits that businesses are increasingly adopting the software for their route planning requirements.

Challenges of the route planning software

With a comprehensive look at the advantages of the software, let us look at the common challenges businesses face to get an all-around understanding. These include:

1. Difficulty in adapting: One of the biggest challenges is that it is difficult to integrate software on the go with every day delivery requirements. Businesses tend to work with ongoing systems without understanding the requirements of the software and taking time for its implementation.
2. Fear of automation: The employees currently working in the logistics department manually handling the logistics might fear the automation process. It can be because they feel their jobs will be at stake. However, it is crucial to understand that the software works best when in the hands of humans and no jobs are removed but only the functions get altered. It allows employees to focus on other areas that demand more human intervention.
3. Cost of software: Another barrier is the one-time software cost needed for its implementation which might hinder the process. However, businesses must look at the long-term ROI and other benefits instead of looking at it as an expense.

Businesses must consider both the advantages and the challenges of the route planning software to fully grasp its intricacies. Pidge is a renowned logistics partner that can provide the best delivery logistics software integration to assist businesses in seamlessly incorporating the software while also enhancing their functioning. Connect with them today to let loose all your logistics troubles with a seamless integration.