The best delivery routing and dispatch software should be able to scale with any size company, simplify communication across your operations, and integrate well with your POS system. Cartrack offers these features and more, making us one of the best providers of delivery software in South Africa.
How many times did you call your drivers this week?
“Avoid that road.”
“How far are you?”
“When will you be back, this is urgent!”
This way of managing your delivery or service business is amateur at best—not to mention grossly outdated. Technology has evolved to automate so many of your fleet management tasks, and two of the most important aspects are ROUTING and DISPATCH.
Want to know what it does? Delivery is Cartrack’s execution engine that offers real-time visibility of service technicians and drivers.
Here’s a breakdown of how the latest and best routing and dispatch tech is changing how your competitors do business—and what you can do to keep up.
Since you’re tired of running your delivery business manually, we’ve come up with a checklist of what you should be looking for in a routing & dispatch software package that delivers optimization of your processes.
It’s time to upgrade from slow to fast; from tedious to efficient; from expensive to profitable!
Ready? Here’s your shopping list.
You’ve got better things to do than keep up with roadblocks, traffic jams and pothole-ridden roads. What you need is a system that keeps your drivers aware of where to drive, what routes to avoid, and how to get to destinations faster!
✅ Cartrack’s offer: Dynamic route optimization that communicates directly with your drivers on real-time road events, quick routes that are safe, and live recommended detours.
What if a customer alters their destination? Could there be another driver that’s closer? How do your most urgent deliveries fit in with all the ones already queued up? These are complicated situations that often call for an algorithm to solve.
✅ Cartrack’s offer: We’ve already got that optimization algorithm all set up. The software will reroute drivers according to the most efficient patterns, and notify everyone about what the changes are.
Wondering who the best candidate is for those next 4 deliveries? One of your drivers may be able to drop all of them off in one go. It’s not just about the quickest route—it’s about the quickest way to get ALL your deliveries done as cheaply as possible.
✅ Cartrack’s offer: Calculating your deliveries or service calls is automatically done for you. If multiple deliveries can be completed in one go, our system will identify the best single route that burns the least amount of fuel.
You need to call James and let him know that Simon is taking over Peter’s deliveries because Harry is sick and everyone’s tasks need to be equally distributed… (take a deep breath). Everyone should know what’s going on because communication is VITAL.
✅ Cartrack’s offer: Every driver gets a delivery phone and app that notifies them of where everyone is, how far they are, what their tasks are, and which deliveries are done or not done.
Instant messaging. POS systems. Cargo loading. Proof of deliveries. It’s a lot to manage if you’re doing them all separately. Look for a system that ties everything together and allows you to manage various components in just a few clicks.
✅ Cartrack’s offer: You get to tailor your workforce management package to include everything you need for better optimization. From simple scheduling to more complex assignments, it’s all on one system.
Routing and dispatching are two sides of the same coin, but they’re not exactly the same. Finding a planned delivery solution that encompasses both will revolutionise your operations and give you space to grow your business reputation.
Here’s a quick comparison on how these two vital aspects of your logistics company function together.
The term “efficiency” has become a buzzword that’s lost its meaning, but in the logistics industry it encompasses speed, reliability and ultimately brand reputation.
Routing is important because:
Any good planned delivery solution prioritises the strategy of who delivers, when they deliver, and what they need to deliver. So many companies rely on Cartrack’s Delivery software to handle the “calculations” of each delivery, because doing this manually across multiple drivers & customers is hard for one person to do.
Dispatching is important because:
Every delivery you make is money in your pocket. Whether you’re a courier company or a pizza place, the more clients you satisfy, the more growth potential you’ll have. If you want to make positive changes to your company right now, here’s where you can start.
Once you see how routing and dispatching work in tandem, you can’t ever unsee it again. Delivery tracking routing software should ALWAYS include dispatching capabilities because this is the planning process that influences the day’s operations.
BUYING TIP: Don’t choose one or the other—make sure you find a solution that focuses on both.
Lots of apps exist for route suggestions, but only AI routing software updates by the minute to accommodate real-time situations. Finding the right route planning is a massive fuel saver, and this should be the focus of your software.
BUYING TIP: Ask your logistics software partner about the fuel-saving benefits of their software. If it’s not the focus, consider a different provider.
With driver visibility comes undeniable safety. Not only are you helping your drivers avoid dangerous roads and areas, you’re also aware if there’s a breakdown, accident or medical emergency en route.
BUYING TIP: Consider rugged dashcams for your delivery vehicles to further protect your drivers against false claims, road rage and he-said-she-said scenarios.
Shorter and safer routes mean fewer kilometers on the road (and fewer potholes messing up your tyres). Your vehicles will need less maintenance, last longer, and give you a better return on investment before needing to be replaced.
BUYING TIP: Add a predictive maintenance system to your fleet of vehicles and only book vehicles for services when and if they need it.
Ditch the paper trail and opt for digital archiving of all your PODs and invoices. Having these documents on-the-ready is the quickest way to satisfy your customers, deal with returns & refunds, and keep your records organised.
BUYING TIP: Choose a delivery routing and dispatch software system that allows for pictures, digital signatures and easy refunds when goods are returned.
We understand that you can’t function without your POS system. It’s also likely that you and your staff have grown so accustomed to the one you have, that changing it will disrupt operations. Fortunately there’s no need to change your whole system when getting delivery dispatching software from Cartrack.
How so?
Because our software comes with API-first integration. This means that if your POS system allows for it (and most do), we can simply connect your current system to ours. Your POS will work seamlessly with our routing and dispatch delivery software, enhancing your current system—not hindering it.
To manually manage hundreds of deliveries at the same time is near-impossible. Large businesses cope with peak delivery times and multiple deliveries by investing in technology that automates all of it for them.
A good example of this is a proof-of-concept trial run we did with a major hardware & home store in South Africa. 10 drivers used the tools associated with Delivery and were managed by the company’s dispatch manager.
They reported a saving of R17 000 within a one month period thanks to the software!
That’s only with 10 drivers—can you imagine what you could do if your company used Delivery?
Because routing & dispatching software is relatively affordable, it's worth getting no matter how many vehicles you use to run your small business. If you run a small operation and make use of two or three vehicles, this software is perfect for keeping your dispatching efforts on-point.
Starting a new courier company? We’ve got you covered with courier route planning software that keeps your drivers safe, accountable, and efficient!
Delivering time-sensitive goods? Our delivery routing software ensures speedy deliveries before your goods get half a chance to spoil.
Are your deliveries intermittent & erratic? Cartrack’s planned delivery solution is always standing by if and when you need it in a pinch.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that logistics routing and dispatch software is only for big companies. When you choose the right software provider, they’ll grow with you.
Remember that features can be added or removed as you need them. Smaller businesses might not need all their drivers to have specialised phones or dashcams—but it’s nice to know that those features are available when you’re ready.
As Cartrack’s head of Delivery, Lyndsay Williamson always says, "Delivery is for anyone who requires visibility of their teams out in the field, whether you’re delivering goods or have a mobile dog grooming parlour. Delivery automates your day-to-day operations, allowing you to spend more time on what matters—definitely not on admin."
This is how Cartrack’s Delivery makes a real difference in the growth of your business:
Customer support and staff training should always be included in any courier or logistics management package you purchase. These systems can take some getting used to, especially if you want to get the most out of them.
Ask these questions before you commit:
Call a representative at Cartrack and feel free to ask these questions. We’d like to believe you’ll be impressed with our answers!
Discover what features to look out for when buying the top routing and dispatch software for your delivery or courier business.
