How Technology Is Changing Courier Work

Technology is continuing to disrupt many industries, often in positive ways. The courier industry is one that has been able to take advantage of technological advancements over recent years. More and more drivers are using technology to improve their work, and you may have experienced this yourself while working on courier jobs over the last few years.

It was recently reported that WGM Engineering Group in Scotland, which is an engineering solutions provider, cut its fuel costs by over a fifth through using new technology. So how did it do this?

Benefits of Using Telematics

Courier News recently reported that WGM Engineering Group, which has a fleet of 90 vans, took advantage of the fleet management platform from TomTom Telematics and improved its fuel efficiency dramatically over a 12-month period.

This telematics system provides insights to driver behaviour so that companies can monitor key performance indicators, including speeding, idling time, arrival times, departure times, harsh braking and more. Such information can be incredibly useful for companies operating fleets of vehicles, because they get a much deeper insight into the behaviour of their drivers while out on courier jobs and can use this information to make improvements.

How You Can Use Technology in Your Business

If you regularly carry out courier jobs, whether you own your own fleet or you work as an independent driver, you too can take advantage of technology. If you have a fleet, technology like telematics can be put to use, but you can also use technology even if you operate alone.

One of the major advances in the courier industry over recent years is that delivery times have become a lot more accurate. Many companies now alert customers when their delivery is going to arrive; some do this by sending an automatic text, while others allow customers to track their parcels live over the Internet.

This is great for delivery drivers for many reasons. Firstly, it provides greater customer satisfaction, which can lead to more repeat business. In addition, it means fewer undelivered packages, because customers are able to ensure they are available when the package is going to be delivered.

In addition, you may find yourself using technology every day that a few years ago was not that common. GPS, for example, has changed how we drive and can help when you are delivering packages in areas that you do not know well. Various mobile apps and websites have also come along to help improve day-to-day life for delivery drivers, such as sites that allow you to advertise loads and pick up jobs.

Take Advantage of Technology

If you carry out courier jobs, technology can make a big difference to your work. So take advantage of the tools at your disposal to make finding work and improving your deliveries even better.