How Technology is Re-shaping the Delivery Service Industry

Recent advances in technology are rapidly changing the face of the courier industry, making it faster, easier, and more efficient than ever to establish your business and work in the delivery service. Many of these advancements are available through online courier exchanges, where owner-drivers, companies, and freight forwarders can find the jobs or services they require. Online courier exchanges harness the interconnectivity offered by the Internet and use it to put clients in touch with providers.

Load Matching

Online exchanges match available loads with available vehicles in real time. At any given time, an owner-driver looking for a job can find a load to deliver, or a company with a small fleet can find an available vehicle and driver to help their delivery service. Load matching is somewhat like online dating. Members with a specific requirement have a platform to contact likeminded people with similar needs and those who can match those needs.

Load Notifications

When drivers and companies work through an online courier exchange, they have the option to receive load notifications. Companies can communicate with drivers on the road to notify them of other available loads – for example, a load to pick up for the return journey. A member of a courier exchange can receive notifications on their mobile phones, email accounts, or desktop computers. With real-time communication and a huge network of potential contacts, load notifications are maximizing and streamlining courier delivery service.

Telematics Integration

Some courier exchanges are offering telematics integration to allow trading partners better control and visibility. Telematics is an interdisciplinary field, which encompasses everything from GPS navigation to automatic driving assistance systems and hands-free mobile phones. The term “telematics” derives from a mash-up of the words “telecommunications” and “informatics.” In the courier industry, some exchanges integrate their services with existing telematic providers such as Navman Wireless and TomTom Telematics. This integration allows the parties involved in a courier transaction to track the vehicle in real time. Telematics integration can also provide location-based load notifications that are convenient when a driver and vehicle are already on the road.

Accounting

Online courier exchanges also offer their members tools to manage their finances. With accounting tools, members can create and send invoices to clients, pay subcontractors, and make detailed cost reports. Online payment tools make it fast, easy, and efficient for couriers to do business with their customers.

Technology has simplified and accelerated many of the tasks of everyday life of courier delivery services. With online courier exchanges, load matching, real-time notifications, telematics integration, and online payment options, the courier industry is set to become even more efficient and advanced than ever before.