Challenges Facing Courier and Delivery Services

Courier and delivery businesses are facing multiple challenges as a result of this increase in demand, which are made more difficult because of the competitive nature of the industry. Some of the most common challenges include:

• Late or missing deliveries
• Damaged customer goods
• Vehicle maintenance
• Scheduling
• Managing multiple delivery routes
• Remotely managing employees
• Quick task assignment
• Employee reporting and performance reviews

If left unaddressed, these issues can become detrimental to the overall performance of the company and could lead to a significant loss in profits.

How can Tracking Software Help?

Through helping managers organise their business, by allowing them to view where their staff and assets are in real time. Routes and tasks can be assigned, while the status of the delivery is regularly updated on the platform dashboard. Reporting is also a breeze as the most advanced staff management software generate internal reporting which can be viewed at any time by the manager or employer.

These features within the platform solve the issues surrounding the remote management of staff performance and keep an open line of direct and effective communication. This in turn, saves the employer money as well as improving customer satisfaction due to a reduction of late or undelivered packages.

Protecting Your Assets with GPS Tracking

Misused and poorly maintained assets are potentially a drain on resources within any business, resulting in significant money leakage and a loss of staff performance amongst other things. Damages to company property such as vehicles and devices could be easily handled by installing regulatory devices within them. These include:

• GPS devices
• Harsh turning sensors
• Harsh braking sensors
• Speedometer

Today there is technology available that incorporates all these features into a small, easy to install and operate device.

The Impact of Vehicle Tracking

Apart from encouraging employees to treat the company vehicles with care and respect when they are driven, GPS car trackers can help in a number of other ways. Tracking devices that are connected into the vehicle’s electronics can monitor systems such as the fuel level and schedule regular maintenance checks, with reminders sent to the relevant people.

Tracking the performance of the delivery vehicle can also improve the condition of the delivered packages as damaged to goods is directly related to their transportation and handling. That is, these devices work to protect the customer’s assets, making them less prone to damage by impact or rapid movement.

GPS vehicle trackers are a vital tool in helping delivery and courier businesses to make efficiency and good performance a priority, whilst minimising human error, protecting the company’s property and increasing customer satisfaction.

UniGuard has a range of GPS trackers to suit many different needs. Contact our sales team today to find one that suits you.

The post Staff & Asset Tracking Helping Courier & Delivery Service appeared first on Staff & Asset Tracking with Workforce Management Software by UniGuard.

As of last year, 14% of total global retail sales were generated through online shopping, estimated at around 1.92 billion digital buyers worldwide. This percentage is expected to rise to 22% by the year 2023. This only means one thing for our fellow courier and delivery service providers. It’s going to be quite a busy couple of years ahead and the numbers are projected to keep on increasing as time goes by.

Due to the increased demand of courier and delivery services, businesses may be facing multiple challenges to keep up with the demand in this highly competitive industry. Some of the most common ones include:

• Late or missing deliveries
• Damaged customer goods
• Vehicle maintenance
• Scheduling
• Managing multiple delivery routes
• Remotely managing employees
• Quick task assignment
• Employee reporting and performance reviews

Overlooked and not acted upon, these issues could be detrimental to the overall performance of the company and could lead to a significant loss in profits.

The Solution?

“Organisation is key if one wants their business to function optimally. When it comes to courier and delivery services, this might be the most important action one should take.”

Modern times require modern solutions. The smartest decision a courier and delivery service manager could make is utilising a platform through which deliveries can be mapped out, assigned to specific employees, and receive consistent delivery status updates. This open level of communication through the platform’s features allows the operations manager to make amendments to the route or assign additional tasks if the situation arises. Reporting would also be a breeze; the most advanced staff management software generates its own internal reporting which could be viewed at any time by the manager or employer.

These features within a platform solve all the issues related to overseeing staff performance remotely and keeping an open line of direct and effective communication, which in turn, saves the employer quite a bit of money as well as improving customer satisfaction with the reduction of late or undelivered packages.

Asset Protection

Most companies will find that a significant money leak which they are unaware of is a direct result of poorly maintained assets. Damages to company property such as vehicles and devices could be easily handled by installing regulatory devices within them. These include:

• GPS devices
• Harsh turning sensors
• Harsh braking sensors
• Speedometer

Luckily, nowadays we possess the technology to incorporate all these features into a single, easily installable device. The instant notification when a vehicle is being inappropriately driven will instigate much higher discretion when employees are making use of company property. Modern devices can also provide other information such as fuel and water levels as well as regular maintenance checks. Once this system is applied, employers will find that they are saving money on vehicle maintenance due to level of diligence that they are driven with. Damaged goods are also directly related to their transportation and handling, this system will also work to protect the customer’s assets, making them less prone to damage by impact or rapid movement.

“Keeping both of these key elements in mind, your courier or delivery service will have all the right arrangements in place to be able to perform optimally, drastically minimising human error, making efficiency a priority, protecting company property and increasing customer satisfaction.”

UniGuardX:

• Location Tracking
• Activity Log
• Custom Forms
• Tasks
• Real-Time Alerts
• GPS Bluetooth & NFC
• Request Call-Back

Contact one of our UniGuard specialists on (02) 9671 7777 or email us for a tailored walkthrough of the UniGuard solution based around your challenges and business needs.

The post Courier Delivery Tracking appeared first on Staff & Asset Tracking with Workforce Management Software by UniGuard.

If you answered ‘Yes’ to any of the following, then GPS tracking and geofencing software could greatly benefit you.

There are a number of benefits to using this technology. They can improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, keep your fleet and assets safe, and allow you to provide better customer service. Thus, giving you an “almost unfair” advantage over the competition.

To help you better understand the benefits of GPS tracking and geofencing technology, consider these useful pointers.

Improved fleet safety–

By installing a simple tracking device to your fleet, this will enable you to monitor your fleet via a smartphone, laptop, desktop computer or other Internet-enabled device. You can track their location, set custom routes, and even monitor their fuel usage, speed, travel history and more.Plus, you have the freedom to track as little or as much information as you like.

However, when it comes to fleet management, one of the greatest safety features is geofencing. What is geofencing? It is a location-based service, in which an app or other piece of software, uses GPS, RFID (Radio-frequency identification), Wi-Fi or cellular data to trigger a pre-programmed action when a mobile device or RFID tag enters or exits a virtual boundary.

Put simply, if you install a GPS tracking device or RFID tag on your fleet, you can then set up a virtual boundary around them. This boundary can be as small or large as you like. And you can draw it in any shape or configuration. Once set up, each time a tracked vehicle enters or leaves the virtual boundary, an alert notification (via push notification, text message or other alert) will be sent to all suitable devices.

Best of all? You can automate the virtual boundary to switch on or off depending on the time of day. So, if you want the boundary to be smaller – for example, when the vehicle is stationary and stored overnight – then you can do that. As a result, you will be instantly notified if there is any suspicious movement, even if it is outside of normal business hours.

Route planning for reduced response times–

GPS tracking gives you the power to plan your routes in advance. With the help of real-time traffic information, the software can also help you choose the fastest, most optimal route, so that you arrive at your destination sooner and consume less fuel.

As a result, you will be able to improve fleet operational efficiency, and provide a faster turnaround for deliveries. Which, in turn, will make your customers happier, and ensure they use your business again in the future.

To discover the true benefits of GPS tracking and geofencing software, request a FREE demo of UniGuard today.

Monitor employee performance and conduct–

Driver safety is paramount to the success of your business. For this reason, unsafe driving not only puts your fleet – and the general public – at risk of danger, it can also tarnish the reputation of your business.

GPS tracking software is a seamless, non-intrusive way to monitor employee performance. As mentioned previously, you can use the software to monitor a range of conditions, such as fuel consumption, speed, travel history, and even accident history.

This means, you can quickly spot any discrepancies in each driver’s history, and then take appropriate steps to solve the problem.

Improve employee communication–

These days, the benefits of GPS tracking and geofencing go beyond just location tracking and monitoring.

Featuring in-built task assignment capabilities, instant messaging, alert notifications and more, software like UniGuard makes it easier for staff and employers to stay in touch around the clock, no matter where they are located.

Want to assign tasks and reminders to key staff members? Want to give your employees the ability to quickly report field incidents? Or perhaps give your lone workers a direct line of communication to support staff?

All of these benefits (and more) are available to you with the right GPS tracking and employee management software.

Since 1997, UniGuard has been helping businesses streamline their workforce, improve the quality of their service deliveries, and stay compliant with the latest industry and government standards.

To request a FREE demo of UniGuard, contact us today.

The post Top 4 Benefits of GPS Tracking and Geofencing appeared first on Staff & Asset Tracking with Workforce Management Software by UniGuard.

Digital Proof of Service

A big part of the Mobile Security Patrols Code of Practice focuses on the security operator’s responsibility to communicate and report effectively to their clients. This goes beyond simply making an occasional phone call or sending out an invoice once a month.

The code requires some sort of digital proof of attendance with the security guard at the client’s premises. This means using an electronic system such as a guard tour management system (GTMS) that tracks when and where security staff have been on their patrols, along with a GPS location tracking device installed in the patrol car.

UniGuard supplies a range of GPS car trackers and attendance recorders. Together with the UniGuard software these allow you the flexibility to create a system that both works for your workforce and also meet contract requirements. Within the software, a range of features allow you to create custom automated reports that prove that your security officers attended the client’s premises according to the contract. Additional features allow you to provide extra information about the patrols or incidents if required. All this has been designed to make your work easier, while maintaining your contract obligations and meeting the ASIAL requirements.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Another important part of the Mobile Security Patrols Code of Practice involves the safety of the mobile patrol officers. Along with a range of other PPE, the code stipulates that a security guard needs to carry some form of mobile communication device, which can be either a radio or a mobile phone.

PTT is a revolution in telecommunications technology, combining the features and convenience of both a 2-way radio and a smartphone. This allows your staff to communicate across the country at the push of a button without the need for traditional radio infrastructure. Smartphone functionality means that the device can also incorporate patrol tours, checkpoint scans, photo attachments and incident reports.

A request call-back button is incorporated in both the UniGuard recorders and mobile phone app, allowing you to see if a security officer needs help. This feature is also incorporated in the UniGuard push-to-talk (PTT) radios.

Cash In Transit

ASIAL has other industry standards, codes and guidelines including the ASIAL Code of Practice for Cash In Transit vehicles. Along with other equipment, UniGuard can supply GPS trackers for these vehicles which include the best tracking on the market, along with remote vehicle immobilization.

If you’d like to know more about how to meet ASIAL standards, click here to see a demo of UniGuard in action.

The post 3 Ways UniGuard Helps You Meet the ASIAL Code of Practice appeared first on Staff & Asset Tracking with Workforce Management Software by UniGuard.