The advent of ride-booking applications has revolutionized the way we commute. It has completely eliminated the traditional process of finding a reliable taxi service provider negotiating the fare, filling out lengthy forms to provide trip details, and more.
Thanks to trailblazing pioneers like Uber that has brought a significant disruption in the industry and offered on-demand transportation. Besides taxi booking services, the company has also extended its horizon to support another crucial aspect of our global economy: transportation and logistics management.
The company’s Uber Freight application is reshaping the world of logistics and transportation by virtually connecting shippers and carriers across the globe. Using the application, businesses can streamline processes, enhance logistics efficiency, and bring end-to-end transparency, which is necessary considering the huge growth the logistics industry is witnessing.
According to Markets and Markets, the global digital logistics market is expected to reach $46.5 billion by 2025. The industry will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.7%, which is huge.
If you, too, are considering developing a transportation and logistics app like Uber Freight, then this blog is a must-read. It is a complete guide for those interested in knowing the detailed features, benefits, and costs of such an application.
What Types of Industries Need Transportation and Logistics Applications?
Well, the short answer to this query is fairly straightforward. Every industry that requires the movement of goods/items from one place to another needs a transportation and logistics app like Uber Freight. Some of them include healthcare, manufacturing, aerospace, telecommunications, retail, trade and transportation, and government and public utilities.
The use of logistics services in these and other industries has only increased in the last five years and considering the statistics by Allied Market Research that says “The logistics industry worldwide is thriving at a CAGR of 6.5% between 2020 to 2027 to reach $12,975 billion by 2027. It was valued at $7,641 in 2020.
5 Major Benefits of Developing Transportation and Logistics App Like Uber Freight
- Improved Operational Efficiency
Transportation and logistics applications automate the majority of the operations involved during a shipment lifecycle. By digitizing route planning, load optimization, real-time tracking, shipment scheduling, and more, businesses can minimize operational costs, reduce errors, and enhance overall operational efficiency.
- Enhanced Visibility and Tracking
The transportation and logistics applications allow real-time tracking and visibility of shipments, vehicles, and inventory. Using this feature, businesses can monitor the movement of goods and get accurate ETAs (Estimated Time of Arrival). Having complete visibility of shipments’ end-to-end movement helps in better decision-making, customer satisfaction, and efficient inventory management.
- Automated Route Optimization
Transportation and logistics applications leverage advanced machine learning algorithms and consider multiple factors such as road conditions, real-time weather conditions, delivery schedules, and more to design the most efficient delivery routes. Optimizing delivery routes minimizes fuel consumption, lowers transportation costs, and shrinks carbon footprint.
- Data-based Decision Making
These applications leverage top-notch technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and more, to generate a wealth of data. This data, extracted by ML and AI in logistics industry, helps businesses to derive valuable insights, which further assist with identifying areas of improvement, analyzing transportation patterns, monitoring delivery performance, optimizing shipment-related processes, and more.
- Improved Collaboration Among Stakeholders
Transportation and logistics applications provide a platform to allow businesses to connect to all stakeholders under one roof. It automatically sends shipment-related alerts to update shippers, carriers, and other partners with the real-time status of shipments. Improved collaboration boosts transparency and, thus, enhances brand reputation as well as customer loyalty.
Besides, transportation and logistics applications also render huge benefits to shippers. They can automate the freight rate procurement, compare freights, and more. Moreover, shippers can view freight forwarders’ or carriers’ rankings, complete bookings, and manage other booking-related aspects from a centralized dashboard. With the real-time tracking feature, they can track shipments and know precise ETAs. Apart from this, they can also collaborate with stakeholders as and when required.
Must-Have Features of Transportation & Logistics App Like Uber Freight
A transportation and logistics app should include different modules for shippers and drivers. Must-have features of these modules include:
For Shippers
| Registration and Login | This is a basic feature a shipper would need to access the application. You can allow registration via social media networks or email addresses. |
| List of Vehicles | This feature will allow users to choose the type of vehicle they need for a particular kind and size of cargo. |
| Reminders and Alerts | To get alerts and reminders for shipment or cargo-related operations that need to be completed within a specific time to avoid additional charges. |
| Multiple Payment Options | Offer your users various types of payment options, such as credit cards, debit cards, net banking, and more. |
For Drivers
| Registration and Login | To allow drivers to sign up and use the application using the created email ID and password. |
| Shipment Info | To allow drivers to check shipment-related information, receive new requests, and more. |
| Route Optimization | With this feature, drivers can optimize routes based on real-time traffic conditions, delivery schedules, and other factors. |
| Proof of Delivery | This feature would allow the driver to collect the proof of delivery after delivering the shipment to the destination. |
For Admins
| Dashboard | To get crucial information about vehicles, shippers, and orders. |
| Tracking Drivers and Vehicles | To allow administrators to track drivers and vehicles in real-time. |
| Invoice Management | To verify, validate, and manage invoices generated by the app against different bookings. |
| Notifications and Alerts | To get important notifications and alerts associated with delivery routes, delivery schedule changes, and more. |
| Geo-Fencing | To get notified whenever a driver enters a particular location. |
4 Points to Consider for Developing a Transportation & Logistics Application
Here is what you need to know before you build or outsource building transportation and logistics application:
- Define Your Requirements
Prepare a list of your requirements, i.e., the purpose of your app. The Uber Freight application is a marketplace where users can browse for loads, view load details, bid on loads, check performance insights, and more. You can make a list as per your specific business needs.
- Find a Reliable Mobile App Development Company
The next step is to find a top mobile app development company or hire reliable app developers. Check if they have considerable experience and a knack for the latest technologies. To ensure this, go through their portfolio or reach out to their support team with your requirements.
- Validate Your Idea
Once you shortlist a trusted mobile app development company, connect with one of their experts to validate your transportation and logistics mobile app idea. Doing idea validation beforehand increases the chances that your mobile app will be a hit among your target audience. It will also ensure that you are using your time effectively and wisely.
- Decide Your MVP
Ask the mobile app development company to create an MVP (minimum viable product) for your app to test it among your targeted audience. Based on the feedback received, they can identify strengths and weaknesses and develop its full version. Doing this will also increase the chances of your app’s success.
How Much Does it Cost to Develop a Transportation & Logistics App Like Uber Freight?
Building a robust and scalable transportation and logistics application depends on multiple factors, including the following:
- Type of Platform
Selecting the right platform is a crucial aspect of transportation and logistics mobile app development. It directly impacts its cost as well. Remember that the cost of developing an app for Android is not the same as for the iOS platform. Similarly, the cost also differs when you build a native or cross-platform application and a web or mobile application.
- Technology Stack
Another major factor that greatly contributes to the total cost of app development is the tech stack. It includes programming languages, frameworks employed, and various other tools that determine the difficulty level as well the duration of development.
- UI/UX Design
UI/UX design is hugely responsible for user engagement and interaction. Design elements that impact the total cost of transportation and logistics app development are responsiveness, graphics, animation, navigation, etc. Therefore, if you hire Indian app developers or any other country’s developers, make sure they have a thorough knowledge of design.
- Size and Experience of the Development Team
Developing a mobile application is not one man’s job. It requires a group of developers, quality testers, designers, and other professionals to build a transportation and logistics app like Uber Freight. Not just the size, the experience of the team also matters when it comes to calculating the costs of the app.
- The Complexity of the App
Features of a transportation and logistics app greatly contribute to its success. While advanced features like multi-platform compatibility, real-time tracking, multiple payment modes, and more increase the chances of the app’s success, it also increases its complexity and hence the duration and cost of the development.
To Sum Up
A transportation and logistics app, such as Uber Freight, has brought transformation by making it easier for businesses to seamlessly manage fleets, shippers, carriers, and drivers. It renders enormous benefits such as improving operational efficiency, ensuring real-time tracking of vehicles, allowing data-based decision-making, and more.
To get a scalable and feature-rich transportation and logistics app, it is critical to choose a trusted logistics app development company like Quytech. The company has a proven track record of developing transportation and logistics applications for Android, iOS, and cross-platform.
Leveraging top technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, IoT, augmented reality, virtual reality, etc, the company offers end-to-end mobile app development from ideation, designing, development, testing, and deployment. To get a demo of our mobile app development services, contact one of our experts today.
