In the modern world, e-commerce is a booming business with customers who expect fast delivery times and good customer service. If you run an e-commerce business, then you know the importance of streamlining deliveries. A crucial part of that process is the fleet of vehicles that get products to where they need to go, so managing that fleet is of the utmost importance. Read below to understand the role of fleet management in optimizing e-commerce delivery.
Route Optimization
The planning and mapping out of the most efficient delivery routes can significantly decrease delivery times. As a fleet manager, you should be communicating with your drivers before, during, and after deliveries to help them navigate highways, neighborhoods, and rural areas as well as figure out how they can navigate better next time to reduce time.
Drivers should also always have the latest navigating technology on hand to help reroute them if there are accidents or other traffic obstructions that will impede them from carrying out their duties. If your e-commerce business is growing and the deliveries are expanding to new routes, it is important to do research about these routes before the fleet takes off in those directions. Preparation and planning, as well as making a Plan B will help your fleet to perform the best they can and get deliveries out as fast as possible.
Using an Automated Process
Automated systems have transformed the way that delivery systems function and have allowed businesses to have improved communication, real-time updates, and more control of the whole operation. Systems like automated fleet management allow managers to seamlessly communicate with their fleet by using AI technology to run fleet activity. By inputting their processes into an automated system, managers allow the system to configure a digital workflow that all employees have access to.
The digital system can predict issues, alert managers of time-sensitive corrections that need to be made, and compile information to be sent to the manager for approval. This eliminates lots of unnecessary paperwork and gets jobs done quicker. Another great component of automated systems is that they have an endless memory. They will save data from previous deliveries so that employees can be alerted as to how to complete jobs the next time. Any inconsistencies or errors are also accounted for and the system will come up with a solution so that they do not happen again.
Proactive Maintenance of Fleet Vehicles
Maintaining a well-oiled machine in business terms means that every aspect of the business is running smoothly. In the case of e-commerce delivery businesses, the physical machines that are on the ground making deliveries are a big part of that machine. They need to be in top shape at all times so that deliveries can be made on time, every time. This means that all trucks and other delivery vehicles in a fleet should have regular maintenance checks so that they do not break down in the middle of a delivery.
One way to practice proactive maintenance is to build a good relationship with a local mechanic in all of the locations where you have vehicles. That way you can get in and get repairs at all hours and you may even get discounts for loyalty. Another helpful thing is to make sure that all of the drivers in your fleet know the tell-tale signs of engine trouble so that they can address the issue quickly and get it sorted out. Each driver should also have to go through a training program where they learn the basics of vehicle care like oil checks, changing tires, topping up coolant, and other essential things they may have to do on the road.
Monitoring Driver Activity
By actively monitoring the trends in delivery drivers, managers can track if certain activities are causing delivery delays and others and make the process go faster. Tracking and storing this data can help managers determine which drivers are working to be as efficient as possible and which ones are slacking.
A simple way to implement this is to install small cameras in each delivery truck so that drivers know they are being monitored and activities can be recorded. This addition can also come in handy if delivery drivers end up in any kind of accident whether it is their fault or not. Having video evidence of the crash can help insurance companies determine who was at fault and it if wasn’t the delivery driver, then you will not lose any money.
Monitoring driver activity can also help managers determine average delivery times to certain locations, giving them data that they can use when speaking to customers. When a customer orders something online and the e-commerce website gives an average delivery time, that is because the company has done research by monitoring driver activity.
Good Customer Experience
The success of fleet management is directly attributed to how the customer feels about the experience. When deliveries are made on time, or even early, customers will be more likely to buy products from that e-commerce business again. Delivery drivers are also the only people in the e-commerce business who may have face-to-face interaction with customers because the majority of packages are delivered to people’s front doors. If a fleet manager leads their team well and their drivers are happy and friendly, that has a huge impact on customer satisfaction.
To maintain a happy fleet of delivery drivers, it is important for managers to assign manageable hours and allocate deliveries to drivers that are in the same general area. This will not only save money on fuel, but it will also keep delivery times down and drivers happy. As a chain reaction, if the drivers are content, they will enjoy their work more and customers will be more likely to be satisfied with their delivery experience.
E-commerce delivery is always evolving as technology continues to improve, but it still takes good fleet management to keep the process going smoothly. The delivery process is a cumulation of many different entities working together to get the job done from managers to drivers to AI technology and they all work together to optimize the whole operation.
