Many people claim that the COVID-19 pandemic is a nasty thing, but they don’t count for the convenience it has brought to our lives. Namely, it opened the door to online shopping and delivery of different goods all over the globe at the minimum cost and maximum speed. Just imagine, the logistics market size grew from $5.58m to $10.71m over the last 5 years, and these numbers are projected to increase further.

But the thing is more responsibility is left on the e-commerce provider’s shoulders. As end users expect their goods to be delivered by an exact date and per a determined price, ensuring that the logistics chain runs like a clock is a must to keep their loyalty. Usually, the dedicated logistics applications serve as a reliable adviser to calculate transportation costs from point A to point B and mitigate the associated risks.

Though there are some ready solutions on the market, it’s always best to build a custom product that meets your business needs. That’s why today we’ll help you prioritize the things to focus on while developing convenient apps for logistics.

What are the popular features of a logistics app?

Well, let’s start with the logistics web app development basics or the features that should be present in any respectable logistics application.

Having analyzed the popular apps in logistics, we recommend you begin with the following core:

always give preference to the essentials and avoid budget waste. You can always start with the MVP version and then add some more to your logistics software in a while.

Types of logistics apps

The next important aspect to think about is the type of your future transport app. Instead of concentrating on a few logistics domains simultaneously, do your best in one of them first.

Here’s the list of the top 5 most popular types of logistics apps for you to choose from:

Real-time tracking apps. This software allows for sending timely delivery updates to users while the driver is on the way. Think of My Fleet Tracker as the exact illustration of instant messaging between the driver and the customer.
Fleet management apps. With their help, you can collect, process, and store information about your business trucks in real time and ensure an optimized fleet of vehicles. The most popular examples are ClearPath GPS, Whip Around, and LocoNav.
On-demand logistics apps. These apps connect drivers and customers who need to deliver their cargo to a definite location. The simplest examples are Glovo and Uber Freight, whose drivers pick up shippers’ requests and go all the way to deliver the orders.
Delivery apps. These are designed to simplify the delivery of goods from one place to the other—either immediately or per schedule. An example? The leaders here are DHL and FedEx.
Warehouse and inventory apps. Thanks to them, you can manage the goods stored in the warehouse and control the movement of shipments to their destinations. InFlow Inventory and Odoo are the relevant apps for you to check.

Steps to take before developing a logistics app

Now, let’s move to the more practical question—what to do before the logistics app development starts. To prepare, take time for proper planning, which consists of the following stages.

Market research and competitive analysis

That’s the initial stage where you can research the current situation in the market and top players and then create your strategy. Do it all yourself or deliver it to business analysts who will help you identify risks to avoid money waste.

Identifying the target audience

Another significant stage is clearly defining your target groups and shaping key customers’ profiles. Knowing for whom the product is dedicated will be your decision map in choosing the transport app’s ‘filling’ and the corresponding UX.

Selecting the optimal tech stack

When you’ve got an idea what app it should be, it’s time to switch to technical details and choose the technology suitable for your list of core features. That’s the right moment to cooperate with a reliable logistics app development company and get professional assistance.

Budgeting for logistics app development

The logistics app development cost depends on the number of payment integrations in your web product, the complexity of the authentication procedure, the type of database management, cloud usage, and navigation tools. Determine your comfort zone, but don’t underestimate the importance of proper architecture in preventing bugs and cyberattacks.

Assembling a skilled team

If you’ve already chosen the technical partner, finding the relevant developers for your project won’t be a problem. On the contrary, you’ll obtain a skilled dedicated team to get your development from discovery to release.

Build the modern logistics app with Patternica’s experts

Now, you’re equipped with the knowledge of what the logistics app should consist of, its types, and the preparation steps to take. However, it’s not equal to knowing how to create a logistics app. Thus, it’s wise to shift the logistics app development job to professionals.

Order Patternica’s logistics app development services, and we’ll create the best logistics app to fulfill your transportation goals and release your headache. Let’s talk!

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