Installed on a variety of mobile devices, electronic proof of delivery (ePOD) software facilitates paperless data capture in the field. It also allows for increased visibility and control of activities performed by your mobile operatives including deliveries, collections and service calls.
Typically, proof of delivery consisted of a paper delivery note or docket that had been signed by the customer to acknowledge receipt of the goods and allow for invoicing. Couriers, logistics providers and retailers are now able to collect a huge range of data beyond the traditional signature, enhancing the customer experience while cutting operational costs.
Industries that have previously had little demand for ePOD software are now recognising the potential benefits as modern electronic proof of delivery systems become a must-have technology to improve mobile workforce operations across all industries.
ePOD software is usually split into two components:
Mobile workers collect proof of delivery data and any other operational information required throughout the day via the mobile application. Modern proof of delivery systems utilise operating systems like Android, allowing you to choose from a range of devices to suit your operation. All of the data captured in the field, including device and location information, is then transmitted back to the central portal in real-time.
From the browser-based management portal, office-based teams can create forms and workflows to be followed by mobile workers, set up automated customer contact, send messages to drivers and monitor the live data stream from the field. All necessary staff, such as customer service teams, transport managers and individual depot personnel, can be given visibility of the field data they require with no additional costs.
Advanced electronic proof of delivery software can support various data collection options beyond the traditional signature. From photos and numerical values to customisable forms, the data capture options available should be entirely configurable to your operation and allow you to capture both on-site delivery data and operational information such as vehicle checklists.
For more information about how to use ePOD software to support the data capture requirements of your business read our blog: A long way from a signature – types of data capture for your operation
The first and most obvious of the many benefits of electronic proof of delivery software is the removal of delivery paperwork. The risk of lost or damaged delivery notes is completely eliminated with a proof of delivery app as all of the data is transmitted and stored in real-time.
Other commonly reported benefits from our proof of delivery software customers include:
For many mobile workforce organisations, the real-time data feed available with proof of delivery software means issues in the field can be identified and resolved quickly. The live POD data can also be used to speed up any subsequent operational processes like invoicing or the rescheduling of failed deliveries.
The electronic capture of all field data in the central portal also facilitates easy trend analysis to underpin continuous improvement. Depending on the chosen solution, mobile processes are user-configurable, allowing you to keep up with the shifting needs of your industry or business without costly software changes. An investment in electronic proof of delivery software will bring measurable short-term benefits as well as supporting your business into the future.
Find out more in our Ultimate guide to the benefits of proof of delivery software.
Providing your customers with an outstanding delivery experience and profitably running an efficient operation can be a challenging balance to maintain. However, with electronic proof of delivery software many customer service processes are simplified, improving service for your customers and making life easier for your customer service staff.
In particular, advanced proof of delivery systems provide automated customer contact functionality and easy to use mobile applications ensuring your delivery teams are following consistent on-site processes and customers are presented with a seamless brand image across all of your deliveries. These features can:
The real-time data provided by ePOD software also allows your customer service teams to proactively respond to any exceptions in the field, reducing and in some cases preventing impact on the customer. Read our blog post to find out more.
The implementation of electronic proof of delivery systems should be simple when compared to large-scale software projects and can be completed within a few weeks of project sign off. All that you need to consider is the provision of mobile devices for your drivers and the availability of the necessary data input.
If you already provide devices for your mobile workers, you will need to ensure they are compatible with your selected solution. Alternatively, for help sourcing suitable devices for your fleet, read our guide to Choosing the best proof of delivery device for your business.
In order to populate the proof of delivery system with your delivery or service job lists, you will need to ensure you have the relevant data to hand. Integration of this data stream will also need to be accounted for, whether that is by an in-house team or external provider.
Thinking about adopting electronic proof of delivery software for your business? Why not get in touch to discuss next steps with a member of our experienced team, or download the fleXipod datasheet for more information about Paragon’s electronic proof of delivery software.
