Guide to Shipment Tracking Software
Shipment tracking software is a versatile, comprehensive tool that helps organizations easily manage the complex process of tracking shipments from origin to destination. It can be used for both domestic and international shipments and allows companies to monitor their goods as they are being shipped, providing visibility into what has already been delivered, where it is currently located, and when it is expected to arrive.
The software typically offers many features that allow users to quickly locate the current status of their shipment. For instance, GPS tracking allows users to follow their goods on a map in real-time and receive alerts when the shipment arrives at its destination. Additionally, most software includes historical data that can be viewed within reports or dashboards offering greater insight into trends in delivery times or locations. This information can then be used by businesses to make decisions about future orders and operations.
Compliance with regulations and customs is another important factor of shipment tracking software. Most packages must pass through customs inspections before they reach their final destinations meaning that companies need up-to-date information on product codes or descriptions, taxes applied at different border checkpoints, etc. The right system will provide instant access to these types of details making it easier for companies to ensure compliance with changing regulations around import/export activities.
Finally, automated document management helps keep shipping documents organized for easy reference whenever needed. Having all necessary paperwork readily available also reduces time wasted searching through physical filing systems or manually inputting details into computer systems which further streamlines the entire delivery process from start to finish.
Overall, modern technology has made managing large-scale transportation processes far more efficient through automated tools such as shipment tracking software which help organizations save time and money while staying compliant with global regulations along the way.
Features Offered by Shipment Tracking Software
- Tracking: A key feature of shipment tracking software is its ability to track the location of a package throughout its journey. This includes real-time updates on the location, estimated delivery time and other related information.
- Delivery Notifications: Shipment tracking software allows users to receive notifications when a package reaches certain milestones or stages in the delivery process. These notifications can be sent via SMS, email or other messaging platforms.
- Route Optimization: Advanced shipment tracking software can help optimize routes for packages, making sure they get delivered as quickly as possible. It can account for traffic delays, weather conditions and other external factors that may slow down a delivery.
- Cost Estimation & Analysis: Shipment tracking software can generate cost estimates based on shipping and transportation costs associated with specific shipments. It can also provide detailed analysis of how much is being spent on each shipment, allowing users to identify areas where they could save money.
- Sorting & Consolidation: The sorting and consolidation features offered by some shipment tracking systems make it easier to manage multiple shipments at once by automatically grouping similar items together into one package that can then be tracked as a single entity.
- Reporting & Analytics: The reporting and analytics capabilities found in most modern shipment tracking software allow users to create reports on their deliveries in order to track performance metrics like transit times, costs and customer feedback ratings over time.
What Types of Shipment Tracking Software Are There?
- Automated Shipment Tracking Software: Automated shipment tracking software provides real-time updates on the status of shipments, including origin and destination locations, expected arrival times, delays, and any other relevant information. This type of software can be used to track shipments across different carriers and is typically integrated with an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
- Route Optimization Software: Route optimization software helps businesses optimize the routes their products take from the warehouse to the customer’s doorstep. It can help reduce costs associated with fuel costs, vehicle wear and tear, traffic considerations, and more.
- Delivery Management Software: Delivery management software helps businesses plan efficient deliveries by providing a map view of pickup/dropoff locations as well as estimated times of arrivals/departures. It also allows for scheduling notifications and proactive customer communication regarding delivery statuses.
- Warehouse Management Software: Warehouse management software tracks stock levels in a given warehouse facility so that suppliers can keep accurate records of inventory levels while reducing losses due to incorrect orders or theft. This type of software also helps reduce time spent manually entering data into systems to track shipments from one location to another.
- Freight Forwarding Software: Freight forwarding software automates many of the manual tasks associated with arranging for transport services between two or more parties such as obtaining quotes for specific shipments, calculating shipping cost estimates, managing customs documents related to international trading activities, and much more.
Shipment Tracking Software Benefits
- Increased Efficiency: Shipment tracking software helps businesses to better monitor the progress of shipments, allowing them to stay up-to-date on inventory levels and delivery times. This improved visibility leads to faster processing times and better customer service, as businesses can more quickly identify any delays or issues with shipments.
- Reduced Costs: By being able to more accurately anticipate supply requirements, companies can order goods in a just-in-time fashion, reducing overall storage costs. Shipment tracking software also enables businesses to negotiate better deals with carriers due to the increased accuracy in deliveries and billing information.
- Automated Notifications: With shipment tracking software, businesses have access to automated alerts that notify stakeholders about changes in shipment status and other events such as delivery notifications or proof of delivery confirmations. This helps stakeholders to stay updated on all aspects of their shipments and makes it easier for them to take prompt action if there is an issue with a shipment.
- Improved Visibility: By monitoring the transit status of shipments at all stages, businesses are able to gain greater insight into their operations and identify areas for improvement. This improved visibility allows them to make better decisions surrounding their logistics processes by understanding exactly how long it takes for different types of orders to be shipped out from various locations across the globe.
Types of Users that Use Shipment Tracking Software
- Independent Sellers: Independent sellers, such as those who sell on eBay and Amazon, rely on shipment tracking software to monitor the progress of their goods. This allows them to quickly follow up with buyers if there are any delays or problems.
- Corporate Shippers: Large companies that ship many packages each day use shipment tracking software to manage their orders and keep track of individual pieces and bundles. This helps them ensure deliveries are made on time, efficiently and securely.
- Delivery Services: Courier services like UPS and FedEx also use shipment tracking software to coordinate delivery routes, send notifications to customers, and provide a full audit trail for liability issues.
- Distributors: Distributors often manage large warehouses with hundreds of items that need to be shipped out each day. Shipment tracking software helps them keep track of inventory levels in real-time, so they know when products need to be restocked.
- Government Agencies: State or federal agencies utilize shipment tracking software for secure package shipping needs, including sensitive military or informational documents that need extra precautionary measures for delivery.
- International Buyers & Sellers: Anyone who does business across borders uses shipment tracking software for international shipments. This gives them visibility into where the package is located at all times through Customs, as well as estimated delivery dates based on regulations in different countries.
How Much Does Shipment Tracking Software Cost?
The cost of shipment tracking software depends on the features you want included and your company's needs. Prices can range from basic software packages that are free or low-cost to more comprehensive enterprise solutions that may cost thousands of dollars. Basic packages generally allow you to track shipments in real time, generate delivery confirmations, and provide alerts when shipments reach certain milestones. More complex options offer automatic monitoring, geofencing capabilities, route optimization, customer notifications, and data integration with existing business systems. So depending on your specific needs and budget, it is important to evaluate what type of tracking solution will fit your company best.
Types of Software that Shipment Tracking Software Integrates With
Shipment tracking software is able to integrate with a variety of different types of software. For instance, warehouse management systems (WMS) are often integrated with shipment tracking software. This allows employees to accurately track a shipment's location within the warehouse as well as its status in terms of receiving and shipping goods. Integration with order processing systems is also beneficial, allowing customers to easily access data regarding their orders. Accounting and financial planning systems can link up with shipment tracking software too, giving the ability to easily flag any invoice or payment discrepancies associated with shipments. Additionally, customer relationship management (CRM) tools can be linked together to provide customers with real-time updates on their shipments and improve customer service. Finally, enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions can integrate information from multiple departments into one central system for better visibility across all areas of the organization involved in handling shipments.
Shipment Tracking Software Trends
- Real-Time Tracking: Shipment tracking software has become increasingly advanced, allowing businesses to have real-time visibility into the status of their shipments. This enables them to plan better, reduce costs, and improve customer service.
- Automated Notifications: Automated notifications allow businesses to be notified as soon as their shipment arrives at a certain point in its journey. This can alert them about any potential delays or issues with the shipment, enabling them to take proactive steps to fix the problem and keep customers informed.
- Cloud-Based Technology: Cloud-based shipment tracking technology allows businesses to access data from any device connected to the Internet. This makes it easier for them to keep track of their shipments and respond quickly to any issues that may arise.
- Scalability: With cloud-based technology, businesses are able to scale up or down based on their needs. This means they can manage more shipments without having to worry about the cost or complexity associated with additional hardware or software.
- Cost Savings: As cloud-based technology becomes more widely adopted, businesses are able to save money by eliminating the need for additional hardware and software. This makes shipment tracking more affordable and accessible for businesses of all sizes.
How to Find the Right Shipment Tracking Software
Use the comparison engine on this page to help you compare shipment tracking software by their features, prices, user reviews, and more.
- Identify Your Business Needs: Begin by understanding your company’s specific requirements. Ask yourself questions such as “What features do I need?” and “How user-friendly should the software be?” Consider the size of your business and its workflow, as well as any future prospects for growth.
- Evaluate Functionality: Shipment tracking software must have basic functions like order creation and management, shipment tracking, item categorization, multi-carrier support, etc. It must also provide real-time updates to optimize customer experience. Make sure to check the feature list carefully before making a purchase decision.
- Look at Reputation: Check out user reviews to see how the software is rated in terms of quality and reliability by previous customers who have used it for their businesses already. Also find out if it has been certified by an independent body such as ISO or SGS standards for quality assurance.
- Understand Support Offered: Software needs regular updates to ensure that it is up-to-date with industry trends and technology developments which may affect its performance over time. Read up on what kind of technical support the vendor provides after purchase including timely bug fixes and maintenance options among other things.
- Think About Costs & Benefits: Don't just look at upfront costs but also think about long term savings you could enjoy with the right shipment tracking system in place - including better customer satisfaction ratings thanks to efficient order delivery systems etcetera.