Transport and logistics

In-app communications play a central role in fleet management and customer satisfaction for transport and logistics companies. This can include adding real-time chat capabilities, voice calling, video calling, and push notifications to its mobile app or fleet management platform. These capabilities allow a business to create and manage any number of communication channels that seamlessly connect drivers, dispatchers, and customers in one place.

The ability to communicate from anywhere in real time enables a more efficient, safe, and organized operation for drivers and dispatchers and a better experience for customers. Overall, in-app communications allow logistics teams to ensure timely deliveries, despite changing demands or unforeseen obstacles.

How transport and logistics companies use in-app communications

• In-app messaging: Drivers, dispatchers, team members, and customers can interact instantly in the company platform via in-app chat. Create channels that reach certain departments, such as HR or maintenance, or channels for specific information like announcements. With segmented communications, everyone has quick access to the latest instructions, documents, routes, and schedules for their specific role.

• Load assignment: Dispatchers can use in-app communications to assign loads to drivers inside the app, including load details about cargo, special requirements, as well as pickup or delivery instructions. Drivers can confirm receipt and ask questions as needed to ensure efficient, successful delivery.

• Route optimization: Drivers can receive updates about traffic and alternative routes through in-app chat or push notifications. All communications channels are integrated with GPS and mapping services data in the fleet management app, allowing drivers to avoid delays and arrive at their destination faster.

• Load tracking: In-app chat allows drivers to provide updates about load status, including pickup, current location, and expected delivery time. Dispatchers and customers can track these updates in the app, improving transparency, accountability, and customer satisfaction.

• Safety and compliance: Fleet management apps can send chat messages or push notifications to drivers to promote safety and compliance. For example, drivers can receive reminders about vehicle maintenance, mandatory rest breaks, and safety regulations.

• Customer communication: Transport and logistics companies use in-app communications to update customers about their shipment status. This includes automated push notifications and in-app messages for estimated arrival time and proof of delivery, reducing the need for manual outreach while boosting customer satisfaction.

• Emergency response: Drivers can use in-app chat to request assistance and notify dispatchers in the case of accidents, breakdowns, or other emergencies.

• Driver reporting. In-app chat allows drivers to report issues with directions or hours, submit maintenance issues, seek assistance with deliveries, or provide feedback that can help companies improve operations.

• Inventory monitoring: When transporting goods with special requirements like temperature-sensitive cargo, in-app communications can deliver automated monitoring alerts about cargo conditions.

Benefits of in-app communications platforms for transport and logistics

• Greater efficiency: Businesses can create and manage any number of real-time communication channels in their fleet management software. This allows teams to interact seamlessly, reduce downtime, and expedite decision-making to increase efficiency.

• Improved safety: With push notifications and in-app chat, drivers can receive real-time safety alerts, weather advisories, and mandatory rest break reminders that help improve workplace safety.

• Customer satisfaction: Automated updates and tracking can be sent to customers via chat or push notifications, helping to keep customers informed about shipments to improve satisfaction and loyalty.

• Cost savings: The operational efficiency and route optimizations gained from in-app communications can translate to cost savings, such as reduced fuel consumption and less overtime.

• Cross-platform scalability: Reliable in-app communications platforms can support over 1 million concurrent connections and 500 million messages per day on any device or platform. This allows a business to grow without re-coding its existing architecture.

• Faster development: In-app communications platforms offer software development kits (SDKs) and user interface (UI) kits that make it easy to build and customize mobile communications for any device or platform. These resources help developers to quickly launch a brand-appropriate chat function, without coding the UI from scratch.

For transport and logistics businesses, in-app communications enhance and streamline operations between drivers, dispatchers, and customers. To simplify the process of building and customizing these in-app capabilities, developers can use the SDKs (software development kits) and UI (user interface) kits provided by Sendbird and other leading in-app communications platforms.