How transport companies work more efficiently and cut costs through digitalisation

In the transport sector, efficiency is crucial to profitability. Speeding up a shipment from point A to B means you can carry out more shipments, at lower cost. Digitalising your processes is therefore an investment that quickly pays for itself many times over.

The benefits of digitalisation in transport

More efficient route planning

Digitalisation makes it possible to calculate the most cost- and time-efficient routes. It also becomes easier to combine trips, for example by working out which extra loads drivers could easily pick up along their route.

Automating administration

Managing forms and documents by hand can be time-consuming. That process can perfectly well be digitalised. Documents are generated automatically, signed digitally and stored centrally. That also makes reporting and analysis a good deal easier.

Calculating costs automatically

Are you still calculating the cost of a shipment in Excel? That takes a lot of time and is prone to error. Putting the cost calculations into an application makes it far faster and more accurate. What is more, an application can pull in data from other sources automatically. You could even make a calculation tool directly available to your clients, so that they no longer have to come to you for a quote.

All the information about a shipment in one place

If you are not yet working with a good digital system, the data about a shipment is often scattered across all kinds of places. A centralised digital platform gives users access to all the relevant transport information, from any device. From agreements made to status updates, and from generated documents to photos for the insurer.

Real-time tracking of shipments

Digitalisation makes real-time tracking of shipments possible. You can then have automatic updates sent by push message, email or text. For you and for your client, so that everyone is always up to date.

Fewer errors

Data validation, such as checking the 17-digit chassis number, makes sure the information entered is always correct. That prevents hassle later on.

Easier to record evidence for the insurer

Digital platforms make it simpler to record the condition of goods, including photos of any damage, which is essential for insurance claims.

We recently helped a client build a smart platform that takes a lot of work off their hands. The platform connects clients who want vehicles transported with hauliers. Clients can post their transport job on the platform and calculate the cost of the shipment straight away. Hauliers can then indicate which jobs they want to take on and when they can carry them out. Is there a match? From that moment the client can follow the shipment precisely. Once the car has been collected, a document is created automatically and the client is notified. The same happens once the car has been unloaded and received. As a result, shipments are handled far faster and more efficiently.

Why Mendix suits transport companies so well

We are fans of the low-code platform Mendix for building applications for transport companies. Mendix has a lot of characteristics that fit exactly what transport companies need.

Keeping up with change quickly

In logistics things change fast. In that case it helps if an application can move with you easily. Mendix makes that possible. Mendix is a low-code platform that lets you develop software without writing much code. Low-code platforms are visually oriented and offer ready-made building blocks. You can combine those by drag-and-drop, which means a change is made in no time.

A better fit with end users

With Mendix you can involve end users very effectively in developing the application. Because the environment in which the application is built is visual and intuitive, non-developers can contribute valuable input too. That means your digital processes will fit day-to-day practice perfectly.

Custom software becomes affordable for smaller companies

Every logistics company has unique processes and challenges. That is why custom software is often the best choice. Mendix makes it accessible for smaller companies as well. Although the initial investment is often higher than with off-the-shelf software, you still come out cheaper than having the application developed the traditional way. On top of that you will save money on licence costs in the long term.

Security and privacy

Many transport companies work with sensitive information. Mendix is a very secure platform and is used by banks, local authorities and the justice system, among others. The platform is continuously checked for security vulnerabilities and receives regular updates. It is ISO certified as well.

Make use of our experience in the transport sector

We have built applications for the transport sector before. That means we understand the market you operate in. We also have plenty of reusable components on the shelf that we can work into your application. That means we can develop your application faster and at lower cost.

Fancy a chat about your challenge?