What to look for in last-mile delivery software for small business

Expectations for fast delivery, item tracking, electronic proof of delivery and automated invoices has driven the urgency for many businesses to find delivery software or providers that meet not only their requirements — but those of their end customers. 

Many business owners are eagerly searching for delivery software for their small businesses — to give them an edge on operations, allow them to take on new business and provide easily scalable workflows for peak periods of demand.

We would consider ourselves experts in this field. CartonCloud was created by our founder when he was co-running his own small chilled freight business. They were drawing in paperwork, and losing money through revenue leakage, unsustainable workflows and manual data entry — but simply couldn’t find delivery software that fitted their needs.

That was 10 years ago. Today we have helped over 350 small-medium businesses who have trusted CartonCloud to grow and expand their businesses. 

We haven't looked back, and neither have they. 

With that in mind, let’s take a look at what you should be looking for in last-mile delivery software. 

Tailored fit

Each business is unique in its operations, its customers, and its needs. While there are many off the shelf solutions available, but they also come with limitations that may hinder your business growth or daily operations. Does it have the features you actually need? Will it work with your current operations? Can your staff use it and will they? Does it actually make life easier for your business? 

This is why CartonCloud is tailored to each client individually to meet their needs first and foremost. We’re here for the long term, with a solution that grows and adapts with your business.

Multi-device use 

Your business runs on accuracy, which means your software should too. When exploring software options, be sure to look at the uptime and capacity limits. Your software solution should not go down at your most critical times, especially in a small business where you’ve got many things on the to-do list.

We’re proud to say we have one of the highest uptime rates in the industry, and our scalable plans means there’s no limit to the number of orders or consignments you can process.

Support

When you need support, you want to be sure you can access it. Some delivery software platforms outsource their support in order to keep their costs down, which provides a low-cost option, but also means you may have to deal with outages, bugs and long support wait times.

That’s not us. We have a dedicated support team available by phone or email, ready to help. 

Reputation

Like any business partnership, you want to consider their reputation. Are existing clients happy with their service and software features? At CartonCloud, our success is based on the success of our customers. We pride ourselves on our rock-solid reputation with our Google reviews and Customer Case Study videos showing just a handful of our clients.

Reliability

Your business runs on accuracy, which means your software should too. When exploring software options, be sure to look at the uptime and capacity limits. Your software solution should not go down at your most critical times, especially in a small business where you’ve got many things on the to-do list.

We’re proud to say we have one of the highest uptime rates in the industry, and our scalable plans means there’s no limit to the number of orders or consignments you can process.

Integrations

Effective and easy to use software integration is paramount. Choosing a package that can integrate into your existing legacy services and software will save you a huge headache. With integrations to your legacy software, you can continue using your own accounting or finance platforms, timesheets, and also seamlessly integrate with customer platforms for online ordering, data input and more. 

CartonCloud offers over 20 out of the box integrations with popular accounting, sales and logistics software platforms, and 1000s more through our open Zapier. Integrating your systems for seamless data flow has never been easier.

Following through 

Even when you know making the switch to a cloud-based software solution will help you save time and money, it can be hard to ‘find the time’ to take the first step.

If you feel like you’re too busy to implement a new system to help, you most likely need a software solution now more than ever.

Our team are here to help, with onboarding support every step of the way, to ensure you get your operations up and running in no time — so you can start saving time and money sooner.

Simple staff onboarding

It’s one thing to get a new system, it’s another thing entirely to onboard and train your staff to use it. If the solution you’re considering is too complicated for personnel to adapt to, then they’ll be unwilling to adapt to it. Your system’s success relies heavily on ensuring it is used correctly at each turn. If the system is too tricky to train staff to use, they may avoid using it, resulting in timely double-ups of data entry and cross-checking. Likewise, if all you’re receiving is software without the training to go with it, you may find it to be a little too complicated.

We’ve designed CartonCloud to solve problems, not make them. Our system is intuitive and easy to use from desktop, tablet and the mobile app — meaning you can onboard all of your staff in no time.

Starting today

If you’re ready to jump on board with one of the most reliable and dependable delivery software solutions for small business, just click Free Demo below to schedule a call with one of our team members at a time that suits you! 

Our team are experienced in both logistics and software, and can work with you to understand your business and explore how CartonCloud can help you meet and exceed last-mile delivery expectations, while saving time and money, and enhancing your customer service.