Best Dispatch Software Of 2024

By Urnesha Bhattacherjee, Technical Content Writer at SelectHub

Ever seen one of those circus routines where someone spins a dozen plates on poles? Managing drivers and large trucking fleets can feel like that.

Without an efficient system managing the countless details, you’ll soon find yourself struggling to catch up. Dispatch software does just that, making it a vital part of TMS software.

These tools can help drive automation (pun intended). They allow you to focus on the strategic aspects of dispatch management and develop newer, more efficient ways to provide service.

Executive Summary

• Dispatch management systems enable businesses to oversee and manage a range of transportation types.
• Cloud-based and on-premise are the two key ways to deploy dispatch systems.
• These solutions improve transportation, reduce service and administrative expenses, and enhance customer satisfaction.
• Current dispatcher software trends include predictive analytics, blockchain and pandemic-induced surge in demand.

What Is Dispatch Management Software?

Dispatch software automates routing and scheduling processes, providing a more straightforward way to coordinate routes and deliveries. Manually handling these tasks takes up a lot of time and often results in costly errors.

When you combine supply chain management software with transportation and logistics solutions, your organization can improve raw-component sourcing. These additions cut the time required to make products and deliver them to customers.

Deployment Methods

Cloud-Based

Let’s start with the pros. With a cloud-based deployment, you can access your apps whenever possible. Besides that, since it's hosted for your business, the vendor is responsible for maintaining the solution or its hardware, including regular updates and compatibility needs.

Since they’re web-based systems, you can use them in as little as a few hours or days. If your company needs to use a dispatch solution ASAP, opt for dispatch software with cloud-based deployment.

Scalability is another significant advantage of cloud-based deployment. It offers excellent flexibility and grows as you amass more revenue and regions.

Coming to the drawbacks, a cloud-based deployment model requires robust and reliable internet connectivity. Although they initially have a low setup cost, they can cost you a lot in the long run. Another disadvantage is that they aren’t as customizable as their on-premise counterparts.

On-Premise

Apart from the initial license fee, you don't need to pay the provider’s annual or monthly subscription fees.

Additionally, you have end-to-end control over the platform’s hardware and data. You get to decide on any system changes, upgrades or configurations you need without outside influence. Also, low or unstable internet connectivity won’t be an issue since it's based locally.

Let’s talk about the drawbacks now.

As mentioned before, on-premise systems require a one-time purchase, which can be hefty compared to cloud-based deployment. On top of that, you need to shoulder the cost of functional upgrades and regular maintenance. This aspect can be a significant con for startups and smaller companies with limited budgets.

Next, implementing the solution may take a while since it needs to be installed individually on every laptop or desktop computer. Ensure you are equipped with IT resources to handle and manage this task.

So which type of deployment should you choose? The answer is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach.

Every business is different, as are its requirements, customers, and other internal and external factors. All of those variables should influence your choice of deployment type.

You need to discuss these questions with the stakeholders to decide:

• Are you able and ready to shell out a significant amount on upfront costs?
• Do you have a skilled team of IT professionals?
• Can you ensure comprehensive security?
• What is the size of operations right now?

Primary Benefits

Here are the top five reasons you should implement dispatch software.

Support Transportation Management

Dispatch management software gives you complete control of every transportation process. Tracking locations and statuses with GPS and interactive maps gives you visibility into when and where to dispatch your drivers.

As a result, you have optimized routes for your teams and a more reliable way to provide consistent and quality service.

Lower Service Costs

An effective dispatch system helps chart out the most efficient and economical routes. Smarter route optimizations can go a long way to conserve drive time and fuel.

Optimized routes mean your drivers will spend less time on the road and execute more dispatches. This idea correlates with less fuel consumption, resulting in lower fuel costs.

Boost Response Capabilities

Thousands of things can go wrong when providing services on the road.

Ensuring everything always runs smoothly is like not slipping if you try to run across an ice rink in loafers — it’s impossible. If (or let’s be honest, when) something goes wrong, dispatching software can help reduce damage to a minimum.

Real-time data about the location and status of each driver allows you to spot problems immediately. You can then make the necessary adjustments to ensure the quality of service doesn’t suffer.

Improve Flexibility

As companies grow, their dispatch management processes become more complex. This complexity can result in errors if there isn’t a reliable system to prevent them. Today’s technician dispatch management software offers flexibility and can scale alongside your company’s growth.

The top products comfortably manage scheduling and dispatching, enabling your drivers to reach each client on time. They also adapt to meet unique needs your business might have.

That’s helpful considering that the challenges faced by a company that ships domestically, for example, won’t be the same as those for an international company.

Increase Customer Satisfaction

According to a 2022 Bringg Barometer survey, “99% of organizations said they will be offering same day delivery within the next three years, compared to 35% today, a goal largely driven by customer demand.”

Quick and accurate deliveries are also necessary, as a large cohort of customers abandon shopping if same-day delivery is inaccurate or unavailable.

Dispatch systems ensure you’re not falling prey to lost revenue from poor delivery metrics.

With access to the correct information, your dispatchers and drivers can set time-saving routes and stay on top of specific customer delivery requests.

Your team won't waste customers' time with paperwork if you use automated billing. All that adds up to timely, dependable service. And that will keep customers coming back every time they need a delivery.

Implementation Goals

You know the importance of deploying the best technician or employee. To effectively do so, several implementation goals will come in handy while selecting a dispatch solution.

Basic Features & Functionality

With a reliable two-way communications channel established, your office staff can inform drivers of any issues. In addition, you can share information about travel routes, shipment alerts and more.

A mobile app places drivers in complete control of their trips, providing relevant route information while automatically collecting and storing data about their progress. Mobile access reduces the time needed to fill out the necessary paperwork. And it makes data instantly visible to managers, reducing the chance of errors.

Advanced Features & Functionality

Current & Upcoming Trends

One way or another, our lives depend on trends. The COVID-19 pandemic has hit several industries. However, keeping in touch with some ground-breaking tools and technologies has helped many companies survive and stay in business.

Here are some latest advancements in the dispatcher software industry that you should watch.

Post-Pandemic Order Surge

Ease in trade and movement followed by strict lockdown in most parts of the world caused a rise in orders. This straightaway meant a surge in the number of dispatch orders.

Additionally, increased orders through eCommerce portals boosted logistics and dispatch services demand.

Predictive Analytics

With the advent of an increase in dispatch operations, companies are transforming their supply chains. They introduce custom shipment patterns and use predictive analytics to predict the behavior of their customers. These changes help enhance the user shopping experience and boost last-mile deliveries.

Predictive intelligence adds a wealth of value to dispatch operations by smoothening warehousing, planning, damage detection and last-mile deliveries.

Autonomous and Electric Fleets

Intelligent and dynamic technologies can help determine the best vehicle for a specific fleet. Delivery drones and autonomous vehicles help fulfill last-mile delivery-related requirements cost-effectively.

Similarly, electric vehicles have also gained popularity in recent years and paved the way for more sustainable transportation. Companies handling dispatch are gradually converting to electric fleets due to their smaller ecological footprint and cost efficiency than traditional fuel-based vehicles.

Rise of Blockchain

Owing to the multiple pros of technology, a steep rise in blockchain usage is occurring in the logistics and dispatch industries. It’s making operations more transparent, faster and efficient. Acting as a distributed e-ledger, it helps record all business transactions and save data within blocks.

Streamlined data management facilitates dispatch tracking and automates payment processing, global contracts and warehouse management operations.

Last but not least, your data becomes more resilient to loss and cyber attacks.

FedEx developed a blockchain-based mechanism for resolving customer disputes. It uses blockchain to exchange shipping information between suppliers and merchants to simplify this process. FedEx's blockchain platform enables effective package tracking even when the goods aren’t in their hands.

Software Comparison Strategy

While many of the leading transportation dispatch software solutions come with a long list of features, choosing the right one can take time and effort.

So, how do you find the best fit for your company?

To maximize your return on investment, get answers to these questions before narrowing down your list:

What Features Are Most Important for Your Company?

Today’s leading dispatch management software offers a wide range of features. But that doesn’t mean each feature is universal — or that a particular addon will meet a specific business need.

That’s why it’s crucial to figure out which modules provide the most value to your company. This process helps you instantly narrow down the list of vendors by eliminating those without essential functionality.

Your must-have list might include mobile app availability, remote monitoring and Google Maps integration.

Does It Offer Comprehensive Training?

To reap the most benefits, you need a thorough training program that helps your staff use the software to its fullest extent.

Look for providers who offer training to ensure users get the most out of the system. They should help you learn the different aspects of operating the software and include extensive support for any features that become available later.

Want to see if the product is easy to integrate and fits your requirements? Trying the demo version is a great way to find out.

Is Your System Compliant?

Fleet managers must meet municipal and national standards in a range of industries. Fortunately, the majority of dispatch software allows fleet owners to comply with all necessary regulatory standards and requirements.

For example, a sophisticated truck dispatching system can help you comply with hours of service laws by allowing drivers to report their hours electronically, reducing paperwork and errors.

Additionally, the program can automatically record and retain trip data, allowing fleet managers and dispatchers to access and analyze fuel usage statistics, driver logs and other relevant information.

How Does Pricing Compare With Functionality?

Price is often a central deciding factor for smaller fleets new to dispatch systems. But those with more experience or extensive operations often look beyond budget to see the actual value of software.

Take those differences into consideration. You don’t want to blow a Texas-sized hole in your budget. But you also need to ensure you get the functionality your company requires.

Even though a cheaper product comes with lower initial expenses, it won’t be worth much if the software doesn’t meet your needs and scale as your company grows. Switching tools and starting from scratch can be much more expensive in the long run.

Your best bet is to balance keeping your finance department happy and getting the functionality you need. Use your list of requirements as a guideline for which solutions to consider. Don’t chase after big promises and neat capabilities that ultimately won’t serve you right now.

The right dispatcher software will streamline your operations, increase productivity and help reduce costs. So the investment should more than pay for itself, even if it comes with a high sticker price.

Cost & Pricing Considerations

Generally, most dispatch management software offers a monthly per-user-based pricing model.

Further, such a pricing model has three classified pricing layers, with a starting price for each. The basic plan has the least features and the lowest price. Premium and business plans come with additional features and are valued higher.

If you are someone who just started your business or is currently operating at a small or medium scale, a basic plan might suffice your needs. And if it does, there is no reason to stress out the finance department by paying for a higher model unless you specifically need features that are present in the premium model.

Such plans may include document archives, analytics, audit management and extra data storage for additional features.

Questions To Ask Yourself

Use these questions as a starting point for internal conversations:

• What’s the best deployment strategy for your requirements?
• What goals do you wish to achieve with the software?
• How is it a better fit than the existing solution, if you use any?
• What are the critical pain points I am facing in our operations?
• Will the employees need training to use the software?

Questions To Ask Vendors

Use these questions to start conversations with vendors:

About the Software

• How does the software integrate with other solutions?
• Is it user-friendly, or does it involve a steep learning curve?
• What data security features does the software offer?
• Is it customizable as per business needs? If yes, to what extent?
• What are the core strengths of the software?

About the Vendor

• Does the vendor provide any additional training and support?

Next Steps

Managing a transportation fleet is becoming increasingly complex. Without the right system, your operations will end up like the plate spinner who loses his rhythm. Dispatch software avoids that with features like GPS tracking, automation and BI applications.

Grab a copy of our free, interactive comparison report for an in-depth view of field service vendors’ capabilities like preventative maintenance, invoicing and customer notifications. You’ll get access to comparison ratings, reviews, pricing and more.

Product Comparisons

• Oracle Field Service Cloud vs. IFS Field Service Management
• Salesforce Field Service vs. IFS Field Service Management
• Salesforce Field Service vs. Dynamics 365 Field Service
• ServiceMax vs. Dynamics 365 Field Service
• Dynamics 365 Field Service vs. IFS Field Service Management

Additional Resources

• Fleet Management Software
• Procurement Software
• Warehouse Software
• Transportation & Logistics CRM Software
• Truck Dispatch Software