eLogii Blog | Delivery and Field Service Management Blog

Why the Best GPS App for Your Drivers Is What They're Using

Written by eLogii | Nov 19, 2024 10:20:00 AM

GPS apps like Google Maps and Waze are great for getting drivers from one place to another. But when delivery drivers need the best GPS app, they’re often looking for solutions to more complicated problems than just simple navigation.

Google Maps and Waze are the most well-known GPS apps, but there are other options too. These include HERE WeGo, Apple Maps, and TomTom GO Navigation.

The choice between these apps often comes down to personal preference. It might be about which screen is easier to use, which voice is more pleasant, or features like speed limit alerts. It also depends on whether the driver uses a smartphone or a GPS device.

But from what we’ve seen, these aren’t the biggest issues delivery teams are trying to solve. Instead, they’re looking for tools that make deliveries easier and more efficient.

Here are four common features delivery teams often miss when they rely only on a GPS app to run their routes:

  1. Planning the best multi-stop routes. Driving longer routes means spending more on gas and labor. It also keeps customers waiting longer for their orders. A route optimization tool helps drivers take the fastest route, saving time and money.
  2. Tracking routes while they’re happening. A GPS app shows the driver where they are, but it doesn’t share that info with the dispatch team.
  3. Keeping customers updated. GPS apps don’t send delivery updates to customers. Real-time updates let customers know the exact ETA for their orders, improving their experience.
  4. Recording proof of delivery. This gives peace of mind to both the delivery team and the customer. Drivers can collect a signature or take a photo of where they left the package, especially for contactless deliveries.

To enjoy these benefits, you’ll need a route planning and optimization tool that works seamlessly with GPS.

That’s where eLogii comes in. It’s an app that helps delivery teams combine the power of route planning and optimization with their favorite navigation system.

In this post, we’ll explain how delivery teams can use eLogii to improve their workflows and show what the delivery process looks like without a tool like eLogii.

If you’re managing a team of drivers and need an easy, budget-friendly way to track them while making their routes more efficient, try eLogii with a free demo.

How Delivery Drivers Use eLogii with Their Preferred Navigation Software

With the eLogii Driver App, drivers can seamlessly navigate using their preferred tool—Google Maps, Waze, or HERE.

This lets your delivery drivers enjoy the advantages of using eLogii for managing delivery routes while still relying on their preferred navigation app.

The app works smoothly on both Android and iOS devices, available for download in their respective app stores.

Switching between navigation options is straightforward. Drivers simply follow a few steps to select their preferred provider. Once chosen, the app redirects to the external navigation platform. It ensures drivers have all the tools they need for efficient route guidance.

Whether it’s for clear directions or real-time traffic updates, eLogii’s flexibility allows drivers to use the navigation system that works best for them.

How Delivery Drivers Use eLogii for Route Optimization

eLogii’s route optimization tool helps drivers and dispatchers plan the most efficient route, regardless of the number of stops required.

The eLogii Driver App helps optimize delivery routes by seamlessly integrating advanced route planning with real-time navigation.

Dispatchers can assign optimized routes directly to drivers through the app, ensuring they take the most efficient path for all stops.

Drivers can access step-by-step directions using their preferred navigation app, such as Google Maps or Waze, while eLogii monitors progress and adjusts routes dynamically if needed.

This streamlined approach reduces travel time, cuts fuel costs, and ensures timely deliveries.

How Delivery Drivers Use eLogii to Capture Proof of Delivery

Proof of Delivery (POD) is a crucial feature of the eLogii Driver App, ensuring every delivery is verified and secure. Setting up PODs is simple and highly customizable, allowing businesses to tailor the process to their needs.

You can configure actions for drivers to capture PODs during pickups, deliveries, or even failed attempts. These actions can be marked as required or optional, ensuring flexibility in workflows. For single-segment optimization models, only delivery PODs are necessary.

Types of PODs Available in eLogii:

  • Signature: Capture e-signatures from customers.
  • Photo: Upload delivery photos via the app.
  • Numeric Code: Input specific codes for task confirmation.
  • Barcode Scan: Scan task or item barcodes directly.
  • Comments: Leave detailed notes if needed.
  • Confirmation: Verify actions or task completion.
  • Cash on Delivery: Collect payments upon delivery.
  • Custom PODs: Design unique POD options for your workflow.

Note: For Cash on Delivery, ensure each task has an assigned order value for this option to appear.

eLogii also supports item-level PODs, which can be set up separately or combined with task-level PODs. If no items are associated with a task, item actions can apply to the whole task. This flexibility makes managing deliveries smoother and ensures all details are captured accurately.

Managing Users and Roles in eLogii for Seamless Operations

eLogii lets dispatch and delivery managers create unlimited user accounts, assign roles, and manage permissions for efficient team operations. You can set up users with varying access levels, like Admins with full system control, Managers with limited configuration access, or Operators focused on planning and task execution.

Customizing Roles

Roles define what each user can do within eLogii. For example:

  • Admins: Full control over all settings and data.
  • Managers: Access most features but restricted from billing and API settings.
  • Operators: Focused on routes, tasks, and team-specific operations.
  • Warehouse Operators: Manage warehouse tasks exclusively.
  • Customer Support: View-only access for operational data like routes and tasks.

Team-Based Operations

Users can be linked to specific teams to ensure they only manage relevant tasks, routes, and depots. For example, Operators assigned to one team won’t see tasks from other teams, keeping workflows organized.

Fine-Tuning Permissions

Admins can adjust role permissions, like preventing task edits or limiting date changes, under the Configuration settings.

Suspending or Reinstating Users

Need to temporarily disable a user? Use the Suspend toggle to restrict access without deleting their data. Reactivate them anytime with a single click.

With these flexible user management tools, eLogii ensures smooth collaboration for delivery teams of all sizes.

How Delivery Teams Use GPS Apps Without eLogii

Without a tool like eLogii, delivery teams have to rely on the basic features of GPS apps.

While apps like Google Maps offer helpful features, such as 3D maps and turn-by-turn directions, they don't provide the route optimization needed for an efficient delivery process.

For teams or drivers making just a few deliveries each day, using a free GPS app may work. Let's see how this looks in action.

How Drivers Manage Deliveries Using Just a GPS App

Google Maps allows drivers to plan routes with up to ten stops, usually ending at the final destination. Waze, on the other hand, only supports one stop at a time.

For drivers making up to nine stops, they may manually enter addresses into Google Maps and adjust their order to make the route more efficient. Yet, this method still lacks the true route optimization that eLogii provides.

For most drivers we work with, completing 40-120 stops a day makes it nearly impossible to optimize routes manually using Google Maps or any other GPS tool.

In this scenario, drivers must keep a copy of the order list and manually update Google Maps with each stop as they go. This not only results in an inefficient route but also wastes a lot of time.

If real-time traffic updates show disruptions, the driver will have to pull over and rearrange their route, further slowing them down. Meanwhile, the dispatch team won’t be able to track the driver’s location since there’s no GPS monitoring through the app. This can lead to confusion if customers call to check on their delivery.

How Delivery Teams Manage Deliveries Using Just a GPS App

Sometimes, delivery teams plan their routes in the morning using Google Maps or another free GPS tool. They’ll map out the route, print it for the driver, and the driver follows it while manually entering new addresses along the way.

This process is time-consuming for dispatchers, delivery managers, and small business owners. eLogii's AI-powered route optimization and planning software helps businesses like Vergo Pest Management automatically optimize thousands of jobs over weeks, ensuring cost-effective routes while maintaining high service levels.

Another client of eLogii, Bristow & Sutor, reduced planning time by over 35%, while the error rate dropped significantly, and last-minute route changes are now seamlessly integrated. This led to improved field execution, with more collections per day and better synchronization between systems, enhancing overall team efficiency.

Why the Best GPS App for Delivery Drivers Works Even Better with eLogii

Traditional GPS apps are great for basic navigation, helping drivers get from point A to point B. While features like 3D maps, voice control, and battery life are important considerations, they don’t address the core needs of delivery teams when it comes to saving time and money.

For couriers and delivery dispatchers seeking the best GPS app, it’s crucial to pair it with a third-party route management tool. eLogii is designed to work alongside your preferred GPS app, optimizing routes for maximum efficiency and saving valuable time and resources for both drivers and dispatch teams.