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Logistics Feature Ideas for Development

Тема: Logistics Feature Ideas for Development

Hi Wialon team, as you are currently working on a bunch of logistics enhancements I thought it would now be a great time to provide some feedback,  feature requests, and ideas for logistics.

Astreon heavily utilizes Logistics with our VAR partners and their clients and we have a lot of feedback and feature request ideas.

General Concept of Logistics

In our opinion this is a very broad product and is not just meant for the delivery or logistics industry.  It's well suited to any task based business.  A dispatch is really just a task that gets assigned to a field worker when you simplify it.

The advanced features of logistics with routing, etc are fantastic, but the point is this should really be viewed as a tool that almost any business can leverage.

Logistics Enhancements

    Ability for a driver to create their own task.
    Today you can only receive a dispatch and reject it or complete it.  You should be able to create your own new dispatch or task which can be enabled or disabled in Admin.  This would be based on templates per-configured.  The driver would simply choose which template they wanted to use and then fill out the fields accordingly.  This way they can pick up extra work or log other tasks that were not explicitly assigned.  Back office can still report on it and manage it.

      Ability for the Driver to attach files (not just photos) to a completed Dispatch
      Often a field worker will have to fill out information on site, get a private BOL (Bill of Lading), client invoice, etc, which needs to be attached to an order.  Being able to add it to a dispatch would be very helpful and help with record keeping, reporting, etc.

      • Driver Fillable List/Driver input fields -  Think of a lightweight Form

      Dispatcher creates a task for the driver.  There are input fields that the driver needs to fill out while on site.  In the process of completing a task, they fill out blank fields.  The dispatch still has the same fields, new or custom fields in their template when assigning dispatches, but the can be marked as fillable or not.  If it's fillable, we expect the driver to add content.  Attach a file, fill in information, prices, etc.

      A few practical applications examples:
      - Pre trip inspections.  Vehicle circle checks that need to be created everyday pre and post trip.  We need a record of this and a way to report on it.  Have a pass/fail flag which can be tied to notifications.  Could even be tied to Fleemate to create an open ad-hoc maintenance event.
      - Service companies.  They are on site, doing a task.  They need to check off completed tasks, or add information which is tied to reports.  For instance a pest control company, inspected rat trap, added materials.  Add cost for added materials, etc. 

      • Recurring Tasks/Automatically Assigned to a list of vehicles/driver each day

      These are daily tasks which need to be completed and can be added to other dispatches assigned, but not necessarily part of a route.  A great example would be the Pre& Post Trip inspections each day for each driver/vehicle.  Dispatchers don't want to manually assign recurring tasks like this to hundreds of vehicles/drivers.

      These can also be nested to they are always available in the app, similar to a task that a driver can create for themselves.  They can open the Inspection Task/Form, select the vehicle, fill it out and complete it.  This needs to include photos and signature.

      • Forward Geocoding by Google

      Here data is really good for reverse geocoding.  Better than Google.  But they are terrible with Forward geocoding.  This is searching for an address.  Have the Google service perform address searches for better accuracy of tasks/route creation, but use Gurtam (Here) for everything else like reverse Geocoding.  You don't even need to charge for this as it's not a mapping license.  Their address search API is free.

      • Multiple Dispatch/Route Status'

      Logistics and Delivery companies have multiple stages of a task. 

      Pick up, Drop Off, Return to warehouse, etc.

      Currently you need to create 1 task to go pick up and another to go delivery.  Some of these orders need to go to the warehouse in between, then to the final customer the next day.  These all have the same BOL/Weigh Bill, etc.  Logistics companies need to see these as a single task with multiple status' or stages.  The driver needs to select the stage of the task that they've completed for updates and action items. 

      For pickup the driver would complete that part of the task, add photos, signature, notes, etc.  The client would get notified their package was picked up.

      For Drop off, there's a different address.  The same thing would happen in terms of driver feedback, but the drop has a different commit time or date.  It's part of a route later in the day or the next day. 

      For intermediate warehouse it has a 2nd destination and a 3rd.  The 2nd destination is the chosen warehouse with a commit time.  Once it's on the 3rd leg, it reverts to the commit time of the final delivery.

      • Warehouse Visits - Better Flexibility

      We'd like to be able to chose a warehouse visit anytime.  Some clients need to go back to the office after every 3 tasks, some go mid-day, some never go.  Some go after every task.
      Ability to select a different warehouse each time.  Attach a warehouse visit with a list of warehouses to each task.

      • Group Messaging

      A lot of our accounts require messaging by groups.  This would be super easy to do.  Tie it to Groups in Wialon to make them very easy to create.

      We actually built our own group messaging app to resolve some client requirements and needs but we'd prefer to have this fully integrated.

      • Arrival Status by Driver

      This is optional.  I have a separate forum post on this.

      Driver arrives on site but has paperwork to fill out for 10 minutes.  They hit arrive when they are about to complete the deliver/pickup, etc.  The arrival is then taken by date/time/lon-lat stamp with the completed task and not based on geofence entry.  They bill their clients if they have to wait too long to pickup or unload but they don't count their admin time in waiting time when they bill the customer.  If we only mark arrived based on geofence entry, they won't have accurate data.

      Andrew Singer
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      Logistics Feature Ideas for Development

      Re: Logistics Feature Ideas for Development

      Dear Andrew,

      Good day!
      Thank you for so many great ideas!
      We appreciate your interest in the development of Logistics!

      The purpose of Logistics is to organize transportation, optimize transportation processes, and reduce costs.
      The task is to find the most profitable route passing through the specified points with a delivery interval.
      The total travel time, total cost of the road, or, in the simplest case, the distance of the route can serve as a measure of the profitability of the route. Also, the task of Logistics is tracking the execution of the found route and executing a report on the completed routes (evaluating the route results)

      First of all, our team plans to develop the application in this direction.

      We've already added some of your ideas to the backlog.

      • Ability for the Driver to attach files (not just photos) to a completed Dispatch
      • Group Messaging
      • Arrival Status by Driver

      We will evaluate the possibility of implementation in the future!

      We will review the information provided and give an answer as soon as possible!

      Anton Voitenko,
      Wialon Logistics Product Manager, Gurtam
      3

      Logistics Feature Ideas for Development

      Re: Logistics Feature Ideas for Development

      Great! and even add a simple functionality, the identification through logon / logout on logistics driver app which driver is performing the activity without depending on Wialon's Rfid.

      4

      Logistics Feature Ideas for Development

      Re: Logistics Feature Ideas for Development

      Sounds great!

      On a delivery job tasking use basis we have many customers asking for a more easy way to create regular deliveries/tasks.

      Current the only way is by creating a permanent order then manually adding it to a route 1 day/date at a time.

      It would be fantastic if customer could have option to select, for example:
      - Every Monday (day of week)
      - Every 2 weeks (set day)
      - Once a month (set day)
      - Quarterly
      - Bi-annually
      - Annually

      We have lost a number of opportunities because of the lack of ability to do this.

      To date we find Logistics an invaluable tool and also agree a number of transport customers would like to see a vehicle pre-start "checklist" functionality that drivers could complete before they start their deliveries.

      These checklists are mandatory in the transport sector and it would make sense to include this as part of the delivery process. But also optional for those not requiring this feature. It would be a nice feature though and help generate sales as this would be a massive and highly desired feature. wink


      voan пишет:

      Dear Andrew,

      Good day!
      Thank you for so many great ideas!
      We appreciate your interest in the development of Logistics!

      The purpose of Logistics is to organize transportation, optimize transportation processes, and reduce costs.
      The task is to find the most profitable route passing through the specified points with a delivery interval.
      The total travel time, total cost of the road, or, in the simplest case, the distance of the route can serve as a measure of the profitability of the route. Also, the task of Logistics is tracking the execution of the found route and executing a report on the completed routes (evaluating the route results)

      First of all, our team plans to develop the application in this direction.

      We've already added some of your ideas to the backlog.

      • Ability for the Driver to attach files (not just photos) to a completed Dispatch
      • Group Messaging
      • Arrival Status by Driver

      We will evaluate the possibility of implementation in the future!

      We will review the information provided and give an answer as soon as possible!

      Onwards and Upwards!!
      Knowledge, data & information is power!
      5

      Logistics Feature Ideas for Development

      Re: Logistics Feature Ideas for Development

      Good day, FleetPursuit!

      Thank you for your opinion!

      It would be fantastic if customer could have option to select, for example:
      - Every Monday (day of week)
      - Every 2 weeks (set day)
      - Once a month (set day)
      - Quarterly
      - Bi-annually
      - Annually

      I think this option will be useful!
      We have already received a request for this feature earlier, and this increases its importance.

      To date we find Logistics an invaluable tool and also agree a number of transport customers would like to see a vehicle pre-start "checklist" functionality that drivers could complete before they start their deliveries.
      These checklists are mandatory in the transport sector and it would make sense to include this as part of the delivery process.

      It is interesting.
      We have not received such a request before, so we are now collecting information about it.

      We will evaluate the possibility of adding these options next year and contact you when we start developing.

      Could you tell me if the ability to calculate the cost of the route would be useful to you?
      And also the ability to set the priority of an order (the higher the priority, the higher the chance that the order will be at the beginning of the route)?

      Your opinion is important to us!

      Anton Voitenko,
      Wialon Logistics Product Manager, Gurtam
      6

      Logistics Feature Ideas for Development

      Re: Logistics Feature Ideas for Development

      voan пишет:

      Good day, FleetPursuit!

      Thank you for your opinion!

      It would be fantastic if customer could have option to select, for example:
      - Every Monday (day of week)
      - Every 2 weeks (set day)
      - Once a month (set day)
      - Quarterly
      - Bi-annually
      - Annually

      I think this option will be useful!
      We have already received a request for this feature earlier, and this increases its importance.

      To date we find Logistics an invaluable tool and also agree a number of transport customers would like to see a vehicle pre-start "checklist" functionality that drivers could complete before they start their deliveries.
      These checklists are mandatory in the transport sector and it would make sense to include this as part of the delivery process.

      It is interesting.
      We have not received such a request before, so we are now collecting information about it.

      We will evaluate the possibility of adding these options next year and contact you when we start developing.

      Could you tell me if the ability to calculate the cost of the route would be useful to you?
      And also the ability to set the priority of an order (the higher the priority, the higher the chance that the order will be at the beginning of the route)?

      Your opinion is important to us!

      Hi voan.

      With the ability of "scheduling" regular timings this request has specifically come from a number of "service" related companies.

      Sadly we have lost a number of opportunities because Logistics could not provide this function. Also a number of our existing companies have also asked for this too.

      Prime example from a latest enquiry. The customer services several hundred commercial kitchens; they clean extraction vents at regular intervals, replace parts at regular intervals and also extract old oil at regular intervals. All these have different regular service periods but are performed constantly.

      We have had similar requests related to deliveries also, customers such as consumable product suppliers where our customer will resupply their customer on a regular basis such as weekly or monthly etc.

      Also with notifications we would like to see the ability to have the added option to send email/SMS to ALL customers a notification that their order/service is on the way first up on day of route commences. This is additional to sending sending the current available notification " Order on the way". Posted by ysv yesterday: https://forum.gurtam.com/viewtopic.php?id=9192&p=9

      This would also be particularly useful in the case of these "regular" service orders as it serves to remind the customer that the service/delivery is to to be done on the day.

      As for costing of routes, we have not seen customers utilise this function as it exists in Logistics as yet, at least not that we are aware of. A few have mentioned that it is not comprehensive enough or simply utilise another tool for this already.

      Prioritizing of of orders may be of value however we have not had requests for this as most prioritize by placement of a specified time.

      This is not to say other partners would not find these added functions valuable.

      Thanks.

      Onwards and Upwards!!
      Knowledge, data & information is power!
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      Logistics Feature Ideas for Development

      Re: Logistics Feature Ideas for Development

      Good day, FleetPursuit!

      Thanks for the detailed answer.

      We will take your opinion into account when we plan tasks for the future.

      Anton Voitenko,
      Wialon Logistics Product Manager, Gurtam