Updated: November 18, 2022 
Mobile apps have come beyond offering essential services to users. Today you can easily hire or manage a fleet online without relying on traditional methodologies to handle operations and track vehicles. It has not only eased people’s lives but has also saved time.
Transportation and logistics mobile apps have made lives so much easier as it allows you to perform various business tasks single-handedly & efficiently. And such mobile apps have enormous potential for business owners and customers who use them.
Talking about why transportation app development is a great idea today. Well, as per Statista, the logistics industry is anticipated to exceed 13.7 billion euros by 2027, and in 2024 this forecast will surmount 6.8 million.
So, if you’re interested in learning how to create your own transportation app, keep reading!
What is a Transportation App? Why develop one?
The transportation mobile app is for logistics transportation on public transport to different locations as per customer requirements. It is about moving goods from one destination to another.
Saves time on vehicle tracking: The vehicle’s location will be updated in real-time, like when the vehicle reaches, and the customer receives the parcel. Thus, a business can easily tact vehicle information anytime.
Eliminates old methodology: Without using paper, the process of managing shipments, billing, accounting, and accepting online payments may be completed digitally. Additionally, the data’s digitalization will make it easier for your personnel to obtain the information quickly.
Time Management: Most of the time, the delivery deadlines for parcels were missed by the transportation provider. Usually, traffic congestion is to blame for delays.
Imagine having a system that provides you with information on the flow of traffic and the best path to avoid getting stuck in it while traveling to your destination. Doesn’t it seem intriguing?
Fortunately, transportation app development makes this feature possible.
Types of transportation apps
Fleet Management App: These types of mobile apps are used to capture information related to vehicle management like to maintain fleet operation. Having such apps will lower the cost and boost performance while complying with all of the government regulations.
On-Demand Logistics App: These types of apps focus on facilitating users by delivering goods as per their requirements. These mobile applications connect to users and provide them with instant logistics delivery services at their fingertips.
Warehouse Management Mobile App: Having a warehouse management app will let you store all the data related to the warehouse in the centralized system. Hence the information becomes a lot easier.
How to develop a Transportation App?
Step 1: Understand your customers’ Needs.
There are several critical components to understanding the needs of your business. You first want to find out who your audience is, their pain points, and their current solutions. Once you have this information, you can begin brainstorming solutions for your audience.
Step 2: Define your app’s goals and functions.
You can define your goals and functions now that you’ve identified your audience. You want to make sure that your app is solving a problem. Once you have determined the goals of your app, you can begin to define its functions.
You want to ensure that your app has the essential functions necessary to solve your users’ problems. During this process, you will likely identify gaps in your app. This is normal and actually a good thing. It means that you have identified ways to improve your app and make it more useful for your users.
Features Required to Develop a Transportation App
Transportation app development has three panels: the driver panel, the consumer panel, and the admin panel.
Features for driver panel
Sign-in/Sign-up: The registration must be easy, simple, and quick. Ask for a manageable amount of information at the very start. The information that is important to ask from drivers during the registration process includes name, license plate number, and the type and expiry date. This information is essential to identify drivers and link a driver to a shipment.
Screen displaying Information: This screen is used by the drivers to view the necessary details like the total distance to be covered, customer details, shipment details & their payment mode, a map button, and information on additional stops, etc.
Map integration: The map integration feature is very important as it tells the driver the route with less traffic. Besides traffic information, some of the real-time traffic information includes route optimization suggestions as per traffic congestion, tolls, etc.
Also, the map feature will work online and offline so that navigation assistance must be available at locations with low or no internet connectivity.
Log Records: The drivers must keep a daily report of their activities, including the distance they traveled, the number of hours they put in, shipments collected, orders delivered, etc. This method allows administrators to monitor how well the drivers perform their tasks.
Push Notifications and In-app Chats: Push notifications are essential for informing the driver about travel requests, location modifications, instructions, etc. In-app chatting also allows drivers to communicate and stay in touch with consumers.
Admin Panel:
Login: The driver must get push notifications in order to be informed of newly assigned orders, changes to pick-up or delivery locations, new instructions from admins via in-app chat, and other important information. The drivers may converse and remain in touch with customers, managers, and other staff members via in-app chatting.
Dashboard: An admin panel can monitor several duties. The administrator is in charge of the entire administration. The administrator will view incoming travel requests, shipments, and shipped orders. Using GPS technology, the administrator can always keep an eye on the drivers.
Fleet Management: Fleet management is a crucial aspect of expanding transport applications. It gives the fleet manager access to real-time fleet location information. It will assist the manager in directing drivers along the shortest available routes. With fleet management, you can easily communicate with the drivers using applications, reducing the need for phone calls.
GPS: GPS technology and transportation work in tandem. Providing potential routes and traffic data will assist drivers. Most importantly, it aids navigation, mapping, control, and fleet traffic management. Additionally, it’s crucial to have GPS capability in applications related to transportation.
Driver Management: The logistics company employs many people, including numerous drivers. Admin is in charge of gathering driving records.
Manage chats: They are admins who frequently communicate with their clients and drivers. Whether the inquiry is coming from the consumer or the driver, the Chat feature handles it immediately. And making an app with communication would be helpful too.
Manage expenses: The logistics provider is pricey, and all sales must be controlled. Administrators are in charge of approving and rejecting driving expenses, toll fees, gasoline fees, etc. Regarding the management of revenues and expenses, the administrators assert full rights. The logistics software can also be used with AI technologies to enhance and automate accounting studies. The profit/loss ratio should be considered after examining the various measures.
Push Notifications: The use of push notifications might draw customers. And one of the advantages is that. Customers can get daily updates on orders and transit. Additionally, it can submit status, an invoice, and driver information.
Customer Panel:
Customer Registration: The customer can register with their email address or mobile number on the mobile app.
Vehicle Option: This gives customers the convenience of choosing a vehicle that appropriately fits their needs and budget.
Scheduling Booking: By specifying the day, time, and pick-up location in advance, the customer can book any car.
Multiple Options for Payment: The user can pay using preferred methods, such as a credit/debit card, net banking, or another.
Monitoring shipments: The user can use this tool to track the location of their cargo in real time and receive updates on the delivery date of their package.
Real-Time Notification: To keep users interested in the application, real-time alerts about their shipping information will be sent through it.
Fare Charge estimation: The application automatically calculates the expected fare based on the parcel’s size, weight, and drop-off location.
History: Users may stay organized by keeping track of their prior transactions and invoices with the help of this tool.
Reviews and Ratings: Users can rate the application based on their interactions with the transport and logistics mobile app.
Step 3: Select the Right Teck stack for your app
Now that you’ve identified your goals and defined your app’s functions, you can select the right platform, type of app, cloud, payment integration, and more. Once you have selected the Teck stack, you can begin to develop your app from a transportation app development company.
Step 4: Hire a development company
You can either hire an in-house IT team which will cost you more, or hire transportation app development services, in order words outsourcing app development products.
And outsourcing is the perfect business strategy as an in-house software team will be too expensive because the team will be working for you even after project completion while hiring a third-party cost will depend upon their hourly rates.
Step 5: Support and maintenance:
App development is only one of the final steps for logistic businesses. You need to keep updating the app’s functionality or remove any bugs. Thus, there are development companies that offer post-development support.
How much does it cost to develop a transportation app?
As per our estimation, the transportation app development will depend upon the number of features and complexities involved.
The various factors on which cost will depend include:
- Design
- Backend development
- Technology stack
- Development company location
- Features included and more
Thus, the cost to develop a simple transportation app will be around $25,000-$40,000 and can go as high as $100,000-$150,000.
Conclusion
Creating mobile apps for transportation is a fantastic concept, as it will boost income and significantly automate your company’s operations. However, creating transportation apps is challenging, so you’ll need the help of an experienced transportation app development company to get it done.
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