Logistics Software Development for transporters, 3PLs and fleets
Dispatch, tracking, proof of delivery and fleet records in one system, with a driver app that works on cheap phones and patchy networks.
Indian logistics runs on phone calls. A dispatcher rings the driver, the driver rings the consignee, and the proof of delivery arrives as a photo of a stamped slip. It works until volume grows, a client asks for tracking, or a payment is held back because the POD is missing.
We build logistics software for that reality. The aim is modest and practical: know where every consignment is, collect POD at the door, reconcile trips and freight, and keep fleet costs visible. The driver app is designed first, because if drivers do not use it, nothing else works. We also build for the owner, who wants to see cost and profit per lane without waiting for month end.
What goes wrong in day-to-day logistics operations
No single view of consignments
Status lives in a dispatcher's notebook and a few WhatsApp groups. When a customer asks where their load is, someone has to call the driver and wait.
Missing or late proof of delivery
Paper PODs travel back with the driver or by courier. Invoices wait for them, so cash flow slows by days even when delivery was on time.
Fleet costs that are guessed
Fuel, tolls, driver advance, tyre and maintenance costs sit in different books. Owners cannot say which vehicle or route actually earns money.
Drivers who will not use complex apps
Many drivers use low-end Android phones, prefer Hindi or Marathi, and have patchy data. An English-only app with ten screens gets ignored within a week.
Logistics software we build
Order and dispatch management
Create consignments, assign vehicles and drivers, plan multi-drop trips and see everything on one board. Rate cards by lane, weight or vehicle type feed freight automatically.
Live tracking and trip status
Track by the driver's phone GPS or by a GPS device you already own. Customers get a tracking link, and delays trigger alerts to dispatchers before the customer calls.
e-POD and delivery capture
Drivers capture signature, photo and OTP at delivery, and the POD lands in the system with time and location. Invoices can be released the moment a POD is accepted.
Driver app in local languages
A light Android app with big buttons, Hindi, Marathi and English, and offline mode. Trip start, stops, expenses and delivery are done in a few taps.
Fleet, fuel and maintenance
Vehicle documents with expiry reminders, service schedules, fuel entries and trip-wise costing. You see profit per vehicle and per lane, not just total expense.
Freight billing and reconciliation
Lorry receipts, freight invoices with GST, detention charges and driver settlement. Customer and vendor ledgers show what is due and what is stuck for want of POD.
How we build a logistics system that drivers will use
Discover
We ride along or shadow a dispatch desk for a day, and look at your lorry receipts, PODs and settlement sheets. That shows the real flow, including the workarounds.
Define
We decide which events matter: pickup, in transit, delivered, exception. Lane rates, detention rules and settlement logic are written down for sign-off.
Design
The driver app is designed and tested with actual drivers on their own phones before the dispatcher dashboard is finished.
Build
We build the trip and POD flow first, then tracking, then billing and fleet. Offline behaviour is tested by switching off data on the road.
Ship & extend
We start with one branch or lane, train drivers in person or by video, then widen. Support runs for one month after launch, and new clients' tracking links can be added later.
What it costs
A dispatch board with a driver app sits near the ₹2,00,000 mobile app anchor, and a broader fleet and billing platform sits above the ₹1,50,000 custom software anchor. We give a fixed written quote after discovery.
- Number of vehicles and daily trips
- Driver app languages and offline needs
- GPS device or phone-based tracking
- Freight billing and GST complexity
- Customer tracking portal and API access
All prices exclude 18% GST. See also website costs and app costs.
Related work
Questions we get asked
Does tracking need a GPS device in every vehicle?
No. The driver app can report location from the phone while a trip is active. A dedicated GPS device is more reliable for long-haul or high-value loads, and we can integrate devices you already own.
What if drivers have no mobile data on the road?
The app stores events such as pickup, stops and delivery on the phone and syncs when data returns. Location points are queued too, so the route fills in later rather than showing a gap. Drivers can also work offline for a whole trip and sync at the next halt.
Can customers track their own shipments?
Yes. Each consignment can have a tracking link sent by WhatsApp or SMS, showing status and expected delivery. Larger clients can also receive status through an API into their own systems. Customers do not need to install an app or create an account to use the link.
Can it handle e-way bills?
We can generate e-way bill data from the consignment and connect to a GST Suvidha Provider to produce the bill number. Whether you need this depends on the goods and value, which your CA can confirm.
How do you stop drivers faking a POD?
The POD records time, GPS location and an OTP sent to the consignee, plus an optional photo. Exceptions such as a delivery far from the address are flagged for a dispatcher to review. Repeated exceptions from the same driver or lane are shown in a weekly report.
Can we start with one route or branch?
Yes, and we recommend it. A pilot on one lane shows what drivers and customers actually do, and the findings shape the wider roll-out. Drivers and dispatchers on that lane know where the real delays are, and their feedback guides how we add further lanes.
Related pages
Ready to scope it?
Tell us what you want to build. You get a fixed written quote after a free discovery call.