Technology advancements have a significant impact on transport and logistics and on how they work. Logistics management software automates the path of goods, services, and information from the point of origin to the client and back. Building logistics management software speeds up and improves logistics, changing how materials, freight shipping, goods, sales orders, and production management are handled.

 

In this logistics management software development guide, we will cover what is logistics management software, and its benefits for your business. You will learn the key features and tech stack used for logistics management software web development. Finally, we will explain the main steps in building transport software and share the cases of Inoxoft – a logistics software development company that creates custom logistics software solutions.

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Contents

 

What is Logistics Software Development

What is logistics management software development or supply chain management development? It is building a platform for delivering goods to the client and vice versa and keeping track of the resources, inventories, and relevant data.

According to Statista, the global supply chain management software market size is constantly growing and is projected to reach a valuation of over US$10.17 billion in 2025.

global supply chain management software market size

Moreover, supply chain management software’s revenue is anticipated to reach US$20.17 billion in 2024. By 2028, the market is projected to generate US$24.19 billion in revenue, with a 4.5% compound yearly growth rate (CAGR) from 2024 to 2028.

Benefits Of Logistics Management Software

The use of logistics software results in the optimization of the entire business cycle of logistics processes and has the following positive effects on the bottom line.

Minimized Human Error

The human factor significantly impacts the operation of a corporation. Individuals could be careless, deliver poor customer service, or make mistakes. When developing logistic software, it can handle shipment situations in real-time and optimize inventory control.

Workflow Automation

Once you have logistics software, you can input your company’s paperwork into the system. Surely, you will control the system completely. Machine learning makes it easier to look for the required documents. Digital solutions will help remove time-consuming manual chores, optimize document management, handle queries, and track payments.

Transparent Supply Chain

Customers used to book shipments and wait for a phone call to get information. Modern software lets customers see their order’s shipment and tracking information whenever they want. A company can keep track of internal and external operations using tracking software, ensuring that its objectives are met and establishing transparent relationships with all chain participants.

Reduced Costs

Your business can save money on a range of expenses using logistics software. For instance, you will be able to identify areas where money is spent more than is necessary, where you may cut costs, places to find better deals on goods, etc., thanks to the system’s exact calculations. Moreover, you can cut costs by using resources and routes more efficiently, eliminating human error, and streamlining paperwork.

Resource Optimization

You may regulate and manage logistics capacity by using logistics software. You will be able to keep an eye on things like the appropriateness of the use of transportation or the usage of your vehicle for delivery. Logistics software can assist managers in examining the drivers’ workload and the reasons behind delays by using vehicle tracking technology.

Key Features of Logistics Software

There are specific features that logistics management software should include to operate efficiently. Below is the list of the most vital functionalities to include in your digital solution.

GPS Tracking

GPS tracking is required so that you and your clients can trace the shipment’s movement in real-time. It is practical because you and your clients will constantly be aware of the status of their cargo, including its location, expected arrival time at the pickup location, etc.

Notification System

A notification system is a way to communicate with a recipient. It frequently displays account-related activity. Such systems are a crucial component of contemporary transport management software. The notification system helps stay updated, and alert about sending and receiving cargo, system updates, and more.

Creating Reports and Documents

Including document and report creation features in your logistics software will help you operate more productively. For instance, all contracts and agreements will be gathered in one location, allowing simple filtering to identify the relevant ones. Reports will assist you in obtaining up-to-date information, such as recent profits or the number of shipments sent over the previous six months.

GPS Tracking

Including document and report creation features in your logistics software will help you operate more productively. For instance, all contracts and agreements will be gathered in one location, allowing simple filtering to identify the relevant ones. Reports will assist you in obtaining up-to-date information, such as recent profits or the number of shipments sent over the previous six months.

Calculation of Deliveries and Funds

It is crucial to assess shipping costs in a clear and considered manner to ensure your company stays healthy by offering shipping rates that are too low while also avoiding those that are too high and risk losing customers. Your customers can use this function to determine how much money they must pay on shipping rapidly. With this feature, computations are made faster and more accurately.

Two-Factor Authentication

You need to consider two-factor authentication if you want your software to be better protected. With this functionality, only users who complete two rounds of identity verification can access the system. The login information for your logistics software will be private.

Online Payments

Add the option of online payments for the benefit of your consumers. For instance, thanks to this, your customers can pay for delivery while stuck in traffic or at home. It will considerably speed up delivery.

Techstack for Logistics Software Development

There are various logistics management software development types, each of which requires a particular tech stack. To choose the right tech stack for your logistics solution, it is vital to have a thorough grasp of your business processes, your target market, and the tasks that need to be automated and monitored.

The chosen tech stack will determine scalability, expansion costs, the complexity of integrating with other apps, and your company’s future in general.

Logistics Front-End Software Development

How to develop a logistics management software front end? The application’s front-end combines HTMS, CSS, and JavaScript. The application’s visual components will be built using these languages in conjunction with frameworks like React, Angular.js, Vue.js, jQuery, or any other framework.

Logistics Back-End Software Development

How to develop a logistics software server side? The most popular programming languages for back-end development are PHP, Python, C#, C++, Java, and JavaScript. The frameworks for back-end development are .NET for C#; Spring, Struts, or Hibernate for Java; Django, Flask, Hug, Bottle, or CherryPy for Python; Laravel, CakePHP, CodeIgniter, or Symfony for PHP; or Django, Flask, and .NET for C#.

The type of application and particular features it requires will influence the choice of the framework. The list of programming languages and frameworks used in mobile app development software also depends on the platform. Programming languages like Swift or Objective-C are used to create applications for iOS, while Java or Kotlin are used to develop apps for Android.

Logistics Back-End Software Development

How to develop a logistics software server side? The most popular programming languages for back-end development are PHP, Python, C#, C++, Java, and JavaScript. The frameworks for back-end development are .NET for C#; Spring, Struts, or Hibernate for Java; Django, Flask, Hug, Bottle, or CherryPy for Python; Laravel, CakePHP, CodeIgniter, or Symfony for PHP; or Django, Flask, and .NET for C#.

The type of application and particular features it requires will influence the choice of the framework. The list of programming languages and frameworks used in mobile app development software also depends on the platform. Programming languages like Swift or Objective-C are used to create applications for iOS, while Java or Kotlin are used to develop apps for Android.

Additional Frameworks

Logistics software needs a framework that effectively handles data requests from various data sources whenever interacting with sophisticated shipping APIs. When working with data between the front-end and back-end, GraphQL or REST API are helpful. Future integrations and payment processing will be handled by additional frameworks as well.

If you are still determining which technologies will satisfy your business goals best, consult with an experienced logistics software development company. Inoxoft will provide you with options, explaining why a particular technology should be used and outlining the advantages of selecting one over another.

Inoxoft Tech Stack Choice

Inoxoft has built a GPS tracking system for containers, using JavaScript with HTML/CSS for the front-end and Node.js or Ruby for the back-end. Similarly, we consider Java and Kotlin the best choice for creating Android-powered applications and Swift and Objective-C – for iOS.

For organized, centralized distribution for warehouses, our team has utilized the following technologies: .NET core, Android, C#, Entity frame, Silverlight, Telerik, and. WCF.

5 Main Steps of Development Logistics Management Software

If you have decided to develop logistics management software from scratch, you must be aware of how to build logistics software step by step.

Step 1. Choosing a Software Development Services Provider

Finding the right logistics software development provider is essential to develop logistic management software that will implement your business objectives successfully. Pay close attention to your prospective technical partner’s background and areas of expertise. They must know logistics management solutions, the latest trends, technologies, and functionality.

Step 2. A Discovery Phase

Once you have decided on the provider, spend some time talking with the development team about your requirements and expectations. They will aid in your decision-making on functionality, time and cost estimates for the required solution, and clarification of the project’s objectives.

Step 3. Software Development Process

It is the foremost step of the entire process when you choose if your solution will be a cloud-based or on-premises one. Will your program also require a mobile version? To stay on the same page and measure progress, keep in touch with your development team during this period, and don’t skip your scheduled online sessions.

Step 4. Quality Assurance

The development process should include quality assurance, where QA professionals will evaluate the solution’s performance and functionality. As a product owner, you can participate in the second round of software testing to assess the robustness and the overall quality of your logistics management solution.

Step 5. Product Deployment and Scaling Up

After creating logistics management software, it’s time to train your staff on how to use the program. At this stage, your team can offer insightful feedback on the product. When you decide it’s time to scale up or change your operations, you can go back to the developers and ask them to upgrade your solution or add new functionalities that have become necessary.

Consider Inoxoft Your Trusted Partner

Inoxoft is a logistics management software development company with seven years of experience digitalizing and modernizing services for clients across the globe. We assist with data collection for better performance, real-time fleet management, vehicle tracking, tracking of product data, barcode scanning, and various systems for secure and enhanced supply chain services.

Our logistics software solutions help our clients from the USA, UK, Sweden, Netherlands, Canada, Israel, Germany, and other nations worldwide grow. Using our logistics software development services, our clients strengthen their market positions, build trustworthy relationships with customers, and increase ROI.

The Inoxoft team has developed a GPS tracking system for containers helping our client manage the delivery process and improve its security and effectiveness. Our solution allowed to follow the location of assets, examine the conditions inside containers and verify their security thanks to GPS, built-in sensors, and other IoT-powered solutions.

We are proud of our organized centralized distribution for warehouses for a gas station network. Our client was challenged to organize retail product distribution, reduce the cost of gas, lower the cost of distribution, and decrease the delivery time of the items. As a result, our solution helped reduce the distribution price, improved inventory making, and refined product reception.

Build your cutting-edge logistics software with our top development professionals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is logistics management software?

Logistics management software refers to a category of software solutions designed to automate the path of goods, services, and information from the point of origin to the client and back.

How to develop logistics management software?

In this article, we discussed 5 main steps of logistics management software development:

Step 1. Choose a Software Development Services Provider

Step 2. Conduct a Discovery Phase

Step 3. Time for Software Development Process

Step 4. Perform Quality Assurance

Step 5. Deploy and Scale Up Your Product

What is the cost of developing logistics management software?

The cost of developing logistics management software depends on your project scope, complexity, desired features, technology stack, customization, or integration requirements. It is challenging to provide an exact cost without detailed project specifications. 

The cost generally falls within the range of $40,000 to $100,000 – hourly rates for development resources in the US or Europe can range from $50 to $300. Consult with our software development professionals for accurate cost estimates.

What are the key features of logistics management software?

The list of the most vital functionalities to include in your digital solution:

  1. GPS Tracking
  2. Notification System
  3. Creating Reports and Documents
  4. GPS Tracking
  5. Calculation of Deliveries and Funds
  6. Two-Factor Authentication
  7. Online Payments