Last mile delivery is no longer just about getting a package to its destination. To meet today’s consumer expectations, the process needs to be fast, smooth and transparent. Transparency, in particular, is a lot more important than many businesses realize, and this is where last mile delivery tracking comes into play.
When customers have the ability to receive real-time notifications, access live tracking and reschedule deliveries, it gives them more control of the delivery experience and leads to increased delivery satisfaction. And thanks to innovations in logistics technology, this type of transparency is easier to offer than ever before. Here are three capabilities that are transforming last mile delivery tracking.
1. Chain of custody: Ensuring secure and verified pickups
Establishing a secure chain of custody is the first step in delivery tracking. Without a chain of custody that’s secure and well documented, costly issues such as delivery errors, damage claims and disputes can arise.
Establishing a chain of custody ensures that the right items are picked up, that their condition is documented, and that they are delivered to the correct address. Today, there are numerous tools and methods that carriers like Bungii use to establish a chain of custody, including:
- Pickup photos (preloading & postloading): Visual documentation before and at the time of loading helps verify the condition and quantity of goods. This is important for protecting both drivers and businesses from liability claims.
- Barcode scanning: Scanning item barcodes during pickup ensures that the items being loaded correctly match the order request. It’s a major key to preventing missed or inaccurate deliveries.
- Parking bay validation: Verifying the correct bay or loading area for pickup is another process that can help eliminate mistakes. It’s especially key when picking up at warehouses or distribution centers with a large number of bays.
- Pickup code validation: Requiring a unique code at pickup (provided by the shipper or delivery platform) adds another layer of security to ensure the right goods go to the right delivery professional.
- Geotagging of driver location: Capturing GPS coordinates at the point of pickup provides location verification and helps create accountability.
These capabilities create a digital trail from the moment a package is picked up, reducing the risk of costly errors and establishing transparency for all parties.
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2. Live delivery tracking: Real-time visibility in action
Real-time tracking is something that customers have come to expect. Along with helping businesses meet customer expectations, live delivery tracking can also provide granular insights that can be used to improve the last-mile delivery process. Here are some of the capabilities currently being used to provide real-time delivery visibility:
- Driver app: As drivers progress through key delivery stages like pickup confirmation, en route, and delivery confirmation, delivery apps drive consistency while leaving digital breadcrumbs. This creates structured, time-stamped checkpoints that show the delivery history and real-time status.
- Real-time GPS coordinates: High-frequency GPS pings allow precise location monitoring that can be updated as frequently as every thirty seconds. This lets customers see exactly where their shipment is located when it is en route.
- Push notifications: Real-time updates via push notifications keep both customers and shippers up to date with delivery status, from dock to door.
- Live delivery portal: Delivery portals provide a live view of all active deliveries, enabling users to monitor performance, coach delivery professionals and proactively address delays. Businesses can also provide customer-facing tracking dashboards so that customers can conveniently access tracking data in one place.
Live tracking doesn’t just improve visibility; it builds customer trust. When customers are able to easily locate their delivery and when it will arrive, satisfaction goes up, and the number of support calls your business has to answer goes down.
3. Proof of delivery: Confirming the final step
Confirming proof of delivery is essential for promoting accountability and preventing disputes. Here are the different methods currently being used by final mile carriers like Bungii to confirm that deliveries arrive where they are supposed to:
- Delivery photos: This is the cornerstone of delivery confirmation. It establishes photographic evidence that the shipment was delivered.
- Customer signature: Digital signatures remain a reliable method for verifying receipt, especially for high-value or sensitive deliveries.
- Barcode validation (drop-off): Scanning items again at drop-off ensures that the right products were delivered, matching against both the original order and what was picked up.
- GPS coordinates: Location stamps prove exactly where the delivery occurred, providing evidence in case of disputes or loss claims.
With these tools, businesses can confidently close the loop on deliveries and maintain strong customer trust.
Conclusion
Effective tracking solutions are a vital part of last mile delivery. From increasing customer satisfaction to preventing disputes, these technologies offer a long list of advantages.
At Bungii, our delivery platform includes the latest innovations in delivery tracking and a host of powerful AI to offer cost-effective last mile delivery services that are transparent and reliable. If you’d like to learn more about partnering with Bungii for your business’s last mile delivery needs, contact us today.
