You’ve created the product, built the website, found the customer and closed the deal — nice job! The next step is get the product into your customer’s hands, on time and in perfect condition, so they’re happy and you’re more likely to get that juicy 5-star review.
This article is all about that last step, and how the best last mile delivery software can help you get it done with minimal drama, at the lowest cost possible.
Long distance shipping vs last mile delivery
Let’s start by being clear about the kind of delivery software we’re talking about, because there are different types, serving businesses with different needs. Things can get confusing, because some big third-party review sites (we’re looking at you, G2) call everything “delivery management” and put it all in one big category with dozens or hundreds of entries. But long-distance shipping and last/final mile delivery are very different:
- If your end customers are further away than you can easily get in a day, say in a different town, state/province or even country, you’re going to need long-distance shipping software. These are systems that can connect you with the vast network of third-party logistics (3PL) providers, freight forwarders, fulfillment experts, carriers and couriers who make logistics operations work. These are the folks who’ll shepherd a package from Kiev to Cape Town, Delhi to Des Moines, or Santa Fe to Saskatoon without breaking a sweat.
- If your customers are close enough that you can choose between hiring a local courier or doing deliveries yourself, that’s when you can benefit from last mile delivery management software.
The last mile is what we know best, so that’s what we focus on in this review. If you’re a small- to medium-sized business serving mainly local customers — like a bakery, brewery, grocery store, farm share co-op, florist, or meal prep company — then you’re in the right place. On the other hand, if you’re a pure e-commerce business and your customers could be anywhere, then these apps are not for you. Take a look at our guide to shipping software for a great introduction instead.
Let’s get right into it!
What is last mile delivery software?
Last mile delivery apps help businesses create efficient, cost-effective local delivery services. They typically include functionality to:
- Plan the best routes for drivers
- Dispatch routes to drivers using a mobile app
- Keep track of delivery progress through the day, and make route changes if needed
- Keep customers informed about delivery ETAs
- Capture proof of delivery
- Keep records to help with back-office processes like driver payroll
It's all about making the delivery process smoother and more efficient, saving time and money for your business, and helping you make your customer happy.
How to find the best last mile route planner
Route planning software is one of those game-changers that often gets users saying “I only wish we knew about this years ago!” But there are a LOT of options in the market, so a happy outcome is all about about choosing the option that’s the best fit for your business needs.
So, with your own needs in mind, here are some key features to look out for:
1. Route optimization
Planning efficient multi-stop routes is surprisingly hard, and the problem gets harder with as the number of stops increases. Using machine learning, artificial intelligence and some fancy mathematics, route optimization algorithms can do a better job in seconds than a human can do in hours.
Using route optimization software means last mile delivery routes are shorter. That leads to less driving, which means lower fuel costs, lower driver wages, and (if you play it right) better working conditions for drivers. It also cuts down massively on back-office planning and admin time. The result is lower delivery costs all round.
Use this free spreadsheet to calculate your cost per mile.
In fact, a big chunk of the cost savings businesses get out of last mile delivery platforms comes from route optimization. So if the software you’re looking at doesn’t include this, look elsewhere.
You should also know that while kind-of-okay route optimization has become a lot easier to do in the last ten years, really excellent optimization is still a challenge. At Routific, for example, we have a team working full-time on constant improvements to our algorithm. We recommend you try your routes out on a couple of different route planning apps to see which one creates the best routes.
2. Dispatch to a driver mobile app
Your drivers shouldn’t be having to wrangle paper manifests. The state of the art right now is one-click dispatch of your optimized routes direct to a driver app, which should be free to download on Android or iOS. Some apps include turn-by-turn directions, others use the driver’s choice of Waze, Google Maps or Apple Maps for navigation.
A well-designed app that includes custom stop notes and proof of delivery features can improve driver satisfaction and productivity. While you’re trying out different last mile delivery solutions, get feedback from your drivers about the mobile apps as well.
3. Delivery time windows
Being able to offer flexible, precise delivery time windows is an important ingredient of a great customer experience. “Of course we can deliver between 10am and 11am on Tuesday” is much more attractive than “we’ll try for sometime on Tuesday, but can’t say exactly when.”
Most small businesses don’t have the resources to offer same-day delivery, and it doesn’t make environmental sense either. Ever-faster delivery is not even something most customers necessarily want. Convenient time windows are a way to meet high customer expectations without sacrificing profitability or your commitment to sustainability.
Good last mile delivery software should be able to take your customer’s preferred time window into account during the route planning process, automatically optimizing to make sure deliveries happen at the right time.
3. Live tracking
Real-time GPS tracking of your deliveries makes it possible to monitor your progress through the day, spot problems early and make any route changes that might be needed. For example, if a driver is off-route you can ask why, or if a delivery can’t be completed for some reason you can reschedule it for later in the day. This kind of real-time visibility and flexibility can make a dispatcher’s job much easier.
Most route planners use driver apps to do live tracking, which means you don’t need to buy any extra tracking equipment for your delivery vehicles. There can be privacy concerns, though — nobody likes the idea of being tracked when it’s not necessary. Look for software with driver tracking that only works while they’re actually using the app.
4. Customer notifications
Customers get anxious when they don’t know what’s going on. Then they call in or email to ask, and that wastes so much time that the problem even has its own acronym. WISMO (“where is my order?) queries can be costly, and the best way to avoid the cost is to keep your customers in the loop. That means timely order confirmations, and automated notifications when the order is out for delivery, when it’s approaching and when the order is complete.
If this something your business can benefit from, look for delivery route planning software that includes automated customer notifications via email or SMS. (Bear in mind that SMS text messages can be costly).
5. Proof of delivery
Collecting proof of delivery (POD) can reassure your customers that their orders have arrived on time and in good condition. It also helps to protect you if a customer claims they haven’t received a package or that it’s arrived damaged. There are a few ways to collect electronic proof of delivery:
- If the customer is there to receive the delivery in person, the driver can get an signature on the screen of their mobile device.
- If the package needs to be left on a doorstep or in a lobby, photo proof of delivery shows it’s been delivered to the right place and is undamaged.
- Barcode scanning can confirm that a parcel was at a particular location at a particular time, and alert drivers if they’ve accidentally got the wrong package.
Different route optimization software offers different POD features — Routific, for example, doesn’t yet include barcode scanning. Check that the logistics software you’re considering fits with your workflows.
6. Integrations
Moving data from your order management or CRM system into your delivery management system should be as streamlined as possible. A lot of people just use spreadsheets, but if your volumes are high that may not meet your needs. In that case, look for software that offers an API, or integrations with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce.
7. Track record, customer support and reputation
If you’re going to be trusting a software company to help manage your delivery operations, you want them to have a good track record! This is where review sites can come in handy. On the whole, companies that have been around for longer will have more reviews, and the reviews are more likely to be reliable. In our quick review section below, we’ve included direct links to the Capterra review pages for each app, so you can go and read for yourself.
It’s also worth checking a company’s “About” page. We like to know who we’re dealing with, which is why you’ll find pictures of our actual staff members on Routific’s About Us page. Even in a cloud-based SaaS world, it’s nice to put a real human face on your software.
Now that you know some of the most important criteria to bear in mind when you’re assessing software for your delivery business — here are our candidates!
Ten best last mile route planners for SMBs
Routific: Best for medium-sized local delivery businesses
Route optimization is Routific’s main strength. Our goal is to create routes that are not just mathematically efficient, but also make sense to the humans who have to drive them. It’s easy to schedule driver breaks and adjust shift times. Our algorithm also takes predictive traffic conditions into account, so that ETA estimates are as accurate as possible.
Routific is noted for being easy to use (reviews often mention our dispatch button and driver app), and for our customer support. The combined map and timeline view gives dispatchers an overview of all their routes and vehicles for delivery tracking, the ability to edit routes when needed. Customer notifications are sent automatically and can easily be customized.
Routific is best for small to medium-sized last-mile delivery businesses who don’t need to deliver on-demand, and can plan their routes in advance using powerful route planning features.
We don’t offer barcode scanning, real-time chat inside our app or label printing, so if those are important to you, Routific might not suit your needs.
The full-featured version of Routific is free to try for 7 days – no credit card or phone number needed.
Capterra rating: 4.9 (110+ reviews)
Pricing: Starts at $49 per vehicle per month, or $59 per vehicle per month for GPS tracking and proof of delivery features. Automated customer notifications via email or SMS are $19 per vehicle per month. Per-stop pricing is also available.
Onfleet: Best for mid-market
Onfleet calls itself a “complete toolkit for last mile delivery”. The software has all the features you’d expect to find, although it is not easy to use. For example, it’s one of the only route planning apps that doesn’t show actual routes, just a collection of pins. You can only view one route at a time, and there’s no color coding to help visualize different routes. There’s also no timeline view, which makes it difficult for dispatchers to make changes or monitor route progress in real time.
Onfleet’s major strength is its auto-assign feature for on-demand deliveries, which enables fast turnaround times. Dispatchers and drivers also like the live chat option inside the driver app. Overall it has a fuller feature set, including barcode scanning, than Routific or other rivals. That’s reflected in a much higher price, which might put it outside the budget of smaller companies.
Onfleet does offer a 14-day free trial, but you will need to give your phone number and credit card details.
Capterra rating: 4.7 (80+ reviews)
Pricing: Starts at $500 per month with a limit of 2,000 pickup/delivery tasks. Barcode scanning, age verification and 5,000 pickup/delivery tasks start at $1,150 per month. Custom pricing is available for enterprise customers.
OptimoRoute: Best for routes that need to reload at a depot
OptimoRoute has lots of advanced routing functionality including the ability to schedule reloading at a depot. Driver tracking is included, and dispatchers can set up individual driver profiles with their own shift schedules (including breaks and overtime), start/end locations, vehicle types, service areas, and even cost and speed settings. You can also set up multiple capacity constraints (e.g. weight & volume).
In our own tests, OptimoRoute was easy to use, although some of the advanced features were hard to figure out. There was also lots of overlap between routes and it was difficult to make manual edits.
Like Routific, Optimoroute doesn’t include barcode scanning or order taking functionality.
They offer a generous 30-day free trial, but it’s limited to 250 stops so it’s hard to assess how performance will scale.
Capterra rating: 4.6 (150+ reviews)
Pricing: Starts at $35 per vehicle per month with a limit of 700 orders, or $44 per month for up to 1,000 orders, real-time tracking and proof of delivery. Custom pricing for more complex needs is also available.
Route4Me: Best for maximum flexibility
Route4Me is one of the original route planning and route optimization tools, with a well-developed marketplace of optional add-on features like support for curbside pickup, avoiding left or right turns, or for allocating stops to time windows.
Route4Me automatically optimizes its routes to use the smallest possible number of vehicles, and this setting can’t be changed. This means that if you have your own fleet and drivers, Route4Me could leave one driver sitting idle while another works overtime. We also found their ETA estimations unrealistic, which can lead to lots of late deliveries and a very poor customer experience.
There are no proof of delivery features.
Capterra rating: 4.4 (380+ reviews)
Pricing: Starts at $319 per month, but that will only optimize single-driver routes. If you want to optimize multiple routes at once, the price is $479 per month. Features like customer notifications and delivery time windows are add-ons that will increase the cost. Adding time windows, for example, will cost an extra $79 per month.
TrackPoD: Best for proof of delivery
As its name suggests, Track-POD’s major strength is proof of delivery, including barcode scanning, signature and photo capture. Other common last-mile delivery features like route planning, live tracking and notifications are also available, but only on the higher-priced plans.
People generally find it user-friendly, although it’s hard to edit routes. The driver mobile app can be confusing, with different Android and iOS mobile versions. The driver apps also come at an extra cost, where most of their competitors offer these free.
The 7-day free trial doesn’t need a credit card, but you will need to give a phone number.
Capterra rating: 4.6 (100+ reviews)
Pricing: $29 per driver per month for the core proof of delivery feature (including barcode scanning, signature and photo capture). $49 a month to include order management, driver app, notifications and analytics. Route planning and live tracking are only available on the Advanced Plus plan starting at $69 per vehicle per month.
OnTime360: Best if you need order management and Quickbooks integration
OnTime 360 is unique among last mile delivery software offerings: It does everything including order taking, label printing and barcode scanning. There’s even an integration with QuickBooks for billing and invoicing.
Drawbacks include high cost, with users sometimes paying for features they don't actually use. The website's list of features can be quite long and challenging to understand. Additionally, the routing functionality is relatively basic, which means users won’t reap all the benefits. Their "advanced route optimization" comes with extra credit purchases and is limited to 300 stops.
They offer a 14-day free trial.
Capterra rating: 4.3 (30+ reviews)
Cost: Starts at $39 per month for a limited feature set. Route scheduling and the Quickbooks integration are only available from the Professional tier plans at $129 per month. There’s a $99 account activation fee for all plans.
Bringg: Good for mid-market, integrations with other platforms
Bringg offers all the features you’d expect, including real-time tracking and customer notifications. Where it really shines is the wide range of last-mile delivery options it enables, including not just traditional doorstep delivery but also “buy online, pick up in store” (BOPIS) and connections to third-party logistics companies. It also integrates directly with Salesforce for order and customer management.
It’s aimed at mid-market to enterprise users, and may not be suitable for smaller businesses as the process of implementing it can be quite complex. It’s also not available in all countries.
We’ve also heard that Bringg’s route optimization is poor, which means less efficient delivery routes. That undermines its ability to help companies lower their last mile delivery costs.
Capterra rating: 4.8 (8 reviews)
Pricing: Not publicly available, you will need to talk to a member of their sales team.
Dispatch Science: Good for advanced delivery management needs
Dispatch Science is very much geared toward larger businesses, with its lowest pricing plan allowing up to 10 delivery drivers. Its flagship features are customer self-service, automated driver allocation and dispatch, and two-way chat with drivers. It’s also known for detailed metrics and analytics.
All of this is reflected in the high price, which means Dispatch Science is best for larger businesses.
Capterra rating: 4.8 (6 reviews)
Pricing: Starts at $650 per month for up to 10 drivers.
Tookan: Good for on-demand delivery management
The core strength of Tookan is same-day delivery, making it a good choice for businesses who offer on-demand services like courier pickup, grocery delivery or taxi services. Customers can place orders directly, and drivers (or “delivery agents”) are auto assigned. It includes driver tracking and some fleet management features, along with proof of delivery, barcode scanning and customer notifications. Some of these are only offered as extra add-ons, which can add to the cost.
Tookan is best suited to small and very small businesses with relatively simple needs. The reviews suggest it’s not well suited to mid-market companies. Overall it doesn’t score as well as some other options we’ve reviewed.
Capterra rating: 4.3 stars (60+ reviews)
Pricing: Starts at $99 month, with a limit of 700 “tasks” (routes) per month.
RoadWarrior: Best for small businesses and solo drivers
RoadWarrior started out as a mobile route planner app for drivers, before adding a “teams” feature for dispatchers. It’s known for its simplicity and affordability. This makes it a good choice for delivery companies who have limited resources, but still want to improve their delivery efficiency and streamline their operations.
It has limited reporting capabilities, so it’s not a good choice if you need advanced analytics and KPI monitoring.
Capterra rating: 4.5 (50+ reviews)
Pricing: From $14.99 per month.
The benefits of last mile delivery software
Why does it matter that last mile delivery operations are as efficient as they can possibly be? There are several reasons:
- Customer satisfaction: Late deliveries, vague ETAs, not knowing where your package is — bad delivery management can be the most frustrating part of online shopping. Worldwide, 32% of consumers say shipping problems or delays are one of the biggest drawbacks of buying online. E-commerce retailers who can offer a great delivery experience are more likely to get repeat customers.
- Reputation: Companies with a great delivery service are likely to have a strong reputation and good word of mouth, leading to more positive reviews and recommendations, and more new customers.
- Profitability: There are two ways that efficient last mile logistics can directly increase profitability. First, the direct costs of delivery like driver wages and fuel are lower. Second, getting it right first time reduces losses due to damages, delays and refunds.
- Competitiveness: With the rise of e-commerce and customer expectations for fast delivery, businesses need to have efficient delivery processes in place to stay competitive.
- Sustainability: Customers care about this! In the same research that found a third of consumers are unhappy about delivery problems, 16% said online shopping was bad for the environment. Smart delivery management with route optimization means fewer vehicles spend less time on the road, reducing emissions of all kinds as well as noise and traffic congestion.
In short, efficient delivery, facilitated by last mile delivery software with the best last mile route planner, is a win-win for businesses and customers alike. It improves the shopping experience, boosts business reputation and profitability, and contributes to environmental sustainability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Last Mile Delivery? Challenges And Solutions For Businesses In 2024
