All of these factors lead to increased prices and the withdrawal of logistics companies from the industry. It was the most difficult challenge to overcome in the transport industry before logistics applications were developed.
Logistics app development has helped the supply chain and businesses associated with it to grow. Logistics apps have increased transparency and eliminated intermediaries in the supply chain. A staggering growth in businesses converting to on-demand logistics app development has resulted in a 25.22 billion dollar industry for logistics applications.
According to the graph below, the development of logistics apps is expected to have a positive impact on the transportation industry due to the increasing demand for sustainable and safe transportation.
This is the place to be if you're also interested in the location of logistics app development. This article will provide you with an overview of the logistics market, how on-demand apps work and their benefits. It will also discuss factors that affect logistics app development costs.
We'll take a step back to get a better understanding of the current state of the logistics apps market. Then we will analyze the benefits you can expect if you integrate on-demand development with the logistics app.
Statistics on the Transport and Logistics Industry
The logistics and transportation app field has some impressive numbers. According to a recent report, the global digital logistic market is expected to reach $77.62 billion by the year 2030 at a CAGR of 17.54% over the forecast period 2021-2030.
This growth is driven primarily by the rise of digital ecommerce solutions, improved digital supply chain management and increased demand for fast and customized order deliveries.
After analyzing statistics from the transport and logistics industry, we discovered that trucking/logistics holds the largest share at 35%. This is a good sign for the future of the development of on-demand apps.
Now that you've seen the insights into the logistics market, it's now time to explore the on-demand solutions for businesses.
Apps for on-demand Logistics Development in Business
Depending on your needs and objectives, you can choose from a variety of transport and logistics applications. Here are some of the most popular digital solutions for developing logistics apps.
Fleet Management
The logistics app development is aimed at recording data and information about vehicles and fleets. These apps for logistics can help businesses organize, manage and coordinate vehicles through the central information system, allowing them to run their fleet smoothly and efficiently.
Mobile app development for fleet management logistics is known to lower costs, improve performance and ensure compliance with government regulations.
On-demand Logistics
This category includes applications that are focused on delivering goods according to the user's requirements. Apps for transport and logistics like apps that deliver goods on demand, apps that provide home services on demand etc. Not only do they meet users' demands instantly, but they also build positive relationships with customers.
Mobile Apps for Warehouse
Apps for warehouse logistics can store an enormous amount of information about the products in the storage facility. The app does this in a way that makes it easy to get to any data at any time.
Tracking and Forwarding of Applications
Applications for order tracking and forwarding are designed to provide information in real-time about routes and deliveries of goods and products. It also shows the drivers' locations, which is an important app feature for companies concerned about timely delivery.
Here are some key areas of business where you can use the solutions for on-demand app development.
- Order tracking
- Freight forwarding
- Routing
- Service delivery and quality
- Stock and Inventory
- Fleet Management
- Vehicle tracking
Here are some well-known names in the ever-growing business of transportation and logistics that have built a solid market share.
To differentiate themselves from their competitors, the above logistic businesses have implemented several features and innovations into their digital solutions. Here is a list of features that you must have in your app if you want to develop a logistic app for your business.
Features That An App Must Have
In the development of a logistics mobile app, there are three panels to consider. Let's examine each of these while discussing the must-have features of a logistics mobile app.
Note: These panels are three applications that, when combined, work as a single product. It is, therefore, a major factor in calculating the cost and transportation of mobile logistics apps.
User Panel
Customer Registration
You can register in two different ways:
- Create a brand new account.
- Registering with an existing social media account. This option will make your business look good to users.
Vehicle Selection
This is a feature that you should integrate into your on-demand logistics app. It allows users to select the vehicle that best suits their needs, whether it is a truck, van, trailer, container, etc.
Booking and Scheduling
Users can book a vehicle and avail of services instantly. They can also make a pre-booking by specifying the pick-up date, time, and location.
Multiple Payment Gateways
You can provide a better user experience by providing more options in your transport and logistics apps. Integration of payment gateways into your logistics app is a good example. Users can choose to pay via credit/debit card, blockchain wallets or UPI. This will encourage users to use your application more often.
Tracking Shipment
Tracking is a feature that your users expect from your app for transport and logistics. Make sure you include it in the final product.
Drop off Location
Allow users to manually enter the location where they want their parcel delivered or use geolocation features.
Real-time Alerts
Push Notifications are an excellent way to engage users with your application while informing them about important and useful information.
Estimated Fare Charges
To avoid surprises, users must know the price they will pay in advance. A built-in fare calculator can be extremely useful in this situation. The cost of services will be calculated based on package size and weight.
Access History
This feature allows users to review their past transactions and invoices to stay on track.
Ratings
This feature would be helpful to customers. Users can give feedback and rate the services.
Driver/Dispatcher Panel
The features that you can include in this panel focus on the development of delivery logistics apps.
Login/Register
Drivers can sign up just like users using their existing email IDs and social media accounts.
Manage Requests
This feature allows drivers/dispatchers the option to accept or refuse any order or request based on preferences.
Make Available or Busy
This feature will allow drivers and dispatchers to show their availability/unavailability by using various options, such as marking themselves available, etc.
Consignment Details
If you use your app, it is important to get insights into the shipment that will be delivered.
Manage Profile
One of the most important features is the ability for drivers to update their profile information.
Navigation
This feature is crucial for the driver/distributor part of the logistics application. It provides information on the best route for the customer's addresses to ensure timely delivery.
Mark Delivery
The dispatcher can send an alert to the customer and the admin regarding the delivery.
Freight/shipping Details
This feature allows the driver/dispatcher to easily access all the information related to shipping and freight (weight, fuel consumption, mileage, tolls, etc.) as well as the shipping details (name, address, contact number, destination).
Access History
This feature will allow users to review past invoices and transactions.
Admin Panel
Dashboard
It shows all the critical information about drivers and users. The admin can also view pending and finished orders in real time.
Vehicle/Fleet Management
This feature allows the admin to add new vehicles and update existing ones.
Manage Invoices and Payment
This invoice management feature allows the admin to create and update invoices. The admin can also manage payment, that is, approve payments made to drivers and analyze similar transactions.
Drivers Monitoring
This feature allows drivers to manage and assign tasks, monitor their activities and track pending requests.
MS Features
Admins can now record and respond to all user requests for information about drivers or services, as well as any suggestions made by users.
Mobile App For Logistics With Additional Features
Get a Quote
Customers can ask for a quote based on the deals and services available to them. This will give them an idea of the price and the time required to complete the service.
In-App Chat
It may be a feature that is not included in the package, but it's still important. It will make it easier for your users to contact the service provider, as they won't have to go elsewhere.
- Chat Support
Chatbots are now a major player in both B2B- and B2C- sectors. Chatbots are a common feature in many applications that provide services or products. A logistics company with experience will recommend this.
Multilingual Support
Multilingual support is a popular practice that can boost your app's popularity globally.
Upload and link Documents
This feature is a huge hit for dispatchers as they can upload important documents related to shipping, such as insurance documents. Note that all these features will increase the cost of developing a logistics app. Let's now get to the business of finding out the cost of developing a logistics app.
Read More: What You Should Consider Before Choosing Any Logistics Software Custom Vs. SaaS?
How Much Does It Cost To Develop A Logistics App?
The development process of on-demand mobile application development will determine the final cost for mobile app development.
The cost of developing an app for on-demand depends on the type of development. Consider, for example.
- The cost of developing a simple app for on-demand logistics would range from $30,000 to $120,000.
- The cost of developing a logistics app for a complex, medium-sized on-demand application would range from $120,000 to $200,000.
- The cost of developing a complex, full-featured on-demand logistics app can range anywhere from $200,000 up to whatever you want it to be, depending on factors like the design and features of your logistics mobile application.
Let's examine in detail the factors that contribute to the cost of developing a logistics mobile app.
Backend and Frontend Development
Your choices for Backend and Frontend development will have a major impact on the cost of your logistic application. It all depends on the design of your logistics application, as well as frameworks, technologies, and tools.
Monolithic is the only option. Microservices are also an option. Let's be honest; the cost of microservices frameworks is higher than monolithic. It is worth it because it provides highly scalable logistic applications.
Choose the right tech stack
It is likely that you already know the stack you select for your logistics app development will affect the price. Hiring developers who are proficient in languages such as Swift, Golang, and R can be expensive. The newer languages will also have fewer frameworks and libraries. This adds to the complexity of development.
We'll shed some light on the ideal technology stack to develop on-demand logistics apps:
Types of Applications
The logistics app development costs are higher for this category because it is a demand-driven application. This is because the application has three separate panels that require resources equivalent to three different applications. Evidently, an on-demand logistic app will cost more than non-on-demand applications.
Platform (Android and iOS)
Android and iOS are the two platforms you can choose from. Due to Android's fragmentation, it is more expensive to develop for Android.
Cross-platform apps are another option for developing logistics apps. Cross-platform app development for logistics will allow your app to run on both platforms with a performance that is no less than native apps. It is also more cost-effective than developing the app separately on both platforms.
The Size of the Development Team
It is not necessary to mention that you will save money on the development of mobile apps for logistic purposes when you hire a mobile app development company. On-demand app companies are able to offer a superior service compared to freelancers because they can guarantee the quality of digital and mobile solutions.
Location of the Company
Location is a key factor in determining the final cost of developing a logistics app. The hourly development rates tend to increase when moving west to east.
You can customize your logistics app according to your customer's needs.
We have now finished discussing the development costs of your logistics app and other factors that will impact your budget. We've now given you an overview of the logistic app development costs. Let's also look at your revenue models.
How Can A Mobile App For Logistics Generate Revenue?
Customers have 24/7 access to online platforms due to the demand for digitalized logistics apps. Logistics and supply chain companies can grow and maintain multiple revenue streams.
Here Are Some Of The Main Ways You Can Earn Revenue From Your On-Demand Logistic Application:
- Paid App- The app generates income when the user pays an amount for the lifetime license.
- Advertisements- if your customers are using your free logistics apps, advertising can be a good revenue generator for your business. You can show different ads at multiple intervals in order to generate money.
- Paymium Model- Your logistics app can be a great source of revenue if you charge a reasonable amount for the app download.
- Freemium Model- Your app can offer basic features for free and more advanced features at a price. You can, for example, offer offline access in a paid version.
Future of Logistics App Development
The statistics and forecasts on the development of logistics apps are all positive. The logistics industry has seen a smoother transition and a streamlined process since the advent of mobile apps.
According to mobile app development technology trends, AI and other modern technology in logistics are major factors that will continue to influence this industry. AI-driven logistics applications will be a great help in the management of warehouses and logistics. They are also helpful for transportation. IoT is another next-gen technology that will disrupt logistics.
What is Hybrid App Development?
The hybrid mobile application is installed on the device in a similar way to a native application. Hybrid apps are similar to native apps (apps designed for iOS and Android), but they also have some features of web applications (websites which look like apps but actually aren't installed on the device).
In a native container, hybrid applications are installed using a mobile WebView. This object displays web content using web technologies like CSS, JavaScript, HTML, etc. It displays web pages that have been adapted to a WebView. Web content can be displayed for the entire application or only certain parts. Hybrid applications are essential.
- In an agile development cycle, it is important to combine affordability and user experience.
- App deployment is not dependent on the AppStore.
- You can find more resources for hybrid apps by using HTML, CSS, or JavaScript than you would for Objective C, Swift, or Java developers.
- You can reduce development time and costs by a significant amount.
How Do You Identify The Requirements For Developing A Hybrid Application?
You can use the following factors to help you decide if a hybrid mobile app is right for you.
Time and Cost
It is possible to save money and time by using hybrid development. This is because it uses a single codebase rather than creating separate codes for native iOS and Android apps. A hybrid app can take longer to develop due to bugs or defects that are found during the development phase. Hybrid apps have a completely different development and testing process than native apps. If you can develop your app faster, it will save you money on resources during the testing phase.
Features
It is important to decide what features you will need for your application and whether they can be included in a hybrid application. The question is simple: "Can I view this on a web page?" If the answer is no, you'll need a native application.
Hybrid applications always need an envelope to allow the application to run on a specific platform. Phonegap and Cordova, for example, use libraries that allow you to utilize native functionality in hybrid settings.
Native libraries have some disadvantages. The time required to write them for each framework will be greater. By using these libraries, you are trusting the open-source community to provide timely maintenance and comprehensive documentation.
Performance
Native apps are the best option if performance is all that matters. Hybrid apps are much slower than native apps. Facebook invested in a web-based mobile app in 2012, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged that the company's mobile strategy relied on HTML5 rather than native apps. Facebook corrected the problem, which appeared to be a performance problem.
When compared to native apps, hybrid apps are limited in some ways. Memory usage is one of the biggest limitations. As mobile applications are always running on handheld devices, you will need to consider memory usage. You might want to think about it before you dive in. If performance is the only priority, then you should consider this.
What Should You Consider When Hiring Hybrid Application Developers?
Once you've determined your needs, you need to start looking for hybrid application developers. It is important to choose a mobile app development service with the experience to create your app. It can be difficult to find hybrid application developers and hybrid application companies.
You must first understand what you need to consider for a timely development. The majority of mobile application development projects fall into one of the following categories:
End-to-end App Development
Do you need help with each step of the mobile app development process? Hybrid app development companies are specialists who can handle the entire process. This includes testing, app maintenance, and design.
This is an option that's safe for both small and medium businesses and for new start-ups. The Dart programming language serves as the foundation of the Flutter app development framework. This implies that hybrid mobile applications that support a wide range of operating systems can be created using a single programming language.
Design and Development
You already have an idea of the app you want to create. You have also taken care of the research on competitors, marketing strategy, and core functionality. You have completed the main part of the project. You are now only interested in UI/UX and hybrid app design. You should then be searching for a company that can design and create your dream app.
Special Assistance
You will need to find a company that can assist you with reworking and redesigning if you already have a prototype or working model of your application.
You can also look at popular B2B sites like Clutch. GoodFirms. DesignRush, etc. Find a hybrid app development services.
Why Would You Rather Outsource Hybrid Application Development Than Do It Yourself?
Understanding why companies outsource app development is important. If you want to create an in-house hybrid app, you'll need to hire a mobile development team that includes marketers, app developers and designers. It is a significant investment, and overhead costs can come with it. Now let's talk about the advantages of outsourcing hybrid mobile application development:
Outsourcing your project to another company will relieve you of the burden of hiring the best designers and developers. You can begin receiving services from the company that will be working with you. They have already invested in resources.
You don't have to worry about development and training when you work with a hybrid company. You can use the time and resources you save to do other things.
You can now hire the best hybrid app developers in the world. You can access the entire world from your home.
You will be able to concentrate on your strategy for business and take it forward with less stress and responsibility.
Conclusion
The logistics industry will be prosperous in the future due to the numerous benefits that come with the advent of various types of on-demand logistics applications. It is now the best time to invest in the development of logistics apps.
Cyber Infrastructure, a leading company for on-demand app development, has created some of the most intuitive and instantaneous logistic solutions. Our on-demand application development team excels at developing and integrating features that transform an ordinary app into a top-ranked one. Our suite of on-demand apps development services includes:
- Social Media Integration
- In-app payment integration
- Instant Alerts
- Geo-IP Location
- Big data analytics
- Cloud services etc.
