Note: This article will evolve over time to present all options available.
All options introduced below can be activated in the administrative section of the platform (Administration > Platform > General > tab MOBILE APP).
Overview:
1. Driver Features
- Show progression per item type when scanning
- Display original ETA to the driver
- Allow the driver to create rounds from the mobile application
- Allow the driver to mark an item as damaged and take a picture of the parcel during preparation
- Allow the driver to reject an item during preparation
- Allow the driver to start the round preparation days in advance
- Allow the driver to select an available round
- Allow the driver to select future rounds (max 7 days in advance)
- Allow the driver to pick up items during his round
2. Activation
1. Driver Features
- Show progression per item type when scanning
In order to make scanning easier for the dispatcher, you can choose to display the number of items that have already been scanned. That way, keeping an overview of what was and what still has to be scanned is simple.
- Display original ETA to the driver
To give drivers a better view of their progress in a round, the calculated ETA can be added to the task overview.
That way drivers know if they are in advance, on time or delayed compared to the calculated ETA.
- Allow the driver to create rounds from the mobile application
We dedicated an entire article to this very useful option, that can help you speed up your delivery process and that can help out if no dispatcher is available to create rounds. You can find it here:
How to create rounds as a driver
- Allow the driver to mark an item as damaged and take (a) picture(s) of the parcel during preparation
If you transport goods for another company, it surely already happened to you that one or more items arrived at your hub in a very bad state.
In such situations, we recommend using the option mentioned above, as it will allow drivers to document the item state during preparation. Items can be marked as damaged and it's possible to take pictures.
Afterward, the driver takes the damaged item(s) with them on his round to present it to the recipient. When receiving the delivery, the recipient can decide if it is rejected, rejected (partially) or accepted.
Please note: to use this option you need to activate the barcode scan during the preparation (Flows > tab REQUIRES > REQUIRES FOR DELIVERY TASKS > AT PREPARATION)
- Allow the driver to reject an item at preparation
This option is useful in at least two different situations:
- If a delivery contains one or more items that are heavily damaged and can’t get delivered in that state.
- If you want to retrieve a delivery from a round at the very last minute because the recipient informed you that he/she is not available to receive the delivery.
If a driver rejects an item or an entire delivery, it stays at the hub to be taken care of separately or to be returned to the sender.
Please note: To use this option you need to activate the barcode scan during the preparation (Flows > tab REQUIRES > REQUIRES FOR DELIVERY TASKS > AT PREPARATION)
- Allow the driver to start the round preparation days in advance
In some cases, it can be useful to prepare rounds one or more days in advance. If this toggle is activated, the preparation of a round can be done in advance by the driver. The preparation is carried out as usual however it won’t be possible to start the round until the day of delivery.
- Allow the driver to select an available round
If you enable this option, your drivers can see all rounds of a hub that are not yet assigned to a driver and choose one amongst them. A short overview of the round will be displayed to allow the driver to choose a round. Once a round is chosen, the driver can't change to another round.
- As a driver, you open the mobile application and look at your round. If no round has been allocated, you can click on the "Select Round" button in the middle of the screen. In the next window, you will see the option to select an available hub.
- You choose your hub (here "HUB ATOMIUM") and will be able to see the rounds that are available
- You can click on each round to get a short overview and you can confirm your selection. Please be aware that once a round is selected it can’t be changed anymore.
- Allow the driver to select future rounds (max 7 days in advance)
If this option is activated, drivers can assign themselves rounds for a few days in advance (7 days advance maximum). This option can help you in planning and reviewing the driver’s workload and preparing rounds in advance.
- Allow the driver to pick up items during his round
In the mobile app, drivers can now create pick-up tasks for returned boxes or other empty goods that have to be brought back to the hub.
This can be done by clicking on the "Return Items" button and then either scanning a barcode or manually entering information. Item type and name are optional if a barcode is scanned.
After confirmation, the new item appears in the items list. Other items can be added the same way and existing items can be edited or deleted.
Once all items are created, the pick-up can be finalized.
The newly created task (pickup) is immediately added to the current round and gets the PICKED_UP status once all items are scanned and the driver validated its/their creation. The pick-up(s) will have the same taskID as the delivery.
In case some goods have to be added, a new pick-up can be created by the driver. There can be as many pick-ups as necessary.