How can carriers and delivery drivers be helped with a voice assistant?

In one of our webinars , we talked about how to make life easier for carriers with a virtual assistant. In it, Gandolapp and Washa Logistics discussed the conditions that carriers and delivery drivers currently live in and how, with a virtual assistant, their work performance would benefit. We found this topic very interesting and have decided to explore it further.

The work of a carrier and delivery driver is vital for the proper functioning of logistics processes in transportation. However, in their work they often encounter certain inconveniences that cause delays and distractions in their regular tasks, such as attending to many calls and e-mails.

The work of a carrier and delivery driver is vital for the proper functioning of logistics processes in transportation. However, in their work they often encounter certain inconveniences that cause delays and distractions in their regular tasks, such as attending to many calls and e-mails.

If you want to know the advantages of applying a virtual assistant for carriers and delivery drivers, read on.

Voice-only assistant

One of the most common drawbacks of virtual assistant applications is that hand manipulation is required to execute the desired functionalities. This is not possible when driving a vehicle requires both hands to be on the steering wheel to have an adequate response time to the road and, in case you free one hand to manage the application, you lose grip on the steering wheel. In addition to the fact that you can be fined if the authorities detect the use of the cell phone while driving.

Therefore, a voice-controlled virtual assistant for carriers makes it possible to dispense with hand manipulation and keep your hands on the wheel. With this innovation, the virtual assistant can be asked to perform certain commands without pausing driving or other important tasks. This is certainly a good way to help carriers with a virtual assistant.

Minimizes administrative problems

In the course of a carrier's day, there is a good chance that he will encounter administrative and communication problems that would require him to stop the truck and make calls to resolve. Such incidents can be problematic if the time spent resolving them causes delays in deliveries or if he has used up the maximum number of working hours and cannot take any action until the next day.

It is precisely these types of incidents that the virtual assistant for truckers handles. For example, it can make calls or send notifications to the traffic manager to report a problem while the driver parks the truck and performs other tasks while waiting for a response. This increases productivity and speeds up communication and the completion of tasks.

Automates tasks

Not only is it the carrier's job to drive the goods to their destination, but he must also perform other tasks, usually administrative, to ensure that all documented processes are in order. However, what often happens is that drivers use their rest time to keep the paperwork in order, since the rest of the time they have to be driving for long days and do not usually get their well-deserved rest.

In this case, the voice-enabled virtual assistant has the ability to receive the command to fill out and complete the paperwork automatically without the driver having to intervene and can focus on driving, among other functions. In the same way that other professionals can spend their time on their main tasks, drivers will improve the quality of their performance and their working conditions.

Keeps the carrier focused

The time of road or city transport is usually very long, especially if it is long distance or international transport. The law in Spain states that a driver cannot drive for more than 4 hours at a time and must take a break of 45 minutes. However, hauliers have long working days that generate fatigue and make it difficult to concentrate on the road.

The virtual voice assistant can send time-lapse messages that help keep you productive, just like a co-driver. It can also provide you with tips for more efficient and sustainable driving.

Conclusion

It is already known that there are several logistics solutions that also improve the work for carriers and delivery drivers, such as route optimizer or TMS. In addition, if a virtual assistant with these features is implemented, they would have an ally in their hands that covers most of their needs and helps them to perform their work in the best possible conditions. 

At Hedyla we develop our logistics solutions with the criterion that they have a good user experience for the professionals who use them, so our apps for carriers are designed for easy and effective handling.