Logistics & Last-Mile Delivery Systems

Last-mile delivery in Kenya is operationally complex: variable traffic, addresses that are not on formal maps, drivers without smartphones until recently, and customers who expect SMS updates but do not have email. I build logistics and delivery management systems that handle dispatch, real-time tracking, delivery confirmation, and customer communication for Kenyan logistics businesses and e-commerce operations.

Order Dispatch and Assignment

A dispatch module connects your order management system to your driver fleet. Incoming orders are assigned to available drivers based on location, capacity, and route. Dispatchers see a live board showing which orders are assigned, in transit, delivered, or failed. Reassignment when a driver cannot complete a delivery is handled with a single action rather than a chain of phone calls.

For high-volume operations, I implement automatic dispatch rules: orders within a radius of a driver's current location are auto-assigned, and manual override is available when the automation needs correcting.

Driver Mobile App

Drivers use a Flutter mobile app — Android-first, given the Kenyan driver market. The app shows the driver their assigned deliveries in order, provides navigation (Google Maps or offline maps for areas with poor data), captures delivery confirmation with a photo and signature, and handles failed delivery recording with a reason code. The app works on modest Android hardware and includes offline capability for areas with intermittent data coverage.

Customer Tracking and Notifications

Customers receive an SMS when their order is dispatched with a tracking link. The tracking page updates in real time as the driver progresses through deliveries. An estimated arrival time is displayed based on the driver's current position and remaining stops. A second SMS fires when the driver is approaching — within a configurable distance — so the customer is ready to receive. Delivery confirmation is sent to the customer immediately.

Proof of Delivery

Each delivery is confirmed with a photo taken by the driver, an optional customer signature captured on the driver's phone, and a timestamp with GPS coordinates. This creates an irrefutable delivery record that resolves disputes without lengthy investigation. The admin panel shows all delivery evidence linked to each order.

Route Planning and Fleet Efficiency

For operations with predictable delivery zones, I implement route planning that groups orders geographically and sequences stops to minimise distance and time. For businesses running multiple vehicles, the planning tool assigns orders to the vehicle with the best combination of capacity and proximity.

Reporting and Performance Analytics

Operations managers need data on driver productivity, delivery success rates, average delivery time by zone, failed delivery reasons, and vehicle utilisation. I build these reports into the admin dashboard with date range filtering and export to Excel for your operations review meetings.