Overview
The MotionTools platform supports package deliveries through hubs. The Packages extension allows Customers to create Bookings with assigned packages and print shipping labels. Drivers can scan packages at Stops to confirm package pickup and delivery, and Admins can flexibly route packages using driver tours.
Typical package journey
The package journey starts from a package being created. Once it's created, an admin adds it to the pickup tour and gives this tour to a driver. The driver executes the tour and delivers the package to the hub.
Once the package is at the hub, the admin plans the drop-off tour to deliver the package to its destination. Finally, the driver executes the drop-off tour and delivers the package to the recipient. Learn more about Package statuses.
We also support creating packages directly at a hub, by selecting a Saved place as the initial location of the package. This means that the admin will only have to plan the drop-off tour for package delivery to its destination.
Creating a package
A customer can create a package on the dashboard by Bulk creating packages with a CSV file via the Packages importer or by Creating a package via API. Admins can also create a package on behalf of customers.
Package properties
Package properties define the size of packages and additional package services an account offers. By default, the MotionTools platform supports three package properties:
- Size category
- Insurance
- Refrigeration
An arbitrary number of options can be defined for each property. For example, for the Size category property, the options such as Small Box, Medium Box, and Large Box can be defined.
Package properties don't impact the delivery flows and they don't get taken into account when the system optimizes the driver routes. However, package properties impact the delivery prices.
Package pricing
Package deliveries are priced according to the package properties and the service area where the delivery will happen. Delivery prices are defined in an account for each combination of a property option and a service area.
A account can define customer delivery discounts per service area. For example, giving a certain customer 30% discount on delivering packages in Hamburg while keeping the rates intact in Berlin.
Processing payments
The MotionTools platform doesn't process payments for package deliveries but offers various exporting and integration options to ensure that external accounting systems can process all the completed deliveries. Learn more about Webhooks: Webhooks quickstart.
Package labels
Once a package is created, a customer can print a label containing the package and recipient information. The label size is 99 x 67 mm and eight labels fit on a DIN A4 paper. The label also includes a QR-code to speed up the work of drivers on stops.
We additionally support 100 x 150 mm labels to be printed up to two labels on a DIN A4 paper, or one label on a thermal roll sticker.
Dispatching a package
An admin plans package deliveries in the Package dispatcher section of the dashboard. Essentially, the dispatching work boils down to creating pickup and drop-off tours for drivers.
From the driver's perspective, a tour is just another booking with the addition of packages to be collected or distributed on stops. Find out more about creating pickup and drop-off tours for packages here.
Delivering a package
A package gets delivered by a driver by executing the pickup and drop-off tours via the MotionTools app. Read how drivers Deliver packages via the driver app for more information.
