Logistics apps we build
Driver and route apps
Daily manifests, optimized stop sequences, navigation handoff, delivery windows, breaks and exceptions such as failed deliveries or damaged goods.
Proof of delivery
Signature, photo, barcode scan, GPS and timestamp captured at the door, with PIN or ID checks for high-value or age-restricted items.
Warehouse and yard apps
Receiving, put-away, picking, packing, cycle counts and yard check-ins on handheld scanners and vehicle-mounted terminals.
Shipper and customer tracking
Live shipment status, ETAs, delivery preferences and claims for the businesses and consumers waiting on the goods.
Designing for rugged devices and scanning
Many warehouse and delivery fleets run on rugged Android devices from Zebra, Honeywell and similar makers. These devices have built-in scan engines, programmable buttons, hot-swappable batteries and long support lifecycles, but each vendor has its own SDK and configuration tools. We use Zebra DataWedge or EMDK and Honeywell's scanning SDK so scans arrive as clean, structured events instead of fake keyboard input. Our Android engineering team handles these vendor-specific integrations.
- Barcode types: 1D codes, QR, Data Matrix and GS1 formats, including parsing GS1 application identifiers for batch, expiry and serial numbers.
- RFID: reading tags through sled or handheld readers using vendor SDKs, with filtering to avoid duplicate reads.
- Big targets and glanceable screens: high contrast for outdoor light, large buttons for gloved hands and audio or haptic feedback for scans.
- Device management: kiosk or lock task mode, managed configuration and remote updates through MDM tools such as Microsoft Intune, SOTI or Workspace ONE.
Plenty of fleets still run line-of-business apps written for older platforms. If yours does, moving off a legacy mobile app is often the first project, and it is easier when workflows stay familiar to the people using them every day.
Offline sync that does not lose data
A driver who completes twenty deliveries in a rural area with no signal must not lose a single proof of delivery. We build offline-first: the app writes every action to a local database first, then syncs through a queue when a connection returns.
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Local-first writes
Actions are saved to an on-device database with a unique ID and timestamp, so the app works the same online or offline.
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Outbox and retries
A background sync worker sends queued events in order, retries with backoff and survives app restarts and device reboots.
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Idempotent APIs
The server accepts each event once even if it arrives twice, which prevents duplicate deliveries or stock movements.
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Conflict rules
We agree up front who wins when the office reassigns a stop that a driver already completed offline.
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Media handling
Photos are compressed, queued separately from small status updates, and uploaded on Wi-Fi when policy allows.
GPS, background location and store policies
Location is central to most logistics apps, and also one of the most closely reviewed permissions. Google Play requires a declaration and a clear in-app disclosure before an app can use background location, and recent Android versions require a foreground service with a visible notification for continuous tracking. On iOS, apps must justify 'Always' location access in App Review and explain it to users in the permission prompt. We design tracking to run only during active shifts or routes, adjust accuracy to save battery, and give drivers a clear indicator when tracking is on.
| Topic | What to plan for |
|---|---|
| Employee monitoring | UK GDPR expects a lawful basis and usually a DPIA; Canadian and Australian rules vary by province or state, and some US states require notice of electronic monitoring |
| Hours of service | US and Canadian ELD rules and Australia's electronic work diary approvals apply to specific devices and software; if your app records driving hours, it may need to meet those technical standards |
| Driver distraction | Handheld phone use while driving is restricted in all four markets, so key actions should be locked or simplified when the vehicle is moving |
TMS, WMS and telematics integration
Field apps are only useful if they connect to the systems that plan and bill the work. We integrate with transport and warehouse management systems through REST APIs, message queues, flat files or EDI, depending on what the platform offers. Common sources include route optimization engines, telematics platforms, carrier APIs for tracking and labels, and ERP systems for orders and invoicing. A small integration layer usually sits between the app and these systems so the mobile team is not tied to each vendor's quirks. For larger estates with many back-office systems, see our approach to enterprise app integration.
How offshore delivery is set up for field apps
- Real hardware in the team's hands: we ship or source the exact rugged models you use, because emulators cannot reproduce scan engines, battery behavior or MDM restrictions.
- Replayed routes: recorded GPS traces with personal identifiers removed let testers simulate full routes, tunnels and dead zones from a desk.
- Synthetic manifests and stock: test data includes awkward cases like split shipments, partial picks, returns and hazardous goods flags.
- Staging integrations: the team works against TMS and WMS test instances, never your live warehouse, with test labels from carrier sandboxes.
- Field pilots: before a full rollout, we support a pilot at one depot or site and collect feedback from drivers and pickers directly.
Fleet apps evolve constantly as routes, customers and devices change, which is why many operators choose a long-term dedicated team over one-off projects. It fits naturally with the rest of how we run offshore delivery.
Common pitfalls in logistics app projects
- Testing in the office on Wi-Fi and discovering sync problems on the first real route.
- Using camera-based scanning on devices that have dedicated scan engines, which is slower and drains the battery.
- Tracking location all day, including off-shift, which damages driver trust and creates privacy risk.
- Designing for consumer phones when the fleet runs older rugged devices on long-term Android versions.
- Rolling out to every depot at once with no pilot and no rollback plan.
If you have a workflow and device list in mind, share your requirements and we will suggest a delivery plan and pilot approach.