Integration of Modern Features Streamlines LTL Communication and Documentation
About The Client
is a Canada-based less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier and service provider founded in 1952. Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, they originally provided intermodal carrier services between Winnipeg and Windsor, Ontario. Over the years, they extended their route from Winnipeg to Fort William via the Canadian Pacific Railways. Today, they operate across Canada, the EU, the UK, and the US.
- Industry: Transportation
- Headquartered: Manitoba, Canada
- Platforms: Android, iOS, and Web
- Team Size: 2 developers
The Challenge
The client's dispatchers and drivers used a web portal and mobile app respectively for communication. However, they faced technical issues that led to improper connections between these products, hindering visibility into delivery routes, statuses, and critical information. They needed a custom chat module to integrate with their microservice architecture.
Drivers faced critical challenges in scanning and submitting various documents including invoices and delivery receipts, leading to improper documentation, greater errors, and increased administrative burdens. The client required to develop a secure, user-friendly document-scanning feature that would easily integrate with their existing mobile application.
The client faced bugs and performance issues in their current mobile application. These anomalies affected the application's performance, stability, and user experience. These technical issues required to be resolved so that the new document scanner feature could be integrated successfully for flawless functionality and document scanning.
Our Solution
The Programmers.io team streamlined communication and documentation within 2 months.
Chat Module Development and Integration
The Programmers.io team integrated a WebSocket API using Socket.IO to enable real-time messaging between the web portal and mobile application. This allowed dispatchers to provide drivers with updates on delivery routes and statuses. They utilized API gateway services for seamless communication across the system and the mobile application alongside Express.js and Next.js for frontend and backend needs. Additionally, push notifications were implemented to keep drivers informed even when the application ran in the background.
Document Scanning Feature Development and Integration
To simplify documentation processes, the Programmers.io team developed a document-scanning feature within the mobile application using React Native and Expo. They developed and integrated this feature for allowing drivers to use their mobile devices' camera functionality to scan and capture images of various documents like invoices, delivery receipts, and bills of lading. The feature not only scanned those documents but also stored them securely within the application and sent them directly to dispatchers for quick processing.
Mobile Application Issue Resolution and Enhancement
The Programmers.io team identified and resolved pre-existing bugs and performance issues to enhance the stability of the mobile application as well as to enable the chat module and document scanning functionality to operate effectively. They also optimized the application's performance so that the application could function with greater speed and responsiveness on both Android and iOS devices.
Technologies Used
Our software architects and engineers are experts in using the latest technologies.
- Express.js
- Next.js
- Socket.IO
- React Native
- Visual Studio Code (VS Code)
- Postman
- Expo
- Bitbucket
Business Impact
Our solution added value with surprising results because we were able to deliver a high-quality product on time.
40% Communication Delay Reduction
35% Driver Engagement Improvement
60% Documentation Submission Time Reduction
50% Application Crash Rate Reduction
Here’s how we did it
-
Enhanced dispatcher-driver communication
by integrating a WebSocket API-based chat module using a microservice-based approach.
-
Improved driver productivity
by integrating a document scanning feature that reduced documentation nuances.
-
Optimized operational efficiency and costs
by digitizing administrative operations and reducing errors.
-
Improved application stability
by fixing bugs and optimizing the mobile application.
Enhanced dispatcher-driver communication
by integrating a WebSocket API-based chat module using a microservice-based approach.
Improved driver productivity
by integrating a document scanning feature that reduced documentation nuances.
Optimized operational efficiency and costs
by digitizing administrative operations and reducing errors.
Improved application stability
by fixing bugs and optimizing the mobile application.
Other Case Studies
Programmers.io Modernizes Legacy Systems to Enhance Scalability and Reduce Costs<...
Programmers.io Transforms Order Management System for Fast-Growing Food Processing En...
I wanted to take a moment to highlight and commemorate the efforts from our dedicated PIO team. To preface, the projects we work on here are complex, with rigid objectives, budgets, and timelines. Expectations are always high and are ever-changing. From the start of our relationship, the IO team was able to exceed expectations and make our business wishes a reality.
Over the past year I have worked with them, they have worked very hard to understand our highly customized system and troubleshoot things with little or no documentation while managing to keep the business up and running normally. Without the hard work and dedication they have shown, I know we would have had some issues causing downtime or lost production. I am looking forward to continuing working them in the next year as well.
I have been working with Programmers IO for more than 5 years now and I have been pleased with all projects and developers that I have worked with. We have had a few issues here and there but they have always fixed and made it right. They have been an excellent addition to our business.
Let’s Build Your Modernization Roadmap Together
Contact us for a free strategy session with IBM i experts.
Talk to an IBM i Expert