how Build a Business a Logistics Marketplace

Introduction

Did you know the global logistics market size is accounted for USD 7.98 trillion in 2022 and it is expected to be worth around USD 18.23 trillion by the end of 2030.

This blog is going to cover all the important aspects on how to start a logistics business online, how web logistics work, Logistics Web Application Development, mistakes to avoid, Cost to Build a Logistics web App and many more.

So, if you are planning to build a web application for your logistics services and If you want to enhance your services and customer experience, then rest assured you have come to the right place. Please read our blog and explore how to create a logistics web app, the must-have features, various types, and the cost of logistics web app development.

What is a Logistics Marketplace?

A marketplace for logistics management is a platform that matches demand and supply to help ensure work efficiency in logistics. These marketplaces integrate numerous transport companies and couriers for collaborative work.

They are easy to use and convenient, but the advantages of web logistic marketplaces do not end here. One of the most essential advantages of such marketplaces is that they allow you to operate each and everything very quickly because of the tools and services they offer.

For instance, Shippers and forwarders can save a considerable amount of time by using the tools offered by these digital marketplace platforms and to keep track of things that are really important to them.

Reasons Why You Should Invest in a Logistics WebApp

The old conventional ways of how logistic companies work could be clearer. Just imagine a world In which shippers waste hours of their time searching for a reliable forwarder or carrier. Once a forwarder finds a shipper, then comes round 2; now, in this step, both parties want to negotiate the rates; shippers are unaware of how much is the bare minimum, and forwarders are not aware of the shipper profile. Once the shipment is processed, the shipper still has to change the forwarders in order to receive updates on their shipments. Sadly, this is the Harsh reality for many businesses in today’s era. The process right now is manual time consuming and is extremely prone to errors.

It’s not a problem that we have a problem. It’s a problem if we don’t deal with the problem. In scenarios like this, starting a web logistics company could become a great way to capitalize on these increasing demands for web logistic services.

If you have a good understanding of how business works, then building an online web logistics platform for a logistics marketplace can definitely fill the gap and can connect shippers with carriers, freight forwarders, and warehousing providers. The logistics web solution that you will be providing could become a one-stop shop for all the web logistics needs and could offer solutions like :


Benifits Of Logistics Software

Benifits Of Logistics Software

web development company can guide you through every step of building a logistics web app and freight marketplace platform, right from ideating and designing to the final deployment of your web solution.

Types of logistic businesses

Logistic businesses are the businesses that help us deliver goods/cargo from one place to another; in simple words, from one geographical location to another, logistics businesses can include two things: they can either transport small packages in a small geographical region, or they could prefer air cargo or ocean freight services that ships large items for long distances. No matter which logistic business you opt for, each has its unique set of advantages and disadvantages.

Types Of Logistics Businesses

Types Of Logistics Businesses

Road Freight

One of the popular choices for transportation is road freight for all manners of good across the globe. In situations where the products or cargo is being transported across different borders and for final-mile delivery to the customers door. In such cases road freight could be the best option available.

In countries like China, USA and India the road freight accounts for the majority of transport. In majority of the cases, road freight is often used in combination with every other mode of transportation.

Sea Freight

Ocean shipping is an integral part of the supply chain for most industries, making it a backbone of global trade. It is estimated that an overwhelming majority of goods, around 80 percent, are transported by ships.

This is because ships can carry significantly heavier loads than freight, and the capacity of air freight is just a fraction of this. The Boeing 747 is one of the largest aircraft in the world. Configuring this plane as a freighter can hold only about 26,000 cubic feet of cargo. And in most circumstances, sea freight has always been the cheaper option, one study suggests that air freight is priced 12-16 times higher than sea freight. For instance, a $1000 sea shipment will cost at least $ 12,000 by air.

Air Freight

Air freight is the go-to choice for speedy delivery. It’s accessible all over the world and a convenient method to move smaller shipments long distances. Given that most major cities have an airport, air freight also lets businesses ship to specific areas or regions.

Rail Freight

Trains are a vital part of logistics routes across the globe, particularly in Europe and North America, where rail networks are comprehensive. In North America, for instance, rail freight accounts for about 15% of all freight journeys. It’s the ideal choice for organizations that require fast, scheduled and reliable freight in areas of the world where rail networks are strong.

Freight Marketplace and Logistics Web Application Development (Step-by-step guide)

1. Hiring a Development firm and Standard Procedures :

I.Hire a development company:

 A development firm with web logistics expertise. Hiring a reputable software development company is a challenging task. There are many companies around the world which provide development services, but not all firms adhere to a high-quality standard. It’s important to check reviews before hiring a company; one must review Clutch. co for credibility.

II. Sign an NDA:

 By doing this, all sensitive information regarding your logistics company is kept secret. Signing an NDA protects private information from becoming public. NDAs also outline the consequences of disclosing prohibited information, which should prevent any leaks. Furthermore, NDAs are an excellent way to maintain comfort and trust in a deal.

IIIGet a rough estimate:

 Whenever you request any web development service for your product, the first thing that comes to mind is the rough estimate for the logistics application development. It’s also what you need to know before signing the contract. Each company can provide you with a rough estimate And that estimate shows how much the company will be charging you for the time they are investing in your logistics app development. We at Werbooz provide our clients with both rough and detailed estimates.

Process To Hire Web Development Team

Process To Hire Web Development Team

2. Understanding Business Requirements and Market Research :

The first step is understanding the objective of your logistics web app and defining your development specifications accordingly. Detailed project research will help you have a sharp vision of multiple types of logistics apps, the tech stack, and different features to accomplish your app development cornerstone.

Your logistics application will have specific features and characteristics depending on your business type and unique requirements. But to determine those features, you need to figure out what you want your logistics application to do.

3. UX/UI Designing :

Once you have a clear understanding of what you want, the next step is to build the ui for your logistics application. Our Creative designers are always there to surprise you with an intuitive and user friendly design that serves both the purpose It satisfies the user needs and it is aesthetically pleasing to eyes, as well it maintains the standard of your Logistics application.

4. Choosing Tech Stack for Logistics Application Development :

Once you are satisfied by the designs after that begins the fundamental coding part of your logistics web-app development process. So, how to choose the best web development technology for your project?

As you might expect, there is no one correct answer to this question. It depends on your needs and the type of business you run, the type of application you want and the type of features you demand. The final development cost depends on a few more factors like App Complexity, Number of Features, Functionality and Its Complexity, App Development Team Size and Number of Platforms(Desktop, Android, IOS, etc).

Choosing the wrong technology for your logistics application can have a long-term negative impact on the entire project—both its quality and the final budget. Avoid using outdated technologies like PHP and Laravel.

Logistics App Development Process

Logistics App Development Process

Therefore, it is much better to search for a reliable and experienced web development company that knows web development technologies inside and out. We at Werbooz would help you choose the best web development technology stack and provide the right solutions for your Logistics Application.

5. Select Database and Deployment Type:

I. Select the Best Database for Your Business

Structured Query Language (SQL) existed even before the World Wide Web. However, as websites’ functionality grew, developers wanted to generate web pages using content that could change over time without redeploying the code.

This need gave birth to NoSQL, NoSQL has ACID (atomicity, consistency, isolation, durability) properties that guarantees better performance, scalability, flexibility, and reduced complexity.

In a nutshell SQL databases are better for multi-row transactions, while NoSQL is better for unstructured data like documents or JSON. However, Organizations of all sizes are adopting NoSQL, like MongoDB, primarily as a cloud database, because it enables them to build applications faster, handle highly diverse data types, and manage applications more efficiently at scale.

II. Choose the Best Cloud Deployment Model for Your Logistics Business

Earlier in cloud computing, there were only two cloud deployment models—public and private. But now we have a ton of options
This could be overwhelming sometimes but at the end of the day it depends upon your business needs while selecting a provider and deployment model.

What are cloud deployment models?

A cloud deployment model is characterized both by the location of the deployment infrastructure and by the type of party that has control over it and the configuration of its parameters, such as the amount of storage and accessibility. The different deployment models are defined as follows:

Cloud Deployment Models
Cloud Deployment Models

So, which cloud deployment model will be best for me?

Choosing Between Public, Private, Hybrid, and Community Clouds could be challenging. However, In our experience, costs may be lower with public clouds, as there are no capital expenditures for the end user. While private clouds involve capital expenditures, Public clouds are still cheaper than owning and maintaining an on-premises infrastructure. Some examples of public clouds are Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

Advantage and Disadvantages Of Cloud Deployment Model
Advantage and Disadvantages Of Cloud Deployment Model

6. MVP Development and Iterative Approach:

Suppose you have a tight budget or want to validate your idea. In that case, you can start first with minimum viable product (MVP) development and testing.

MVP is a piece of software with limited features required for your logistics app to function. Therefore, it is a better option to test functionality and determine what features are essential for your complete web application.

We can create anything right from design and frontend to the backend of the logistics application. We suggest this approach in order to test and review our web application’s performance in the real world, this way the web application becomes affordable and it saves a lot of time. As the time passes your logistics app evolves and adapts to the user needs and stays relevant with time because of this iterative development.

7. App Testing and Maintenance

The story does not end with the web application development; Regardless of what app version is currently deployed, an MVP or a full-fledged Software;  It must always undergo Quality assurance and must be thoroughly tested by QA engineers.

You must always ensure that your logistics app is free of loopholes or bugs and operates according to your specifications and expectations. Therefore, testing your web application and its maintenance is a vital step.

Lastly, you need to maintain and upgrade your logistics applications as per the latest technological trends and ensure that they keep functioning without any vulnerabilities and glitches.

8.The Cost for Freight and Logistics Web App Development

The cost of your logistics app development or web application depends on the factors involved during the development process of your logistics application and your specific demands.

So, in the end, the final development cost depends on several factors, such as:

  • App Complexity

  • Number of Features

  • Functionality and Its Complexity

  • Platform Selection and Number of Platforms

  • App Development Team Size

  • Type of Business and Their Region:

The rough estimate for creating a custom logistics web app depends on its development types. However, the average cost can be roughly estimated based on industry standards and market trends. In 2024, the cost of developing a logistics mobile app can range from $10,000 to $100,000 or more, depending on the factors mentioned above.

Some Features and Functionalities along with their estimates :

The business success and smoothness of the project can be ensured only by the elimination of the common mistakes during the time of hiring the web development compamy.

Supply Chain and Freight:

Simple supply chain visualization and basic freight tracking functionalities can cost between $10,000 and $20,000.

On-demand Logistics:

Developing on-demand delivery services similar to Uber may range from $15,000 to $35,000.

Logistics Management:

In-depth logistics management tools and functionalities can cost between $20,000 and $45,000.

Fleet Management:

Integrating tools for monitoring, scheduling, and analytics may add $15,000 to $25,000 to the development cost.

If you are in search of an accurate estimate for your logistics application, then consult with a reputable logistics Web app development company like Werbooz and get an consultation to get an accurate quotation based on your specific requirements.

9.Prominent Players in the Freight Forwarding Market

These are some big players in the market who have their own set of services and perks that we will be talking over one-by-one.

  • Sea Rates

Searates is one of the biggest online platforms which consists of several logistics tools. Searates has build the platform in such a way that one can have the latest, up-to-the-minute freight rates, container tracking, and real-time route optimizations. Searates is strongly supported by the DP World tools, which makes Searates a good choice in dealing with shipping requirements across the globe. With that in mind, the platform doesn’t get some excellent ratings from its customers and even one of the known ones, Trustpilot, where Searates has earned an general rating of 2.2 stars.

  • Kargoplex

Kargoplex is a new player in this freight-forwarding market that has reinvented the game in the space with its use of cutting-edge technology. Kargoplex enables the users and provides robust tools to search instant quotes, book shipments, and track cargo in real time. It offers a range of services, including ocean freight, air freight, and land transportation. Even more, the company provides a market explorer, too, that allows users to compare different freight rates among diverse carriers; this ensures cost-friendly shipping solutions. Kargoplex invests a lot in transparent and efficient solutions, equipping its clients with real-time tracking and data analytics to be implemented in their supply chains and dashboards.

  • Freightos

This company is already an established name in the freight forwarding market, being a digital marketplace for comparing, booking, and managing freight services. This platform connects shippers to a worldwide network of freight forwarders, carriers, and logistics providers. Freightos has innovative technology to help users access instant quotes, book shipments, and track cargo in real-time. The platform hosts advanced analytics and reporting features for businesses that need to refine their logistic strategies. Freightos is designed with an emphasis on being transparent and efficient, hence, many companies have found it to be a preferable choice for obtaining reliable cost-effective shipping solutions.

While there are many more, these are some of the companies that we chose when it comes to innovation and efficiency in the freight forwarding marketplace, each with unique tools and services that meet a wide range of global shipper needs.

Conclusion

So, How do I find the best web development firm to Build my Logistics application? And how much time would it take?

In conclusion, the development of logistics apps is essential to bringing supply chain management into the modern era for businesses, And Werbooz is a leading custom app development company that has crafted some of the most intuitive logistics web solutions. Our in-house team of web developers excels in web development and integration of features that can convert an ordinary app into a top-ranked app.

So, what’s the road map to my project’s success?Process To Hire Web Development Team

Process To Hire Web Development Team

The logistics industry is growing rapidly, So it is a wise decision to invest in logistics app development that will streamline your complex operations and help you manage data and fleets. Hiring a web development company will help you create your web application and gain business success. Werbooz will integrate features and functionalities according to the market’s and users’ needs.

When it comes to development time, complexity, features, and available resources all influence how long it will take to design a logistics app. Roughly estimated, it can take 3-6 months or longer. A logistics app must be adequately planned, designed, and developed in order to be effective within the projected timeline.