Last-mile delivery software FAQ
Straight answers on cost, timelines, features and Australian compliance.
How much does it cost to build last mile delivery software in Australia?
Custom software in Australia runs at roughly AUD 80-200 per hour. A mid-level custom last-mile platform typically costs AUD 50,000-150,000, while a full Uber-style multi-app build (customer, driver and dispatch apps with live tracking and payments) commonly lands at AUD 70,000-200,000 or more. The exact figure depends on the number of apps, integrations and how advanced your route optimisation needs to be. We scope to a fixed quote so there are no surprises.
Should I build custom delivery software or buy an off-the-shelf SaaS platform like Onfleet or Track-POD?
Off-the-shelf SaaS is fast to launch and cheap to start (entry plans around USD 29 per driver/month, platform tiers around USD 495/month), but you rent it forever and the cost grows with your fleet. Custom software is a larger upfront investment, yet you own the IP, control the roadmap and keep your per-delivery margins. As a rule of thumb, SaaS suits early validation; custom wins once your volume, branding or compliance needs outgrow a generic tool.
How long does it take to develop a last-mile delivery platform with driver, customer and dispatch apps?
Custom last-mile builds generally take 2-12 months. A focused module like route planning or a single fleet app sits at the shorter end, while a full transport management system with three apps and carrier integrations sits at the longer end. Off-the-shelf SaaS can go live in 1-4 weeks if you accept its constraints. We usually ship a usable MVP first, then iterate toward the full platform.
What features should last mile delivery software include (route optimization, ePOD, live tracking, payments)?
The core set is a customer app for booking and live tracking, a driver app with turn-by-turn navigation and electronic proof of delivery, and a dispatch dashboard for assigning and monitoring jobs. Around that you add route optimisation, live GPS tracking, automated notifications, payments and COD reconciliation, plus reporting. ePOD (signatures, photos and barcode scans) and carrier integrations round it out for serious operators.
How does route optimization actually reduce delivery costs?
Route optimisation sequences stops to minimise distance, time and idle driving while respecting delivery windows and vehicle capacity. Because last-mile operations account for around 53% of total logistics costs, even small per-route savings compound fast across a fleet. In practice, effective optimisation can cut delivery costs by 25% or more by fitting more drops into each shift and reducing fuel and overtime.
Do I need separate apps for customers, drivers and dispatchers?
Yes, because each user has a different job. Customers need a simple booking and tracking experience, drivers need a focused, offline-tolerant app for navigation and proof of delivery, and dispatchers need a desktop dashboard to assign, monitor and intervene. They share one backend and database, so the data stays in sync, but the interfaces are purpose-built for each role.
How do the 2025 Fair Work gig-worker laws and the Deactivation Code affect my delivery platform?
From 26 February 2025, digital delivery platforms must comply with the Fair Work Digital Labour Platform Deactivation Code, which mandates advance warnings, human contact and a fair process before deactivating "employee-like" gig workers. A proposed minimum safety-net rate of AUD 31.30/hour for riders and drivers is set to start on 1 July 2026, and deliberate gig wage theft is now a criminal offence with penalties up to AUD 8 million. We build these obligations into your workflows so deactivation, notice and pay records are auditable from day one.
Can the software integrate with Australia Post, CouriersPlease, Aramex and my order/eCommerce system?
Yes. We connect your platform to carriers such as Australia Post, CouriersPlease and Aramex via their APIs for label generation, tracking and rate lookups, and we integrate with your order source, whether that's Shopify, WooCommerce, a marketplace or an ERP. Orders flow in automatically, jobs are dispatched, and tracking flows back to the customer without manual re-keying.
How does electronic proof of delivery (signatures, photos, barcode scans) work?
When a driver completes a drop, the app captures the evidence on the phone: a signature on screen, a photo of the parcel at the door, and a barcode or QR scan to confirm the right item. Each record is time-stamped and GPS-tagged, then synced to the backend so dispatch and the customer see it instantly. This cuts disputed deliveries and gives you a defensible audit trail.
What are the ongoing maintenance and per-driver running costs after launch?
Budget about 15-20% of the initial build cost per year for maintenance, hosting and updates. On top of that you pay usage-based costs such as map and routing API calls, SMS and push notifications, and cloud hosting, which scale with delivery volume rather than a fixed per-driver SaaS seat. Because you own the platform, your marginal cost per delivery stays low as you grow.
