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A Driver App and Control Panel for 300 Same-Day Couriers

A custom driver app and dispatch panel replacing paper sheets and phone calls for a same-day courier network across the Midlands.

11:464G
Job 11 of 183 to sync
Navigate · 4 min
DROPDue by 12:30J-48213

14 Broad Street

Birmingham B1 2HF · 1.1 mi

RecipientColmore Dental Lab

Parcels2 · 3.4 kg

ProofSignature + photo

Note: Use the loading bay off Gas St. Buzz 2 for reception, they close 12:30–13:15.

CallMessage
Arrived at drop
11:474G
Proof of deliveryJ-48213
No signal. Saved on the phone, will sync automatically.

Scan parcels2 / 2

CQL7730441201

CQL7730441202

Photo

11:47
Add

Signature Clear

Received byR. Khan

GPS 52.4776, −1.9102 · ±12 m from address · 11:47:32

Complete delivery
Client
City Quick Logistics
Location
Birmingham, UK
Sector
Logistics
Duration
16 weeks
Team
5 people: PM, designer, 2 mobile/full-stack devs, QA
Built with
React NativeNode.jsPostgreSQLRedisSocket.IOGoogle Maps APIAWS
deliveries per driver per day
+27%deliveries per driver per day
proof of delivery captured
99.2%proof of delivery captured
dispatch phone calls
-80%dispatch phone calls
key contracts renewed
2key contracts renewed

01 · About the client

City Quick Logistics is a Birmingham-based same-day courier network delivering parcels, medical samples and B2B documents across the Midlands. It works with around 300 self-employed drivers on vans, cars and bikes. Jobs were dispatched by phone and WhatsApp, and proof of delivery was captured on paper. As large retail and healthcare clients demanded real-time updates and digital proof, the manual process could no longer keep up.

02 · The problem

  • 01

    Phone-based dispatch.

    Controllers spent the day calling drivers to assign and confirm jobs.

  • 02

    Paper proof of delivery.

    Lost or illegible sheets led to disputes and delayed invoices.

  • 03

    No live view.

    Controllers and clients couldn't see where drivers or parcels were.

  • 04

    Client demands.

    Key accounts required digital tracking to renew contracts.

03 · Our solution

We designed and built a custom driver app for iOS and Android and a web-based control panel. Controllers see all jobs and drivers on a live map, assign work with drag and drop or let the system suggest the nearest suitable driver. Drivers receive jobs in the app with navigation, scan parcels, and capture signature, photo and GPS proof at delivery. Clients receive automatic notifications and a tracking link. Completed jobs flow straight into invoicing, and drivers see their earnings in the app. The app works offline in areas with poor signal and syncs when back online.

04 · What we built

  • Driver app

    Job list, navigation, barcode scanning and proof of delivery.

  • Live dispatch panel

    Map-based assignment with nearest-driver suggestions.

  • Client notifications

    Automatic SMS and email updates with tracking links.

  • Offline mode

    Full job handling without signal, with automatic sync.

  • Earnings and invoicing

    Driver earnings view and automatic client invoice data.

Still dispatching by phone? Let's build your app.

05 · Challenges we solved

  1. 1

    Driver adoption

    Many drivers were not tech-savvy. We kept the app to a few large buttons and trained drivers in small groups.

  2. 2

    Poor coverage areas

    Offline-first design meant no lost proofs in basements or rural areas.

  3. 3

    Medical sample handling

    We added chain-of-custody steps for healthcare deliveries.

06 · Our approach

  1. Weeks 1–2

    01 Discovery

    Rode along with drivers and sat with controllers to map the day.

  2. Weeks 3–5

    02 Design

    Designed and tested the app with 15 drivers.

  3. Weeks 6–13

    03 Build

    Built the app, panel, notifications and integrations.

  4. Weeks 14–16

    04 Launch

    Phased roll-out, driver training and switch-off of paper sheets.

07 · Results

Dispatch is now visual and quiet instead of a room full of phone calls. Drivers complete more jobs because routes and details arrive in the app, and invoicing happens without chasing paper. Digital tracking helped the courier renew its two largest contracts.

Inside the product. 

Key screens from the build. Click any screen to enlarge.

Driver app job screen with navigation and proof of delivery

11:464G
Job 11 of 183 to sync
Navigate · 4 min
DROPDue by 12:30J-48213

14 Broad Street

Birmingham B1 2HF · 1.1 mi

RecipientColmore Dental Lab

Parcels2 · 3.4 kg

ProofSignature + photo

Note: Use the loading bay off Gas St. Buzz 2 for reception, they close 12:30–13:15.

CallMessage
Arrived at drop
11:474G
Proof of deliveryJ-48213
No signal. Saved on the phone, will sync automatically.

Scan parcels2 / 2

CQL7730441201

CQL7730441202

Photo

11:47
Add

Signature Clear

Received byR. Khan

GPS 52.4776, −1.9102 · ±12 m from address · 11:47:32

Complete delivery
01Driver app job screen with navigation and proof of delivery

Live dispatch map with drivers and jobs

control.cityquick.co.uk/dispatch
ControlJob, postcode, driverBirminghamSR
Jobs today 2,436Unassigned 14Drivers online 284 (61 free)Late risk 5Tue 30 Sep · 11:41
Unassigned (14)Due soonest

J-48291Medical11:55

QE Hospital lab, B15 → Midlands Pathology, B6

Suggested drivers · chain of custody

Priya Sandhu car0.8 mi · 4 minAssign

Chloe Evans car1.4 mi · 7 minAssign

Dan Walsh van · 4 on board1.6 mi · 9 minAssign

J-48288Parcel12:30

Bullring loading bay → Solihull, B91 3QJ

J-48285Docs12:00

Colmore Row, B3 → Brindleyplace, B1

J-48280Parcel13:00

Digbeth Trade Pk → Jewellery Qtr, B18

J-48277Medical12:15

Heartlands Hospital → City Hospital, B18

J-48271Parcel14:00

Fort Shopping Pk → Erdington, B23

!J-48291
1 mi© OpenStreetMap
Driversnearest to J-48291
Priya SandhuBX21 KHTidle 6m
Dan WalshBD19 ZPE4/9
Aisha RahmanBike 076/11
Tom KellyBK68 VNU12m
Marek NowakBV70 LCA8/14
Grace ObiBN20 WYSno GPS
Imran HussainBJ18 XRA2/7
Chloe EvansBF67 TLOidle 1m
Kwame MensahBike 123/5
Sean DoyleBL22 HMW9/16
02Live dispatch map with drivers and jobs

Client SMS update and tracking page with live ETA

11:384G
12CCityQuick

Today 08:02

CityQuick: Your parcel from Boots (order 7735-0092) will be delivered today between 11:30 and 13:30. Track it: track.cityquick.co.uk/8KQ2F

Today 11:31

CityQuick: Priya is on her way and you're 3 stops away. New time: 11:52–12:07.

Track your delivery · City Quick

track.cityquick.co.uk

Text Message
11:394G
Help

Arriving today

11:52 – 12:07

Priya is 3 stops away

PSPriyaSilver Toyota Corolla · BX21 KHT

From Boots · 1 parcel · signature needed

Add delivery instructions
AAtrack.cityquick.co.uk
03Client SMS update and tracking page with live ETA

Daily operations dashboard

control.cityquick.co.uk/reports/today
ControlJob, postcode, driverBirminghamSR

Operations today

Tue 30 Sep · live, updated 15:42TodayYesterday7 daysCustomCSV
2,436jobs · 284 drivers activeProof of delivery captured 99.2% (1,887 of 1,902)
Delivered 1,902In progress 388Not yet assigned 88Failed 41Cancelled 17

Jobs per hourBookedDelivered

Failed deliveries (41)View all

J-47916No one available, card leftErdington B23

J-47988Access: gate code wrongHarborne B17

J-48102Refused by recipientDigbeth B5

J-48133Business closedAston B6

By client

ClientJobsDeliveredOn timeFailed
Boots (Midlands stores)41237797.1%6
Midlands Pathology31828999.3%0
Colmore Dental Group16413196.2%2
Bullring retailers29721193.8%9
Heartlands Hospital14212898.4%1
Ad-hoc / web bookings60645291.6%17
Total (incl. 497 other)2,4361,90295.4%41

Dispatch calls today: 37 (driver app messages: 412). Offline proofs waiting to sync: 3.

04Daily operations dashboard

City Quick Logistics's website today: cityquick.co.uk

City Quick Logistics website home page
05City Quick Logistics's website today: cityquick.co.uk

Related work. 

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