Logistics & Supply Chain Automation
Logistics and supply chain automation replaces spreadsheets, phone calls, and manual re-keying with software that routes orders, tracks shipments, and keeps inventory accurate in real time. StepTo builds custom WMS and TMS modules, carrier and EDI integrations, route optimisation, and visibility dashboards for logistics providers, e-commerce operations, and manufacturers. Our Serbian engineering team delivers at $35–75/hr—typically 40–60% below Western European and US logistics software vendors.
What We Automate
- Warehouse operations: Receiving, putaway, picking and packing workflows with barcode/RFID scanning, wave planning, bin-level inventory, and cycle counting—as custom WMS modules or extensions to your existing system.
- Transport management: Order consolidation, carrier selection by cost and SLA, dispatch boards, driver apps with proof of delivery, and freight document generation (CMR, bills of lading, customs paperwork).
- Route optimisation: Multi-stop planning with time windows, vehicle capacities, and driver-hour constraints using solvers like Google OR-Tools—plus same-day re-optimisation for changes.
- Shipment tracking & visibility: Carrier API and telematics aggregation into one tracking timeline, customer-facing portals, webhook notifications, and proactive delay alerts.
- Demand & replenishment: Forecast-driven reorder points, safety stock calculation, and purchase order automation connected to your ERP.
- Control tower dashboards: Live KPIs—on-time delivery, dock-to-stock time, order accuracy, cost per shipment—drawn from all systems into one operational view.
Integration Backbone
- EDI & partner connectivity: EDIFACT and ANSI X12 document flows (orders, ASNs, invoices, status messages) with trading partners, 3PLs, and retailers.
- Carrier APIs: Label generation, rate shopping, pickup booking, and tracking across parcel and freight carriers.
- ERP/WMS/TMS bridges: Monitored, retry-safe sync services with reconciliation jobs and alerting—so a failed message never silently corrupts inventory.
- IoT & telematics: GPS units, temperature loggers for cold chain, and warehouse sensors feeding real-time event streams.
Engagement Models & Pricing
- Focused automation project: $50,000–$120,000 over 3–6 months—one bottleneck (tracking portal, carrier integration layer, picking workflow) automated end to end.
- Custom WMS/TMS build: $150,000–$400,000+ over 6–14 months, delivered module by module so operations never stop.
- Dedicated team: From $13,500/month for continuous automation across your operation—see pricing and the dedicated team model.
- Staff augmentation: From $4,500/month per engineer alongside your internal IT team.
Why StepTo for Logistics Software?
- Operations-grade reliability: Warehouses and fleets run around the clock; we build with queues, retries, monitoring, and graceful degradation because downtime stops trucks.
- Integration depth: EDI, carrier APIs, and legacy ERP bridges are our daily work—not an unpleasant surprise mid-project.
- Incremental rollout: Module-by-module delivery per site or process, so improvements land without betting the operation on a cutover weekend.
- CET timezone: Real-time collaboration with European logistics teams and same-day overlap with North American operations.
FAQ: Logistics Automation
- How much does custom logistics software cost?
- A focused automation project—for example, a shipment tracking portal with carrier integrations, or automated order-to-warehouse routing—typically costs $50,000–$120,000 over 3–6 months. A custom WMS or TMS tailored to your operation runs $150,000–$400,000+ over 6–14 months. StepTo’s $35–75/hr Serbian rates usually land 40–60% below Western European or US logistics software vendors.
- Do you integrate with legacy WMS, TMS, and ERP systems?
- Yes—most logistics automation is integration work. We connect modern portals and automation to existing WMS/TMS/ERP systems via their APIs where available, and via EDI (EDIFACT, ANSI X12), SFTP file exchange, or database-level bridges where they are not. Integrations are built as monitored, retry-safe services with alerting, because silent sync failures are how inventory accuracy dies.
- Can you build real-time shipment tracking for our customers?
- Yes. We aggregate status events from carrier APIs (parcel and freight), GPS/telematics feeds from your own fleet, and warehouse scan events into a single tracking timeline—exposed through branded customer portals, webhook notifications, and proactive delay alerts that cut where-is-my-order calls.
- How does route optimisation work in practice?
- We implement optimisation using solvers such as Google OR-Tools combined with real road distances and your operational constraints—time windows, vehicle capacities, driver hours, depot assignments. Plans are generated for dispatchers to review and adjust, then pushed to driver apps; re-optimisation handles same-day changes like failed deliveries or new urgent orders.
- What engagement model fits logistics companies best?
- Most start with a fixed-scope project targeting one bottleneck, then move to a dedicated team from $13,500/month to automate process after process—logistics operations always surface the next constraint. Staff augmentation from $4,500/month per engineer works well when you already run an internal IT team that needs more capacity.