Managing riders with WhatsApp groups, spreadsheets, and phone calls is slow, error-prone, and impossible to scale. A rider app dispatch system centralizes orders, auto-assigns riders, tracks deliveries live, and reconciles payments—so you hit SLAs, delight customers, and grow margins. At Zama.co.ke, we design and deploy custom rider dispatch platforms for couriers, restaurants, pharmacies, supermarkets, eCommerce stores, and logistics startups across Kenya and East Africa
What Is a Rider App Dispatch System?
A rider app dispatch system is a software + mobile app combo that lets dispatchers create/receive orders, assign them to available riders, and track progress from pickup to drop-off in real time. Riders use an Android/iOS app to accept jobs, navigate, update statuses, capture signatures/photos, and trigger payment requests.
Core components:
Dispatcher Dashboard (Web): Order queue, rider availability map, bulk assignment, alerts.
Rider Mobile App: Job list, accept/decline, navigation, proof-of-delivery capture.
Customer Portal/SMS: Live tracking link, delivery notifications, feedback request.
Payments & Reconciliation: Mpesa STK push, cash-on-delivery recording, auto-ledgers.
Analytics & Reports: Delivery times, failed attempts, rider performance, heatmaps.
Why Your Business Needs One (Benefits That Matter)
Faster Turnaround: Auto-routing and instant rider notifications slash dispatch time.
Real-Time Visibility: Track every parcel, rider, and delay on a live map.
Reduced Costs & Theft: Digital proof-of-delivery (POD) and audit trails prevent leakage.
Happier Customers: ETA texts, tracking links, and smooth payments boost satisfaction.
Scalable Operations: Add more riders, zones, or partners without chaos.
Data-Driven Growth: Know your busiest routes, peak hours, and top riders.
Compliance & Accountability: Signed PODs, photos, and logs protect you in disputes.
Must-Have Features for a Kenyan Rider Dispatch System
1. Order Intake & Assignment
Manual entry, API import (eCommerce), CSV upload
Auto-assign by nearest rider, load, or zone
Bulk dispatch and drag‑and‑drop reassignment
2. Rider App Essentials
Job accept/decline with countdown timer
Google/OSM turn-by-turn navigation
Status updates: Picked, In Transit, Delivered, Failed
Photo, signature, OTP or QR code proof-of-delivery
Mpesa collection screen (cash/COD logging too)
3. Customer Communication
SMS/WhatsApp/email alerts with live tracking link
Reschedule or change address via portal/chatbot
Feedback/rating prompt after delivery
4. Payments & Reconciliation
Mpesa Daraja integration (STK push, Paybill/Till)
Split payments (delivery fee vs order value)
Rider wallet & payouts, settlement reports
5. Geo & Route Intelligence
Geo-fencing zones, rider heatmaps
Optimized multi-stop routing
Traffic-aware ETAs (using Google Directions or equivalent)
6. Admin & Analytics
Rider performance KPIs (on-time %, distance, rating)
Delivery SLA dashboards, exception reports
Invoice generation for corporate clients
Exportable reports (CSV, PDF) & Looker Studio dashboards
7. Integrations & Extensibility
Shopify/WooCommerce/Custom store APIs
ERP/Inventory sync (stock deduction on delivery)
Accounting tools (QuickBooks, Xero)
WhatsApp bots for self-service order tracking
8. Security & Reliability
Role-based access control (dispatcher, finance, rider, client)
Audit logs, 2FA, encrypted data at rest/in transit
Offline mode for riders—syncs once back online
Our Process at Zama.co.ke
Discovery & Scoping: We map your workflow—order channels, zones, rider types (bike, van, foot), payment flows.
Prototype & UI/UX: Wireframes and clickable prototypes (Figma) so stakeholders sign off early.
Agile Development: Backend (Laravel/Node), Mobile (Flutter/React Native), Web dashboard (Vue/React) with CI/CD.
Integrations: Mpesa, SMS gateways, eCommerce platforms, ERP/CRM.
Pilot & Training: Rollout with a small rider group, fix gaps, then scale.
Launch & Support: 24/7 support SLAs, feature roadmap, analytics tuning.
Pricing Snapshot (Guideline Only)
MVP (10–30 riders, core features): From KES 350,000 one-off + monthly support
Growth Tier (multi-branch, APIs, analytics): KES 600,000 – 1.2M + SLA
Enterprise (nationwide fleets, ERP, custom BI): From KES 1.5M + dedicated team
Prefer SaaS? We can offer a subscription model starting ~KES 35,000/month (depends on riders & features).
Industries Usng Rider Dispatch Systems
Courier & Last-Mile Delivery Startups
Supermarkets & Grocery Apps (same-day delivery)
Restaurants & Cloud Kitchens (hot food ETAs are critical)
Pharmacies & Labs (prescription validation, sensitive packages)
eCommerce Stores/Marketplaces (COD reconciliation, reverse logistics)
Laundry & Home Services (pick-up/drop-off scheduling)
Spare Parts / Hardware Supply (urgent B2B deliveries)
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can it work offline?
Yes. The rider app caches jobs and syncs when back online—critical for areas with poor network.
2. Do you support Mpesa payments inside the app?
Absolutely. We trigger STK push, reconcile payment status, and log cash/COD.
3. How fast can we go live?
An MVP can be ready in 4–6 weeks. Complex integrations may take 8–12 weeks.
4. Can corporates/clients create their own delivery requests?
Yes. We provide a client portal or API so bulk clients can create and track jobs without calling you.
5. Do you provide rider phones/devices?
We’re software-first but can advise on rugged Android devices, mounts, and printers.
6. How do we prevent riders from faking deliveries?
OTP/QR verification, geotagged photos, signature capture, and timestamped logs stop fraud.
7. Can we white-label the app with our brand?
Yes. Your logo, colors, and domain—customers see your brand, not ours.
Call / WhatsApp Now
+254 7 69316835 – Let’s map your current dispatch pain points and show how a rider app system fixes them.