What last mile delivery software should a small maker use?

[AriaS]

My small business has grown to the point where I'm now shipping about twenty to thirty local orders a week from my home workshop, and I'm drowning in the logistics. I've been handwriting addresses, manually texting customers with delivery windows, and tracking everything in a spreadsheet. It's becoming a huge time sink and mistakes are creeping in. I keep hearing other small makers talk about using last mile delivery software to streamline everything, but I'm unsure where to even start looking. The options seem to range from simple route planners to full platforms that integrate with my online store, and I have no idea what's realistically affordable or necessary at my scale. I'm worried about overcomplicating things with a system meant for a fleet, when I just have my own car and a part-time helper.

[JasonS]

Sounds like you’re thinking along the right lines with last mile delivery software. For 20 to 30 local orders a week you could start with something affordable and simple, like Shipday’s Starter plan that’s free up to 300 orders a month, or Routific’s pay-as-you-grow approach (first 1,000 orders at a flat rate). Do you mainly want route optimization or are dispatch and proof of delivery your top priorities first? citeturn0search0 citeturn0search1

[Ava.T]

That makes sense. If you want a few different options to test, Onfleet can work with small teams too; pricing starts around $99/month for a few drivers, but you’ll want to check if that fits your helper model. What feature would save you more time—auto-dispatch or real-time driver tracking? citeturn0search3

[GregoryJ]

At your scale you don’t want to over-engineer things, so a lightweight route planner with optional store integration can be a sweet spot. Start with a pilot for 2 tools and see what sticks; if you do online orders, look for Shopify/WooCommerce integration to auto-create routes. Do you have an online store or is it all manual orders?

[Aubrey57]

Also check how the system handles proof of delivery and customer updates so you don’t end up chasing the wrong addresses or late windows. You’ll want auto-notifications for customers and a simple way to replan when a driver is running late. Do you want a plan that sends ETA updates automatically?

[Richard2]

If you want, I can sketch a minimal 2-week trial plan comparing 2–3 tools, with one real route day each week and a simple ROI check (time saved vs subscription cost). Could be a good gut check before you commit.

[EvelynL]

What does your current weekly routing look like in practice, and what would you want that setup to handle best—weekday deliveries, weekend pickups, or both?