As shipment volumes grow, so does the complexity of managing packages, mail, and assets across large campuses and enterprise environments. "On average, we see a 17% to 18% year-over-year (YOY) asset and package volume increase. So naturally, your process will grow as volume increases," shared FacilityOS's Jesse Rosenbaum during a FacilitiesNET hosted webinar.
This insight reflects what many logistics and facility managers are experiencing firsthand. Fragmented vendor deliveries, internal asset movement, and evolving compliance requirements demand more visibility, traceability, and control than manual workflows or disconnected tools can offer.
Based on learnings from the FacilitiesNET webinar, here are nine essential capabilities to look for in a logistics management platform. Leverage these expert insights to evaluate your current workflows and identify where a stronger digital chain of custody can improve scalability, accountability, and operational control.
On-Demand Webinar: Can Your Facility Count On Its Central Receiving Process?
1. End-to-end Visibility & Tracking
“You want a solution that gives you end-to-end visibility, empowering us to gain full traceability into every item, mail, asset, and package with real-time tracking, automated logging, and a clear chain of custody.”
- Jesse Rosenbaum, Solutions Engineer, FacilityOS
A modern logistics solution should provide complete visibility from dock to delivery. Real-time tracking, barcode scanning, and automated logging allow your team to trace the movement of each item, whether packages, mail, or assets. This level of traceability strengthens operational oversight and simplifies accountability across departments.
2. Digital Proof of Delivery
Digital proof of delivery is essential for maintaining a verifiable chain of custody. Look for tools that capture signatures, recipient names, timestamps, and delivery photos. These records become your defensible source of truth during disputes, audits, or service inquiries.
3. Automated Processes & Barcode Scanning
Efficiency starts with automation. A capable system should replace manual steps with barcode scanning, intelligent sortation, and real-time notifications. These capabilities reduce errors, streamline routing, and allow your team to process high volumes without delays.
4. Immutable Audit Trail
An effective audit trail captures every handoff, scan, and exception in a way that cannot be edited or lost. This level of recordkeeping is essential for regulatory compliance, internal reporting, and proving proper handling of sensitive or critical deliveries.
5. Customizable Metadata for Damaged or Refused Items
Look for a platform that lets your team document damage, refusal, or special handling requirements directly at the point of intake. Custom metadata fields and options to attach photos or notes help ensure exceptions are logged with the right level of detail from the start.
6. PO Line Item Receiving & ERP Matching
“Most companies are receiving, on average, about 60 to 80 percent of purchase order material, and not having an integration to an ERP system can add extra steps. You might have to process that item multiple times to mark it as received properly.”
- Jesse Rosenbaum, Solutions Engineer, FacilityOS
To streamline receiving, a good system should match incoming items to PO line data, allowing staff to scan items, pull PO details, and validate quantities without manual entry. ERP integration ensures accurate reporting and reduces reconciliation errors.
7. Role-Based Workflows & Request Integration
“Having that request system talk with your logistics system can be beneficial to automate and optimize your workflow, allowing data to be shared bi-directionally if needed.”
- Jesse Rosenbaum, Solutions Engineer, FacilityOS
Your software should align with how your team works. Role-based workflows help define responsibilities and ensure the right people handle each process stage. Integration with service request systems allows logistics teams to automate intake, share real-time data, and keep everything connected without manual handoffs.
8. Delivery Status Updates & Notifications
Proactive communication reduces questions and improves service. Automated alerts sent by email or SMS keep recipients informed when items are received, processed, or ready for pickup. This improves the recipient experience and reduces inbound inquiries to your team.
9. Platform Integrations
Scalability depends on how well your logistics software fits into your broader ecosystem. Prioritize platforms that integrate with ERPs, locker systems, service request tools, and security platforms. Open APIs and configurable integrations let you build a connected environment without overhauling existing systems.
Watch the full webinar on-demand:
Digitize Your Chain of Custody with LogisticsOS
LogisticsOS is a robust logistics management solution that is part of the FacilityOS modular platform. It is built to optimize the chain of custody processes. It has a user-friendly design, comprehensive tracking features, and clear audit trails to help eliminate lost items while improving efficiency and accountability across your organization. With LogisticsOS, you can:
- Minimize Error & Improve Accuracy
- Gain Comprehensive Tracking & Real-Time Visibility
- Ensure Accountability & Compliance
- Scale for Multi-Location Operations
- Easy Integrations with Existing Systems
Request a demo to see how LogisticsOS can deliver immediate results for your organization.
