Is Logistics Software for Business Worth the Investment?

The Myth That Custom Software Is Enterprise-Only

Every small logistics operator believes the same thing:

“Custom software is for Maersk and DHL. We can’t afford it.”

This belief costs small teams millions in lost efficiency, endless workarounds, and growth they never achieve.

Here’s the truth: Custom software for small logistics teams is actually cheaper than everyone thinks—and pays for itself in months.

Why Off-the-Shelf Fails When You’re Small

A 5-person freight forwarding team typically runs on:

• 3-4 disconnected platforms (shipment tracking, billing, contacts)
• 15+ hours weekly on manual data entry between systems
• Zero visibility into profitability per customer
• Zero ability to scale without hiring admin staff
• Competition based on relationships, not technology

Software costs per employee: €400-600/month. Frustration level: Maximum.

The MVP Approach: Start Small, Scale Smart

You don’t build everything on day one. Start with your biggest pain point.

For most small teams, that’s one of these:

Manual Invoicing

• Current spend: €200-400/month accounting software + 8 hrs/week manual work
• MVP solution: Automated invoice generation from shipment data
• Investment: €15,000-25,000
• ROI timeline: 6-8 months

No Customer Visibility

• Current problem: Phone calls for status + lost customers to better-informed competitors
• MVP solution: Simple customer tracking portal (white-label)
• Investment: €20,000-30,000
• ROI timeline: 4-6 months (fewer support calls + customer retention)

Fragmented Operations

• Current problem: Hours daily copying data between systems + constant errors
• MVP solution: Central dashboard + single entry point
• Investment: €25,000-35,000
• ROI timeline: 3-5 months (staff freed for revenue work)

The Scaling Path

Year 1: Solve one critical problem

• Investment: €25K
• Savings: €35-50K

Year 2: Add customer portal or billing automation

• Investment: €20K (cumulative: €45K)
• Savings: €30-40K additional

Year 3: Integrate with carriers or customs systems

• Investment: €30K (cumulative: €75K)
• Savings: €40-60K additional

By Year 3: You’ve invested €75K total and saved €100K+ in annualized costs—while processing 5x shipments with the same team size.

Small vs. Big: Choose the Right Partner

Big Consultancy:

• Minimum engagement: €500K-1M
• Team size: 5-10 people
• Timeline: 18-24 months
• Result: Enterprise system with features you’ll never use
• Reality: Overkill for your needs

Boutique Agency:

• Engagement: €25-75K for MVP
• Team: 2-3 skilled developers
• Timeline: 4-8 weeks
• Result: Exactly what you need, built lean
• Advantage: Direct access to builders + agile updates

A boutique shop understands small teams. We’ve worked with dozens of 3-5 person operations. We know you need ROI fast and margins matter.

Features That Actually Move the Needle

Stop overthinking features. Here’s what matters:

1. Simple Dashboard - One screen, all active shipments
2. Automated Invoicing - Invoice on shipment completion
3. Basic Tracking - Share tracking links with customers
4. Customer Portal - They submit shipments, see status
5. Mobile App - Check operations from anywhere

That’s it. Anything else is gold-plating you don’t need yet.

Ready to Build Your Edge?

Small isn’t a disadvantage. Agility is. With the right technology, a 3-person team beats a 30-person team using legacy systems.

Start small. Think big. Build what you need today. Scale tomorrow.