Build a Real-Time Shipment Tracking Tool using a Telegram Bot 🚚

Design a Telegram Bot that will interact with truck drivers to track your shipments and provide real-time visibility of your transportation performance

Youtube Video

Find in the link below a short animated explained video to understand the concept behind this solution

Article

In this Article, we will implement a simple, cheap and easy-to-implement solution to track your shipments that

• Does not require additional IT development for your carriers
• Easily integrates into the current transportation processes
• Reduces admin workload for your logistics team
• Does not impact drivers’ productivity
• Does not require additional equipment
• Provides visibility, real-time tracking and transparency

How does it work?

Scenario Your shipment has been unloaded in your store. DRIVER wants to send delivery confirmation before leaving for his next destination.\

Step 1: DRIVER opens telegram and starts a discussion with BOT

Step2: DRIVER shares it’s GPS Location (= Store Location)

Step 3: DRIVER shares a delivery number

Step 4: DRIVER shares a picture of the shipment

Step 5: Your logistics teams receive a shipment confirmation

Code

This repository code is ready to be deployed on Heroku:

1. Copy Github repository in your local folder and create a local python environment

2. Download libraries listed in requirements.txt

  pip3 install -r requirements.txt

1. Create your bot with another bot :)

@ BotFather is a Telegram bot that will help you create your own bot
Search @ BotFather on Telegram and send him ‘/start’
Answer ‘/newbot’ message and follow instructions to set up a name and a username
Your bot is now ready, with an API token created — please keep a copy of this token!

2. Take your token and Telegram API keys

TOKEN: shared by @ BotFather when you created your bot
APP_NAME: address of your Heroku application (see steps below)

3. Deploy the code on the cloud

Heroku is a cloud-based service where you can host your web application; the free formula of hosting provides enough resources to run your app.

Procfile
requirements.txt

4. Test it :)

About me 🤓

Senior Supply Chain and Data Science consultant with international experience working on Logistics and Transportation operations.
For consulting or advising on analytics and sustainable supply chain transformation, feel free to contact me via Logigreen Consulting. \

Please have a look at my personal blog: Personal Website