Excel can be a good starting point. It is flexible, familiar and quick to open. The limit comes when the plan does not stay still: times change, a pickup is added, a driver needs to know which order to do first.
At that point, the updated file is not enough if the people involved do not see the same information. The dispatcher risks making duplicate updates, drivers receive separate messages and some operational notes may get lost.
Shared planning helps reduce this friction. Orders are linked to customers, addresses, drivers and statuses. When the plan changes, the work remains easier to read for both the person organising it and the person who has to carry it out.
The move does not have to be traumatic. For a small fleet, it makes sense to start with the most concrete activities: create orders, assign them, update the status and make the plan easier to consult during the day.