When did you optimize your routes last?

January’s focus on the Technology Roadmap is Route Optimization. One of the keystones to running your business optimally.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE OPTIMIZED ROUTES?

Reduced Fuel Costs – When routes are optimized, trucks drive less miles saving not only fuel costs but expenses related to wear and tear.
Reduce Trucks on the Road – Often times you can remove routes which reduces operational and employee costs.
Better Customer Service – You can set up your normal delivery areas or even sales territories so that when a request comes in, you can look up the customer’s address to know on which route and day they will be served.

ROUTE CONSIDERATIONS – The best way to optimize your routes is by having a software program to visualize your routes so you can set up streamlined deliveries. However, before we get to that step, below is a list of several things you need to consider when creating the route;

Mileage
Average units delivered per route day
Average stops delivered per route day
Opening hours of your customers
Time taken to run the route
Traffic patterns throughout the day.

NECESSARY MAPPING FEATURES – Once you have taken the items into consideration and you have created the route, now is the time to fire up your software to optimize it. For Route Manager customers we recommend using Mango Mapping®. With this program you can,

Track your trucks
Plan multi-day routes
Set up route areas and territories
Instantly look up addresses
Directly interact with handheld device
Map and optimize routes

Whatever program you use, make sure it is built on HERE Maps® or another comparable program that takes into account restrictions for bridges, parkways, and more.

MULTI DAY MAPPING ANALYSIS – Make your routes much more efficient by taking multiple routes and dates and plotting them on the map together. This way, you can see if there is an overlap between your data and multiple routes to save on unnecessary mileage and time.

CONCLUSION – We are just touching on a few of the many benefits having optimized routes within your organization can bring. If this feels a bit overwhelming, give Alex a call at 209-632-1122 ext 585 and she can show exactly how it works and how it can affect your organization for the better. Take some time to drill down on your current routes to make sure you are optimizing your business’s time and funds.

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