Optimisation
The modal window during optimisation
Applying zoning allows you to automatically link destinations to visit by area, but without optimising the route. You can choose to arrange your routes manually (see Manual scheduling) or have them optimised automatically (see Automatic optimisation).
Manual scheduling
When you hover over the stop order number in the list, a “little hand” appears to show that the stop can be moved. Click and drag to reorder the stops as you wish using “drag and drop”.
Automatic optimisation
When you start optimisation (for all routes or for a single route
), a window opens.
General settings:
Optimisation goal:
Reduce total cost (Default, current setting)
The engine looks for the route solution that minimises all configured costs (per kilometre costs, fixed vehicle costs, hourly costs, etc.).
Routes will be created to keep overall spending as low as possible. This may mean using fewer vehicles or faster journeys, even if it’s not the shortest distance.
The more accurate the vehicle cost settings, the better the result will be.
Reduce kilometres
The algorithm focuses on minimising the total distance travelled by all vehicles. Routes will be built to favour the shortest possible journeys. This reduces fuel consumption and vehicle wear, but the total time or number of vehicles used may not be the lowest.
Reduce the number of vehicles
The main aim is to reduce the number of vehicles needed to complete all missions as much as possible.
The vehicles used will be loaded to their maximum capacity and working time to take on as many visits as possible. This often leads to longer and potentially more expensive routes in terms of kilometres, but saves on fixed vehicle and driver costs.
Balance cost between vehicles
The engine tries to distribute the workload (and therefore the associated cost) as evenly as possible between the vehicles used.
Routes will be created so that the cost for each vehicle is similar to the others. This results in a fairer distribution of financial load across resources.
Balance kilometres between vehicles
The algorithm aims for each vehicle used to travel as similar a distance as possible.
Routes will have a relatively even distance for all vehicles.
Geographical grouping (clustering)
This optimisation mode creates routes that are geographically dense and coherent.
At the heart of its algorithm, the engine aims to create compact routes: it constantly tries to minimise the area or geographical spread covered by each vehicle. The system therefore favours routes where delivery points are very close to each other, creating natural and logical groupings.
Visits:
Keep visits in the same routes: choose whether or not to keep the same stops in each route. If “no” is ticked, the optimiser will arrange all visit points according to the number of vehicles. If “yes” is ticked, optimisation is done within each route.
Note:
If unscheduled visits are not locked , the optimiser will insert unscheduled visits in the best place when launching an optimisation that keeps visits in the same routes.
Place unticked visits at the end of the route: If “no”, unticked visits keep their optimal place in the route.
Allow visit time slot delays: can be changed on request to support
Vehicles:
Itinerary calculation: according to the settings defined in the Vehicles menu > vehicle name (“Light vehicle - shortest route”, “HGV - fastest route”, etc...)
Allow vehicle time slot delays: can be changed on request to support
Force departure at the start of the time slot: can be changed on request to support
Deliverable units
Allow deliverable unit overload (here, “m3”): according to the settings defined in Vehicles > Deliverable Units and in each vehicle, Vehicle > vehicle name in Capacities.
Note:
A note “Optimisation duration” at the bottom of the modal window shows the minimum and maximum optimisation calculation times. These times can be changed on request to support. Adjusting these times can allow for more refined optimisation results or save time. These times are multiplied by the number of vehicles activated.
Optimise a route
To optimise just one of the routes, click the cogwheel button .
For example, out of 4 routes in a plan, you can optimise any route you choose. This button is located above each route, so you can do this for any of them.
Note:
Manual scheduling and automatic optimisation always update the journey time and distances travelled.
The modal window during optimisation
When you click Optimise, a new modal window opens.
Two progress bars are displayed:
Distance calculation
Optimisation
As soon as these two progress bars are complete, a third progress bar appears:
Refreshing the plan.
The optimisation duration is shown at the bottom left of the window.
On the right, the Cancel optimisation button lets you stop any action and close this optimisation modal window.
Automatic launch
You can automate the launch of the route plan optimisation calculation. This is an option that can only be enabled on request to support.
Several settings will be presented to you.