What is Route Optimisation?

Route optimisation is the process of determining the most cost-efficient route. It’s more complex than simply finding the shortest path from point A to point B. It needs to include all relevant factors, such as the number and location of all the required stops on the route, as well as time windows for deliveries.

Other factors are:

Number of turns or intersections along the route
Right-hand turns (crossing the line of traffic)
Best or nearest driver to dispatch to the route
Traffic conditions for the current time of day
Best approach (access) to a stop on the route

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The different route options can quickly add up. With just one vehicle and 10 stops, the number of possibilities is 3,628,800. But if you have a fleet of five vehicles, that number jumps to a whopping 37,267,043,023,296,000. This is why route optimisation is mostly performed by computer algorithms and advanced heuristics that can quickly narrow down the options.

Route optimisation is often illustrated using the popular Travelling Salesman Problem and vehicle-routing problem.

Route-planning software can quickly test multiple what-if scenarios to help fleets review the costs of different possible route options and resource availability (e.g., Will having fewer vehicles or drivers improve the efficiency of our routes?).

Benefits of route optimisation

Route planning helps field service companies and distributors plan out the best routes for their drivers each day, whether they are trying to provide reliable ETAs and improve customer satisfaction or get through a multi-stop delivery route with strict delivery windows in the most cost-effective way possible. Well-planned routes mean your drivers spend less time driving, which reduces fuel costs and wear and tear on vehicles and can increase both time onsite and the number of stops a driver can make in a day. Optimal route management can help improve operational costs and impact your bottom line.

Route-optimisation software

Verizon Connect’s route-planning software helps dispatchers and route planners calculate the most cost-efficient routes for their drivers quickly and efficiently. It also gives them the tools to respond to last-minute changes and optimise already planned routes in near real time as situations change throughout the day. Integrated into our telematics and fleet management software, our routing solutions and APIs also allow fleet managers and sales reps to improve driver management and plan for future business changes.

Our solutions

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Route Planning software

Route optimisation software from Verizon Connect helps the bottom line by improving fleet efficiency. Learn more about how our dynamic routing software can help.

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Commercial Navigation

Our Truck GPS navigation for commercial truck drivers is more than GPS. We help keep mistakes to a minimum, reduce miles driven and improve driver safety.

Learn more about our commercial navigation software solutions