For your transportation service is the ideal way to grow in the market. Time is money; the more trips each driver can make safely per day, the higher their earnings will be. Their resources won't be wasted, as schedules are better organized and planned.
Route planning systems not only help reduce mileage and protect vehicles from wear and tear, but they also contribute to fuel efficiency, thereby lowering carbon emissions. Ultimately, this improves asset utilization and, of course, enhances customer service.
What to look for in a quality route planner?
The sheer number of routers available in the transportation sector, for both taxis and delivery services, is vast. To help you with this difficult decision, which can make or break your business, we've compiled a list of features to look for. This list is based on the advice and experience of William Salter, CEO and President of Paragon Software Systems.
Schedules and routes
If trip volume varies daily or weekly (which is most common), choose a system that calculates it. The good news is that with current software, this is done automatically, making routes more efficient and schedules much more convenient for drivers. This is thanks to the state-of-the-art GPS systems typically used to manage these routes.
If you're looking to implement multi-stop service for your daily transportation needs, you should keep the above details in mind. And, if you contact a company like ToolRides that offers consulting services, you can request these features. This will reduce overall mileage, fleet costs, and daily planning efforts.
Improvement of existing routes
To manage a transport operation with regular delivery dates and quantities, certain details must be considered. Select software that calculates optimized routes and schedules while still meeting customer delivery windows. Ensure it takes into account any restrictions related to the type of transport.
Constant optimization of deliveries
As new deliveries are added, a good system must continuously optimize schedules. Only in this way will efficiency be maximized and growth possible without failing any customers. Furthermore, the system should take into account delivery areas and the drivers available near those areas.
Customer service
Advanced customer support services are key to the success of any project, especially in route planning. Typically, a responsible transportation service assigns customer support consultants to help ensure excellent service.
If you want to go even further than the standard approach to make deliveries as quickly as possible, look for a customized app. We often offer customer apps as a convenient tool for all parties involved. These can include chat features, tabs for data entry, and even a section to simplify returns.
Real-time vehicle tracking
Real-time vehicle tracking is vital for company administrators, customers, and partners alike. It allows for the timely detection of traffic anomalies, discrepancies in distances, accidents, and even, in some cases, weather conditions. This enables immediate action to prevent incidents before they escalate into more serious and costly problems.
In addition, the app allows you to see if the planned route matches the route used for delivery. This is the only way to ensure that drivers are adhering to the initial plan set before departure. Furthermore, if a significant deviation occurs, customers can be alerted to potential delays.
Forecast about the future
The use and storage of data allows for preparation for changes, whether it's regarding vehicle size for effective delivery or changes in driver schedules. It also creates space for alternative delivery locations, leading to improvements in distribution networks and transport efficiency.
Use of multi-period planning
Multi-period planning is an extremely useful tool because it determines the best delivery patterns for each client. This ensures that multiple deliveries to the same client, especially in the case of larger partners, are adequately planned. Deliveries can then be spread throughout the period because they are geographically combined, resulting in more balanced workloads.
It combines central planning
Combining central planning of all fleet movements allows administrative departments to work more efficiently. This is how companies like Uber, and even Amazon, manage to plan at a national or regional level.
The movement of delivery drivers between different points, product pickups, and the elimination of the worst routes are all utilized. These can be incorporated to begin drastically reducing costs or expenses, creating more meaningful workdays.
Give value to reports and data
Performance indicators and the consistent reporting of business intelligence enable companies to identify operational trends. These can be either positive or negative, but both contribute to understanding the cost implications. This serves the same purpose as one of our previous points: to identify potential preventative measures.
Plan up to the planning
We hope these tips from this expert, compiled by us, will make things easier. If you still have questions, please contact our advisors; our experience speaks for itself, guaranteeing success. ToolRides helps you organize your new or existing transportation service — plan with us.
