To ensure that your last mile delivery is perfect, you must plan every step leading to it. Route optimization plays a significant role in how quickly products are delivered to customers at their doorsteps. With the help of route optimization software, you can plan the sequence of steps that can lead to improved efficiency from your end. Such software helps to not only plan routes but also helps chart out the most efficient way to ensure fleet movement.
If earlier dispatchers had to plan routes manually, now everything is automated thanks to route planning software. With the help of route optimization, the most cost-effective routes can be decided. It’s not just the simple calculation of finding the shortest route between Point A and Point B but also considering varying factors such as the number of stops on the route, the time window for delivery, and much more.
Importance of Route Optimization
While on the surface it may seem that planning a delivery route is an easy task, mathematically it isn’t so. Due to the Travelling Salesman Problem, the computational difficulties between Point A and Point B with only 10 stops in between may have as many as 3,628,000 combinations! Yes, you read that right! Not only is this an overwhelming number but opens multiple fleet-related problems.
Just imagine if there are over 3 hundred thousand combinations for a 10-stop route, how many would there possibly be with more stops? There are more considerations to take care of – orders being placed, customers, vehicles being used, depots, inventory and drivers involved. There are other factors to consider as well – traffic, weight and volume of packages and service time.
While earlier all this was manually considered, today an automated system is used. Though the manual process did yield results, it was time-consuming. Since optimizing time is one of the biggest challenges of deliveries, opting for this automated, software-handled system is more efficient.
Benefits of an Automated System
When compared to manual processes, there is no doubt that automated systems are more efficient in managing fleets. A new route optimization software is beneficial in many ways. It –
- Helps reduce late deliveries,
- Brings improvement in how fleet are utilized
- Helps improve customer service and hence enhances their satisfaction
- Saves expenditure otherwise incurred on fuel and drivers
What to Expect from An Automated Route Optimization System?
Some of the things that such a software can take care of include –
- Auto Dispatch & Matching – The software is designed to automatically assign tasks using advanced algorithms.
- Routing & Optimization – Plans the best delivery route. However, doesn’t keep the route-static. Makes changes as and when necessary.
- Flexible Infrastructure – Most advanced software is built using high-scale computing that ensures that there is no stagnancy in the fleet process.
- Timeline View – Thanks to an integrated system, every detail can be easily viewed on the timeline. This helps in managing not only present-day consignments but also helps predict future assignments.
- Tracking & Monitor – As one of the key features of the software, you can track drivers and fleet in real-time.
- Analytics & Bigdata – The system provides you with a real-time analytics feed that gives you access to data – new and old. This coupled with Big Data enables you to improve your operations further.
If you haven’t been using route optimization software yet, don’t wait until your competitors beat you in the game. Use the advanced software to improve your logistics management and customer service. When you are dedicated to improving your last-mile delivery technology, you must not compromise on getting the best route management software.
Summary – In this write-up, we talk about the benefits of route optimization software and how it can improve customer satisfaction.
