Strategic Location Datasets – Strategic Routing And Optimization With Reusable Datasets

Route4Me’s Strategic Routing simplifies route planning with complex schedules over long planning periods. You add locations and schedules, configure Strategic Scenarios, and Route4Me automatically plans and optimizes strategic routes according to your preferences. In this guide, you’ll learn how to create new Strategic Optimizations from datasets generated when you upload Strategic Locations, select Database Locations, or duplicate Strategic Optimizations Datasets.

Datasets are saved to your account and can be managed individually. Learn more about Strategic Dataset Management.

NOTE: Strategic Optimization Routes are draft routes that can’t be assigned, started, and completed until they’ve been synced.

Datasets Overview – Strategic Routing With Existing Location Datasets

To start creating Strategic Optimizations, open the Navigation Menu, select “Strategic Routing” > “Plan New Scenarios“, and go to the “Datasets” tab. New Datasets are created automatically when you:

• Upload Strategic Locations: Create Strategic Optimizations by uploading spreadsheets with Locations and schedules.
• Select Database Locations: Create Strategic Optimizations by selecting Customer Locations from your account.
• Duplicate Existing Datasets: Use an existing Strategic Optimization to duplicate its Location Dataset.

Create New Strategic Optimization

To find and manage Datasets you can use the following tools:

1. Use the “Search” field and “Filters” menu to find and filter Datasets.
2. Click the Display Columns button to customize the data columns in the Datasets List.
3. Click the Down Arrow next to a Dataset to edit or remove it.

Select Strategic Routing Dataset For Optimization

To select a Dataset for Strategic Routing, simply click the “Select” button next to it. NOTE: A dataset is comprised of Locations and associated schedule rules. You can fine-tune your dataset in the next step.

Once you’ve selected a Dataset, you’ll see the “Dataset Editor“, where you can:

1. Rename the dataset.
2. Use customizable filters to show Locations that match your needs.
3. Customize data columns by clicking the Display Columns button.
4. Toggle the Locations Map by clicking the Map Button.
5. Edit or remove Locations from the Dataset.

If the Dataset already meets your requirements, click “Continue” to proceed to the next step. Otherwise, you can edit the dataset to adjust Location and schedule settings.

Adjust Location Settings And Schedule Rules With The Dataset Editor

Click “Edit” next to a Location in a dataset to open its settings. See the table below for more details about Location settings that can be adjusted in the Dataset Editor. When finished, click “Apply” to save your changes.

Select Start Locations For Strategic Route Optimization

Finalizing your dataset takes you to the “Settings” section. Follow these steps to proceed:

1. Input a name for your Strategic Optimization in the “Optimization Name” field.
2. Select route start locations (depots) for the Strategic Optimization.
   The “Add Facilities” button lets you select from your Company Facilities, while “Add Address” allows manual address input.
3. Click “Continue” to finalize optimization settings and proceed to configure Strategic Scenarios.

You can also use the buttons next to start locations you’ve added to set a “Max Routes per Day” limit, open corresponding Facility Snapshots, or remove start locations you don’t need.

Configure Strategic Scenarios And Optimization Settings

Once you’ve uploaded your data and set departure addresses, you can configure Scenario Settings. The “Configuration” window will automatically open with the “Wizard” tab selected and is divided into the following main sections:

1. Strategic Scenarios List: The scenarios included in the Strategic Optimization. You can select Scenarios, add or remove them, and export and import them as JSON code.
2. Scenario Settings: Scheduling and optimization settings for the selected scenario.

Each Scenario represents a distinct collection of settings. When you’re done setting up Scenarios, click “Create“.

Route4Me will automatically use your data and Scenario Settings to create the most optimal draft routes according to your preferences. The Strategic Scenarios and their respective routes will be grouped into a new Strategic Optimization.

Open And Manage Strategic Optimizations

The new Strategic Optimization will open with the “AI Summary” tab selected. You’ll see an automatically generated high-level overview and performance report. It compares draft routes to evaluate Scenario performance and provide suggestions.

From an open Strategic Optimization, you can review its AI Summary, check routing trends, manage Strategic Scenarios and Locations, etc. Learn more about Strategic Optimization Management.

Open Your Strategic Optimizations