Plan Routes – Optimize Routes On The Route4Me Web Platform

With Route4Me, you can easily plan and optimize the most optimal, efficient, profitable, and sustainable multi-address routes. In this guide, you can learn how to plan and optimize routes using Route4Me’s fastest route planning software. Specifically, add, upload, and import addresses, use Optimization Profiles, schedule routes, and use different optimization types and custom route settings. You’ll also learn where and how you can manage planned routes with Route4Me.

Plan, sequence, schedule, and dispatch delivery driver, field service, and sales routes using Route4Me's Last Mile Optimization Web Platform.

NOTE: Depending on the add-ons and modules enabled on your Route4Me Route Planning Solution account, you will have the respective set of available features and capabilities.

Additionally, you can learn how to Use the Feature Manager to Customize Your Route4Me Route Planning Software Account.

 

 

Quick Steps To Plan And Optimize Routes On Route4Me’s Web Platform

With Route4Me’s best route optimization software, the entire route planning and sequencing process is extremely fast and easy. Follow these steps to plan and sequence profitable and efficient routes using Route4Me’s Business Route Planner Software:

  1. Go to “Operations” and then “Plan New Route” in the Navigation Menu and select an address import method.
  2. Select a ready-to-use Optimization Profile or select manual route optimization settings.
  3. Add your addresses for Address Verification and Geocoding using the previously selected method.
  4. Check your automatically geocoded addresses on the map and click one button to optimize routes according to your preferences.

Route4Me will automatically plan and optimize the most optimal number of efficient routes based on the specified settings. Further, you can learn more about these route planning steps in detail.

Click To Plan New Routes

Route4Me's Route Planning process includes adding route addresses, specifying route optimization settings, and sequencing optimal and efficient multi-address routes.

 

Add Route Addresses Using Spreadsheets, Cloud Drive, Interactive Map

To plan a new route, go to “Operations” and then “Plan New Route” in the Navigation Menu. Next, you can select the preferred method for adding your route addresses. For your convenience, Route4Me supports multiple methods for uploading, importing, and adding addresses. Below, you can learn more about the available methods for adding route addresses.

Upload spreadsheets with addresses, import addresses from cloud drives, enter addresses, or pick addresses from the map to plan last mile routes.

OptionsDescription
Interactive Map EditorPick addresses or exact location coordinates (latitude and longitude) on the interactive map and add them to your routes. Accordingly, Route4Me automatically geocodes locations and validates addresses picked from the map.
Copy and PasteCopy and paste a list of addresses into Route4Me’s route mapping software. Route4Me will automatically geocode and validate the pasted addresses.
Upload a FileUpload a CSV, XLS, or XLSX spreadsheet with addresses from your computer or device. Route4Me will automatically detect and validate addresses in the uploaded spreadsheet. In addition to addresses, you can add to your spreadsheets such data as order details, customer information, Time Windows, etc.
Import DataImport a CSV, XLS, or XLSX spreadsheet with addresses from a cloud storage or cloud drive. For example, you can upload spreadsheets from Google Drive, Dropbox, or Box.
Upload Scan(s)Upload a scan with your addresses, and Route4Me will automatically detect, geocode, and validate your addresses.

 

Customize Route Settings, Schedule, Optimization, Drivers And Vehicles

After selecting a method for adding addresses, you can specify optimization settings. In detail, you can select a ready-to-use Optimization Profile with predefined settings or click “Skip” and manually customize your route and optimization settings.

To use an Optimization Profile, simply select a profile and click the “Continue” button to proceed to adding addresses. Additionally, you can learn more about Creating and Using Route4Me Optimization Profiles.

Select a custom Route Optimization Profile to automatically plan and optimize routes with predefined route settings.

 

When you skip selecting an Optimization Profile, you can manually schedule your routes, assign drivers and vehicles to routes, select where the routes will start and end, etc. Additionally, you can use Route4Me Business Rules and Optimization Constraints  to customize your route optimization.

Below, you can learn more about the available manual route and optimization settings categories.

Customize route settings, optimization type, departure address, route scheduled start time, business rules, optimization constraints, and more.

Settings Description
Name
Route NameName your routes. You can then search for routes by name in the Routes List and Routes Map.
Departure
Multi depotEnable route planning with multiple departure addresses.
Departure AddressEnter the address from which your planned routes will start. Accordingly, round-trip routes will start and end at the same Departure Address. NOTE: If this field is empty, your routes will start from the first address you added or uploaded.
Schedule
Flexible Start TimeWhen enabled, Route4Me will schedule routes for the most optimal dynamic start time within the timeframe specified in the “Earliest Start Time” and “Latest Start Time” fields, accounting for the available Time Windows on your Destinations. NOTE: This will be in time zone of the Departure Address – not the time zone from your Account Settings.
Route Start DateSpecify the date on which the route will be scheduled to begin.
Route Start TimeSpecify the time of day at which the route will be scheduled to begin. NOTE: This will be in time zone of the Departure Address – not the time zone from your Account Settings.
Service Time per destinationThe time needed to complete a Destination or Customer Order. This option overrides Service Time from the uploaded spreadsheet.
Dynamic Start TimeCheck the “Dynamic Start Time” box to apply Flexible Start Time without defining an earliest and latest start time.
Service Time SlowdownIncrease the Service Time of route Destinations by the specified percentage. This may reduce the total number of Destinations on each optimized route.
Travel Time SlowdownIncrease the Total Route Time of optimized routes by the specified percentage. This may reduce the total number of Destinations on each optimized route.
Sharing
EmailShare a route link via email. Accordingly, recipients can use the public route link to open and view the shared route without the ability to edit or manage the shared route. Use commas to add multiple email addresses.
Optimization
Optimization TypeSelect “Single Driver” to optimize one route from your addresses, “Multiple Drivers” to optimize multiple routes according to your settings, or “Disable Optimization” to plan a single route with the same address sequence as your imported addresses.
Route EndSelect “End route at any address“, and the system will plan the most optimized route; “End route at departure address” to plan a round trip route that returns to the departure address at the end; or “End route at last address” to use the final address from your upload or import as the final address on the planned route.
Destination DistributionAvailable in “Multiple Drivers” optimization. Specify how your uploaded or imported addresses should be distributed among planned routes. Specifically, if the system should “Plan specified number of balanced routes” based on duration, distance, or number of destinations; or “Minimize number of routes/vehicles” based on your business rules and constraints.
Mixed FleetPlan the most optimal number of routes for vehicles with different capacities, maximizing the capacity of each vehicle. First, check the “Enable Mixed Vehicles Fleet” checkbox. Next, select the preferred vehicles with a preview of their respective Vehicle Capacity Profiles.
Business RulesInput per-route constraints, optimizing routes by limiting distance, time, weight, package count, cubic volume, number of destinations, and revenue.
Advanced Optimization Fine-TuningCustomize the Optimization Fine-Tuning settings to prioritize lower Route Distance, Travel Time, or Waiting Time. Accordingly, you can select the preferred prioritization percentage for each available option.
Driver Breaks
Insert BreaksAdd customizable Hours of Service Driver Breaks to the route.
Break DurationThe duration of the automatically-inserted Driver Breaks.
Break TypeSelect the frequency type of Driver Breaks associated with the respective profile. Available Break Types: Travel Time, Travel Time & Service Time, Destination Number.
Avoidance Zones
Select ZonesSimply check the boxes next to any account Avoidance Zone you want to take into account when planning routes.
Directions
Navigate BySelect between Distance, Time, and Time With Traffic navigation modes.
Travel ModeSelect between Driving, Cycling, and Walking travel mode types for route optimization.
Highways & TollsSpecify highway and toll-road restrictions and avoidance settings.
Turn Restriction
Permit Left-TurnsSelect whether to allow or restrict left-turns when optimizing routes.
Permit Right-TurnsSelect whether to allow or restrict right-turns when optimizing routes.
User
Assign VehicleDispatches planned routes to a specific Fleet Vehicle.
Assign to UserDispatch planned routes to a specific Team User.
Advanced
Match Depots and UsersCheck to enable Depot Matching for automatic Driver Skill Route Dispatch.

NOTE: Depending on the features, add-ons, and configurations enabled on your account, you’ll have different settings available. To enable additional features and settings for your account, can use the Feature Manager or contact Route4Me Support.

 

Verify Imported Route Data And Geocode Addresses On Map

Next, after specifying your route and optimization settings, you can proceed to review and verify addresses. Equally important, when you upload or import spreadsheets, you can add additional data to your route stops. For example, Time Windows, order details, customer information, etc. Accordingly, the trusted route planner will automatically verify, validate, and match column names in the header of your spreadsheet to entities and attributes in the system.

Furthermore, you can manually match data columns from the uploaded spreadsheet to the system’s reserved entities and attributes. Additionally, learn more about Route4Me’s Spreadsheets Formatting Requirements.

Route4Me automatically verifies addresses and route data such as order details, Time Windows, customer information, and more.

 

After that, Route4Me’s best route planning software will automatically geocode and validate addresses. Next, you can review the geocoded addresses on the address routing map. Accordingly, addresses with a green marker are geocoded with high confidence, and addresses with a yellow marker require review.

After adding and reviewing addresses, click “Finish Import” to plan and optimize routes based on your settings.

Automatically geocode and autocorrect route addresses using the interactive map.

 

Manage Planned Routes – Route Editor, Routes Map And Routes List

Accordingly, Route4Me will automatically plan and optimize one or multiple routes based on your specified settings. After that, you can easily manage your planned routes using the Route Editor, Routes Map, and Routes List.

When Route4Me’s Enterprise Route Optimization Software plans a single route, it automatically opens in the Route Editor. That’s your primary tool for opening, viewing, and managing individual planned routes. You can use the Route Editor to manage destinations and addresses, check route progress and KPIs, change optimization settings, synchronize route changes with our mobile driver apps, etc. Learn more about Route4Me’s Route Editor Route Management.

Open and manage individual planned and optimized last mile routes in Route4Me's Route Editor.

 

When you plan multiple routes, Route4Me’s enterprise route management software automatically opens the Routes Map. There, you can simultaneously view and manage multiple routes on the same interactive map. In detail, you can compare routes, check route start times, move stops between routes, track route progress in real-time, track multiple drivers and vehicles on the map, etc. Learn more about Route4Me’s Routes Map Route Management.

Route4Me's Route Planning process includes adding route addresses, specifying route optimization settings, and sequencing optimal and efficient multi-address routes.

 

Furthermore, Route4Me will automatically save planned routes in your Routes List, which is the best route management software database. There, you can store and easily manage hundreds of thousands of optimized routes. In detail, you can edit routes, track route progress in real-time, check destination and order statuses, reschedule routes, dispatch routes to drivers and GPS vehicles, etc. Learn more about Route4Me’s Routes List Route Management.

Open and manage planned, optimized, scheduled, and started routes in Route4Me's Routes List.

 

 

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About Route4Me

Route4Me has over 40,000 customers globally. Route4Me's Android and iPhone mobile apps have been downloaded over 2 million times since 2009. Extremely easy-to-use, Route4Me's apps create optimized routes, synchronize routes to mobile devices, enable communication with drivers and customers, offer turn-by-turn directions, delivery confirmation, and more. Behind the scenes, Route4Me's operational optimization platform combines high-performance algorithms with data science, machine learning, and big data to plan, optimize, and analyze routes of almost any size in real-time.