Plan and Optimize Large Routes Using Enterprise Architect

Route4Me route optimization and fleet management software enables you to plan optimized routes with multiple stops, track drivers and field employees, gather and analyze logistics KPIs and routing metrics, and a lot more. The Route4Me Enterprise Architect allows you to easily plan and optimize multiple routes with hundreds of stops in a fast and smooth manner. It enables you to effortlessly compile and dispatch substantially-sized routes without any limitations of your internet connection or the capacity of your web browser. The combination of powerful route optimization and precise geocoding will ensure that you always plan the most time-efficient and cost-effective routes with multiple stops.

To plan and optimize routes with multiple stops using the Enterprise Architect, first, you need to import the addresses you want to use into the Addresses tab. To do so, you can upload a file with addresses from your computer or add addresses from your Route4Me Address Book.

Once you added the addresses you want to use for planning and optimizing one or multiple routes into the Addresses tab, click on the Optimization button in the navigation menu.

Next, specify the route and optimization parameters respectively. In the General tab, first, type the name of the route into the corresponding field. When planning multiple routes from one optimization, the same name will be assigned to all planned routes with additional indexation to differentiate them.

Next, check the box next to Default Depot to set a specific starting point for the route. If the Default Depot is not selected, the first address on the list of addresses will be the first stop on the corresponding route. If you add the Default Depot when planning multiple routes, all planned routes will start from the same Default Depot. You can also geocode the depot’s address and get its latitude and longitude coordinates by clicking on the corresponding button.

Then, select one of the grouping parameters for the optimization. Multiple, grouping addresses plans and optimizes multiple routes by grouping the addresses into separate routes based on the selected parameter. To enable Multiple, grouping addresses, check the corresponding box and select the grouping parameter from the Grouped by drop-down list. You can adjust the parameters in the Grouped by drop-down list by modifying the columns in the Addresses tab.

Single, using all addresses plans and optimizes one route with all selected addresses.

In the Schedule tab, set the start time and date of the route(s) as well as the service time for each stop.

In the Turn Restrictions tab, select whether to permit or avoid U-Turns, Left-Turns, and/or Right-Turns.

In the Optimization tab, first, select the preferred Routing Type

• End Route at Departure Address (Round Trip): The route is optimized by the Enterprise Architect and ends at the same stop where it starts. When the route is optimized, you get the most time-and-cost-efficient sequence of stops;
• End Route at Any Address: The route is optimized by the Enterprise Architect and ends at any stop that is the most efficient in terms of time and distance;
• End Route at Last Address: The route is optimized by the Enterprise Architect and ends at the last stop on the route.

Next, select the Optimization Type. The Single Route type plans and optimizes one route with all selected addresses.

The Multiple Drivers Route, Time Window, Capacity type plans and optimizes multiple routes taking into account the corresponding parameters.

You can also disable the optimization to plan the route with the same sequence of stops as the one in the Addresses tab. To do so, check the corresponding box.

In the User tab, select the User and the Vehicle that you want to assign to the route(s).

In the Bundling tab, you can aggregate the metrics of multiple customers into single clusters/stops on the route(s). This feature allows you to aggregate the metrics of different customers that are located in the same building/location for the convenience of your drivers and other team members. To enable Bundling, check the corresponding box.

In the When Building section, select which parameter you want to aggregate by checking the corresponding boxes.

In the Service Time Bundling Aggregation Rules section, select one of the aggregation parameters for the Service Time of each stop on the route(s).

In the Optimization_File tab, you can upload a complete optimization of the route(s) in the form of a JSON file. To do so, click Load and import the file from your computer.

After specifying all parameters, click Start to plan and optimize the route(s).

Once you planned and optimized one or multiple routes, they are displayed in the Routes tab of the Enterprise Architect respectively. From the Enterprise Architect, you can assign a User and a Vehicle to the route by clicking on the corresponding buttons. You can also export the route in the form of a CSV file. The routes that are planned and optimized using the Enterprise Architect are automatically synchronized with your Route4Me Web Account.

To view the planned route on the map, first, select it, and then click on the Map button next to it or in the navigation menu. Alternatively, go to the Map tab at the top of the screen.

In the Enterprise Architect, you can view the route on the map but you cannot edit it. Once the route is planned in the Enterprise Architect it is automatically synchronized with your Route4Me Web Account where you can edit it using the Route Editor respectively.