Plan Routes – iOS iPhone Multi-Stop Route Planner App
Route4Me’s iOS Route Planner app provides seamless continuity throughout the entire multi-stop route planning, optimization, navigation, and completion process. First, sequence fast and profitable delivery driver routes, field service routes, sales routes, etc. After that, navigate optimized routes using integrated voice-guided navigation, Apple Maps, Google Maps, Waze App, etc. Furthermore, you can collect proof of visit, delivery, or service, track route progress, lower CO2 emissions, and much more.
In this guide, you can learn how to optimize, navigate, and complete routes using Route4Me’s iPhone and iPad Multi-Address Route Optimization app. Additionally, learn more about optimizing routes using Route4Me’s Android Route Planner app.
NOTE: Depending on your account settings, you can have a different set of features available on your Route4Me iPhone Route Planner app. To enable specific features, please contact Route4Me’s Support Team. Additionally, learn more about the difference between Route4Me’s Mobile and Marketplace subscriptions and the features they support.
Table of Contents
Quick Steps to Schedule, Optimize and Complete a Multi-Stop Route
To plan a new route on your Route4Me iOS Multi-Stop Route Planner app, open the app’s navigation menu and tap the “Add New Route” button. Alternatively, go to “Routes” from the app’s navigation menu and then tap the “Add New Route” button.
Next, you can name the route, schedule the route for the preferred date and time, and specify the route’s optimization settings. After that, tap the “Enter Start Address” field to add the route’s start depot and then add route addresses.
Specifically, you can enter addresses with address autocomplete, use the OCR address scanner, import addresses from Google Drive or Dropbox, etc. Additionally, you can attach more address details, stop Alias, Phone Number, Stop Type, and Visit Duration. After adding addresses, tap and hold the “Hold to Plan Route” button to optimize and sequence the route.
After optimizing the route, you can start, navigate, and complete it. First, tap and hold the “Hold to Start Route” button. Next, tap on the stop you want to go to from your current location and then tap the “Navigate” button. After that, select “In-App Navigation” to use Route4Me’s In-App Voice-Guided Navigation. Additionally, you can navigate routes using Apple Maps, Google Maps, Waze, and other GPS navigation apps.
As you navigate the route, you can set stop statuses and attach proof of visit or delivery to stops. First, tap the “Arrived” button next to the stop, and then tap the “Set Status” button. After that, you can select the preferred stop status and attach electronic signatures, text notes, images, and photos. Once you complete your route, the app will provide route statistics and KPIs.
Route Settings, Optimization Types, and Travel Modes
To start planning routes, specify the preferred route and optimization settings. Specifically, you can name your route, schedule the route, and then select the preferred optimization type and travel mode. For your convenience, you can adjust your route settings and re-optimize already planned routes at any time.
Schedule Multi-Stop Route – Route Start Time and Date
To plan a new route on your Route4Me iPhone and iPad Multi-Stop Route Planning app, tap the “Add New Route” button in the app’s navigation menu. Alternatively, go to “Routes” from the app’s navigation menu and then tap the “Add New Route” button.
Next, tap the “Route Name” field and then enter the preferred route name. After that, tap the “Start Time” buttons to schedule the route for the preferred route start time and date.
Optimization Types and Travel Modes on Multi-Stop Route Planner
After naming and scheduling the route, you can enable or disable route optimization (automatic route address sequencing). To enable route optimization, tap on “Route Optimization” and then switch on the “Enable Route Optimization” toggle. Accordingly, when route optimization is enabled, Route4Me will automatically sequence your addresses for the most optimal visitation order based on the specified optimization settings.
After enabling route optimization, you can select the preferred route end option, optimization settings, and directions travel mode. After specifying the preferred settings, tap on the “Done” button in the top right corner to proceed to add addresses and stops. Below, you can learn more about the available optimization settings and travel modes.
Settings | Description | |
---|---|---|
Route End – Used with Enabled and Disable Optimization | ||
Round Trip | Start and end the route at the same address (depot or start address). | |
End Anywhere | If route optimization is enabled, the app will end the route at the most optimal address. If route optimization is disabled, the app will end the route at the last added address. | |
Lock Last Destination | End the route at the last added address or the last address in the imported file. | |
Optimizations Settings – Used with Enabled Optimization Only | ||
Shortest Time | If route optimization is enabled, sequence addresses in the most optimal visitation order, not accounting for the current traffic. | |
Shortest Distance | If route optimization is enabled, sequence addresses in the most optimal visitation order, not accounting for the current traffic. | |
Shortest Travel Time with Traffic | If route optimization is enabled, sequence addresses in the most optimal visitation order, accounting for the current traffic. | |
Travel Mode – Used with Enabled and Disable Optimization | ||
Driving | Generate driving route directions for a vehicle. | |
Walking | Generate walking route directions for a pedestrian. | |
Bicycling | Generate bicycling route directions for a bicycle. |
Add and Import Addresses to Plan and Optimize Multi-Stop Routes
After specifying route and optimization settings, you can add and import route addresses in multiple ways. In detail, you can add addresses with autocomplete, use the OCR address scanner, dictate addresses with voice, import addresses from cloud storage, and more. Furthermore, you can add and import more addresses into already planned and optimized routes at any time.
Current Location – Use Your Location Address as Route Start or Route Stop
For your convenience, you can add your current location as the route’s start depot. To do so, tap the “Enter Start Address” field. Next, select the “Current Location” option and then add an alias. Accordingly, the app will automatically pick the nearest address to your current location and set it as the route’s start depot. Alternatively, you can use other methods for adding the route’s start address or insert your current location as a route stop.
Address Autocomplete – Enter Addresses with Autocomplete and Address Geocoding
To manually type in an address, start entering a full or partial address. Route4Me will automatically validate and suggest the available autocomplete and geocoded address options. After selecting the preferred address, you can add additional address details, such as Address 2 (i.e., floor), Alias, Phone Number, Stop Type, and Visit Duration (Service Time).
Voice Dictation – Add Route Stops by Dictating Addresses with Voice
To add an address using Voice Dictation, tap on the microphone icon. Next, dictate full or partial address and Route4Me will automatically suggest the available autocomplete and geocoded address options. Next, select the preferred address option and add additional address details, such as Address 2 (i.e., floor), Alias, Phone Number, Stop Type, and Visit Duration (Service Time).
OCR Address Scanner – Scan Address with Optical Character Recognition Scanner
To quickly add addresses instead of entering them manually, you can scan addresses using Route4Me’s Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Address Scanner. First, tap on the Camera Icon. Next, point your camera at the address and then tap on the Camera Icon to capture the recognized address. After that, you can adjust the recognized address and add additional address details, such as Address 2 (i.e., floor), Alias, Phone Number, Stop Type, and Visit Duration (Service Time).
Phone Contacts – Add Route Addresses from iPhone Contacts
To add addresses from your iPhone contacts, tap the “Connect Contacts” button. After that, start entering addresses or contact names and Route4Me will automatically suggest the available contacts on your iPhone that contain the respective address or contact details. After selecting the preferred contact, the app will automatically add the contacts address, Alias, and phone number, Additionally, you can adjust the address and other details, such as Address 2 (i.e., floor), Alias, Phone Number, Stop Type, and Visit Duration (Service Time). NOTE: To use your iPhone contacts, make sure your contacts have a valid address.
Import Addresses – Upload Spreadsheets from iPhone, iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox
To quickly import multiple addresses, you can upload CSV, XLS, or XLSX spreadsheets with route addresses from various sources. First, tap the “Import Address” button and then select the preferred import option.
In detail, you can import address spreadsheets from iCloud Drive, iPhone’s local storage, Google Drive, Dropbox, and other supported cloud storage services. After importing your spreadsheet, Route4Me will automatically validate, autocomplete, and geocode your address. Additionally, learn more about Route4Me’s spreadsheet formatting requirements.
Plan Route and Sequence Added and Imported Route Addresses
To plan or optimize the route, tap and hold the “Hold to Plan Route” button. Accordingly, if the Optimization is Enabled, Route4Me will Optimize the Route and automatically sequence all addresses based on the specified settings. If the Optimization is Disabled, Route4Me will Plan the Route, and addresses will remain in the same sequence as they were added or imported.
After planning or optimizing the route, tap on the route’s header to check the route duration, distance, number of stops, and other details. Next, you can start, navigate and complete the route.
Start, Navigate and Complete Multi-Address Routes
After planning or optimizing your route, you can seamlessly start, navigate, and complete the route. For your convenience, you can easily navigate routes using Route4Me’s In-App GPS Voice-Guided Navigation. Additionally, you can use other GPS navigation apps such as Google Maps, Apple Maps, CoPilot, Waze, and even Uber. As you navigate the route, you can set statuses to stops to track the route progress. Furthermore, you can attach various types of proof of visit, delivery, and service to your stops. Additionally, learn more about starting and navigating routes, stops statuses, and proof of visit types.
Start and Navigate Multi-Address Route on iPhone Route Planner
To start and navigate the route, tap and hold the “Hold to Start Route” button. Next, tap the “Navigate” button next to the preferred stop and then select “In-App Navigation” to use the integrated navigation. Route4Me’s Integrated Voice-Guided GPS Navigation supports voice-guided directions for driving, walking or bicycling, adjustable 3D maps, dynamic ETAs, live traffic, and more.
Apple Maps Route Planner GPS Navigation for Route4Me-Sequenced Routes
To use Apple Maps Route Planner navigation, tap the “Navigate” button next to the preferred stop and then select “Apple Maps“. Route4Me will automatically send the respective address to the Apple Maps navigation app. Next, you can preview your Apple Maps route and then start the navigation.
Google Maps Route Planner GPS Navigation for Route4Me-Sequenced Routes
To use Google Maps Route Planner navigation, tap the “Navigate” button next to the preferred stop and then select “Google Maps“. Route4Me will automatically send the respective address to the Google Maps navigation app. Next, you can preview your Google Maps route and then start the navigation.
Set Stop Statuses and Collect Proof of Visit, Delivery or Service
As you navigate your route and arrive at stops, you can add stop statuses and attach various types of proof of visit, delivery, and service. To do so, tap the “Arrived” and “Set Status” buttons next to the preferred stop and then select the preferred stop status. After that, you can attach an electric signature, photo, text note, and other types of data to the stop. Additionally, learn more about route stops statuses and proof of visit types.
End Route, Check Route Statistics and Route KPIs
After visiting all stops on your route, Route4Me will automatically prompt you to end the route. To manually end your route, tap the “End Route” button at the bottom of the stops list. If you have not visited stops or stops without status, you can add statuses to those stops to end the route. Furthermore, once you finish the route, the app will provide a detailed route summary and route KPIs. Specifically, route duration, traveled distance, actual route start and end times, etc.
Mobile to Web Real-Time Route Data Synchronization
Furthermore, Route4Me’s Marketplace Subscriptions support real-time route data synchronization between the iPhone and iPad Route Planner app and Route4Me’s Web Platform. In detail, when you plan a new route using your Route4Me iOS Driver Route Planning app, this route can be accessed using Route4Me’s Web Platform in real-time, and vice versa.
Moreover, when you make route changes, add addresses, set stop statuses, attach proof of visit to stops, etc., you can automatically synchronize all these updates in real-time across all connected Route4Me accounts and devices. Additionally, learn more about Route4Me’s User Types and dispatching routes from the Web Platform to the Mobile Route Planner app.
Route4Me’s iOS Free Route Planner Unlimited Stops Test Drive
Use Route4Me’s Free Route Planner trial to check what benefits you can get before investing in a paid subscription. Simply install Route4Me’s iPhone and iPad app and get a Free Route Planner Unlimited Stops and Unlimited Tasks test drive right away!
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