Scheduled And Recurring Routing FAQ And RFI (Nomenclature)

Route4Me’s Scheduled and Recurring Routing is used by all types of last mile businesses for automating and optimizing routes with repeating schedules. In addition to saving you time on the road with optimized & profitable routes, we’ll help you save tons of route planning time with scheduled routing for repeat orders operations. Just add a quick schedule, and we’ll take care of all future recurring scheduling, planning, and dispatching operations for you.

Here you can find some of the most frequently asked questions about Scheduled & Recurring Routing from our customers. If you can’t find answers to your questions, please let our Customer Success Team know, and we’ll get back to you with answers ASAP.

What is Recurring Routing or scheduled routing for repeat orders?

Recurring Routing – or scheduled routing for repeat orders – is the process of repeatedly creating the same route multiple times based on a specific schedule.

How do I get started with Scheduled & Recurring Routing?

To get started with the Scheduled and Recurring Routing, add the “Recurring Routing” add-on to your account. As a new user, you can add the Recurring Routing add-on to your subscription using the Route4Me Marketplace. As an existing user, you can enable the Recurring Routing add-on for your account using the Feature Manager.

What businesses can use Recurring Routing & scheduled routing for repeat orders?

Scheduled & Recurring Routing is designed for all types of first mile, middle mile, and last-mile businesses that have repeating orders and customers that require recurring visits. Here is a small part of the many companies & business types that we’ve already helped to automate & streamline Recurring Routing operations:

• Recurring Services, Maintenance, Pest Control, Pool Cleaning, Waste Collection, etc.
• Recurring Pickups, Dropoffs, Pickup & Dropoff, etc.
• Catering, Grocery Delivery, Food Delivery, Meal Prep, etc.
• Medical, Homecare, Nursing, Medical, Prescription Delivery, etc.

For what services is Scheduled & Recurring Routing useful?

Route4Me’s Scheduled & Recurring Routing can be used for any service type with a repetitive schedule. With Scheduled & Recurring Routing, you can automate route planning and scheduling for:

• Subscription boxes delivery and subscription box fulfillment
• Routing recurring orders
• Subscription-based services with constant delivery dates
• Middle mile delivery and local distribution routes
• Scheduled maintenance and regular service appointments
• Daily, weekly, monthly, and annual deliveries
• And a lot more!

What is a Master Route?

A Master Route is the route template used for creating Scheduled Recurring Routes based on the attached Recurring Schedule. You can create a Master Route from any already planned route in your Routes List or Routes Map. Here are the steps on how to use Master Routes:

1. Pick any route you want to use as a template.
2. Add a Recurring Schedule to the Master Route and save it.
3. Route4Me will plan Recurring Routes identical to the Master Route Template based on this Master Route’s Recurring Schedule.

What is a Recurring Route?

A Recurring Route is a driver route planned by its corresponding Master Route based on this Master Route’s Recurring Schedule. A Recurring Route is an identical copy of its associated Master Route Template, inheriting the same stops, customer details, start time, and other settings and parameters.

What is a Recurring Schedule (Recurring Route Schedule)?

A Recurring Schedule or Recurring Route Schedule is a schedule attached to a Master Route. The Recurring Schedule of a Master Route is used to create/plan Recurring Routes on specific dates and schedule these Recurring Routes for specific calendar dates (based on the Recurring Schedule).

Can I have multiple Recurring Schedules for the same route?

One Master Route can have only one Recurring Schedule (Recurring Route Schedule). You can use the same regular planned route to create multiple Master Routes and add an individual Recurring Schedule to each Master Route.

How to plan Recurring Daily Routes?

To plan Recurring Daily Routes, add one or multiple Daily Schedule Rules to the Master Route Recurring Schedule.

How to plan Recurring Weekly Routes?

To plan Recurring Weekly Routes, add one or multiple Weekly Schedule Rules to the Master Route’s Recurring Schedule.

How to plan Recurring Monthly Routes?

To plan Recurring Monthly Routes, add one or multiple Monthly Schedule Rules to the Master Route Schedule.

How to plan Recurring Annual Routes?

To plan Recurring Annual Routes, add one or multiple Annual Schedule Rules to the Master Route Schedule.

When are Recurring Routes planned or created?

By default, Recurring Routes are planned on the same day and 1 hour before their Master Route Template route start time. For example, if the start time of a Master Route Template is 07:00 PM, then this Master Route’s Recurring Routes will be planned on the scheduled date(s) at 06:00 AM and will start at 07:00 PM (as the Master Route Template).

You can also Plan Recurring Routes N Days in Advance of their start time. For example, you can plan Recurring Routes 10 days in advance. Then the Recurring Routes of the respective Master Route will be planned 10 days and 1 hour before their route start time.

How to plan Recurring Routes in Advance of their start time?

By default, Recurring Routes are created on the same day as they are scheduled for and 1 hour before their route start time (start time of their Master Route Template). Route4Me allows you to plan Recurring Routes up to 12 months in advance of their start time.

What is a Recurring Schedule Rule?

A Recurring Schedule Rule is a daily, weekly, monthly, or annual mini schedule that is added to a Master Route – Recurring Schedule. A Master Route – Recurring Schedule can have multiple Schedule Rules. By adding multiple Schedule Rules, you can create custom Recurring Schedules of any complexity for your unique business needs.

Can I add multiple Schedule Rules to the Same Schedule?

Yes. To help you create perfect custom Recurring Schedules, Route4Me allows you to add multiple Schedule Rules to the same Master Route – Recurring Schedule.

What is a Recurring Schedule Exception?

A Recurring Schedule Exception is a date or a set of dates on which you don’t want to have any Recurring Routes scheduled and planned. You can pick any calendar dates and add them to the calendar blacklist, and Route4Me will not plan any Recurring Routes on those dates. Recurring Schedule Exceptions are Master Route-specific, meaning that an Exception added to a specific Master Route affects only this Master Route’s Recurring Schedule.

What happens if I Delete a Master Route?

If you delete a Master Route, its associated already planned Recurring Routes will not be affected in any way. Once a Master Route is deleted, it automatically stops scheduling and planning Recurring Routes.

What happens if I Delete the Schedule of a Master Route?

If you delete the Recurring Schedule of a Master Route, the given Master Route will be deleted along with it. A Master Route’s already planned Recurring Routes will not be affected in any way. Once a Recurring Schedule of a Master Route is deleted, it automatically stops scheduling and planning Recurring Routes.

What happens if I Delete a Recurring Route?

Once a Recurring Route is planned, you can individually manage it in any way without affecting any other Recurring Routes or the associated Master Route. Recurring Routes are managed on an individual level.