SmartZone Routing – Optimize Routes With Smart Zones

With Route4Me’s proprietary Smart Zone Route Optimization algorithm, you can easily split hundreds of thousands of addresses into the most optimal number of Smart Zones (address clusters). After that, you can optimize a preferred or the most optimal number of routes with your address clusters based on your specific route constraints and business requirements. Route4Me will optimize one route per address cluster, where each optimized route doesn’t cross the borders of its Smart Zone.

For your convenience, Route4Me’s auto address clusterization can split your addresses into the best number of Smart Address Zones fully automatically. Alternatively, Smart Zones rules let you define the preferred number of address clusters or the maximum number of addresses per cluster.

How to Optimize SmartZone Routes

To optimize routes using SmartZone Routing, go to “Plan New Route” from the navigation menu. Next, select one of the preferred route data import methods: Copy-and-Paste, Upload a File, or Import Data. Alternatively, you can use SmartZone auto-clusterization for optimizing routes with Route4Me’s Address Territories or Address Book Map addresses.

Next, specify the preferred optimization parameters:

1. Go to the “Optimization” tab.
2. Select the preferred optimization type: Multiple Drivers Route, or Balanced Team Route.
3. Select where you want your optimized routes to end.
4. Specify the preferred Route Optimization Constraints, such as Pieces, Volume, Revenue, Weight, Max Route Distance, Max Route Duration, etc.
5. Specify the rest of the route settings to your preference.

NOTE: SmartZone Routing optimizes routes with a single depot only, where all optimized routes start from the same depot. In the “Departure” tab, you can specify the preferred depot address. If the “Departure” address is not specified, routes will start from the first added address or the first address in the imported spreadsheet.

SmartZone Routing Settings automatically become available in the “Verify Addresses on Map” window when you import at least 500 addresses or locations. To open the Smart Zones Settings window, click on the gear icon next to the “Smart Zones” button when verifying addresses on the map.

Fully Automatic – Let Route4Me Pick the Best Number of Smart Zones

When you select the fully automatic option, Route4Me’s proprietary auto-clustering algorithm automatically splits all imported addresses into the most optimal number of address сlusters (Smart Zones).

Let Me Pick the Number of Smart Zones

When you specify the preferred number of Smart Zones, Route4Me’s Smart Clustering algorithm splits all imported addresses into the defined number of address clusters. Accordingly, each address cluster contains the most optimal number of addresses or locations.

Let Me Pick the Maximum Amount of Addresses per Smart Zone

When you specify the maximum number of addresses per Smart Zone, Route4Me splits all imported addresses into the most optimal number of address clusters. Accordingly, each address cluster should not exceed the specified address limit.

Route4Me simultaneously accounts for the number of generated address clusters and the specified optimization settings to optimize the best and most optimal routes. Specifically, the system optimizes one route per address cluster based on the specified route optimization settings, where each route doesn’t cross its Smart Zone. Based on the optimization settings, some addresses in different address clusters may not be included into routes, and some address clusters may not be used.

For example, if the specified Max Weight per Route constraint is exceeded, some addresses in particular address clusters may not be included into routes. Another example is if you specify 5 Max Number of Routes and then plan routes with 10 Address Clusters, the system will pick only 5 address clusters and optimize 5 Routes, one route per address cluster.

Accordingly, not selected addresses or not selected address clusters will be added to the  Unrouted Destinations route that can be reused.