Ever been stuck in traffic and wanted to scream? Yeah, same. Now, can you imagine being stuck in a truck with hundreds of deliveries waiting to be made? That’s where route optimization saves the day.
It finds the fastest, smartest way to complete deliveries without wasting time, fuel, or sanity.
Route optimization software helps a business maximize efficiency at an affordable cost, saving fuel and speeding up delivery times.
Let’s take a closer look at how route optimization can solve problems that can hinder your delivery drivers from dropping off orders faster.
Route optimization: What is it?
It’s like a supercharged GPS. Yes, you can avoid roadblocks and broken traffic lights.
Ultimately, route optimization software helps eliminate inefficient routes that you could never have imagined would take you longer to arrive at your destination.
Now imagine you are a delivery driver, and you have two hours to make 15 deliveries. That’s a bit tight but not impossible.
Only if you have software to help, you predict the next stop that will slice off at least a minute or two of your speed.
So it means no pointless detours. No sitting in traffic for hours. Just smooth, efficient trips.
Do I need route optimization for my business?
Whether you own a small soap shop around the corner with a small number of deliveries or a busy restaurant in a central city, route optimization serves different audiences and a variety of unique problems.
If you are wondering whether you need to consider the software, here’s a checklist.
Are some of your orders taking longer to arrive at customers’ doors due to the following reasons:
- Are you regularly apologizing to customers and asking them to be patient due to unforeseen circumstances like traffic jams?
- Do you offer customers a large delivery window (anywhere from 2 hours to 6 hours) to avoid the pressure of explaining why the truck is delayed?
- Are you stressed out every month when you get the fuel bill to see how much was spent by drivers who regularly get lost or rerouted searching for delivery addresses?
- Are customers constantly missing their deliveries because the addresses are incorrect and drivers search for their homes?
If these sound familiar, then you should consider route optimization software.
Route optimization offers an improvement on:
- More deliveries per day.
- Less stress around wrong addresses (the system flags wrong addresses and corrects them).
- Happy customers who receive a live tracking link will follow the ETA.
- Vehicles last longer due to regular maintenance with fleet management software.
Here are seven ways route optimization can help your fleet perform better and deliver orders faster.
1. Bad address data? Route optimization can fix that
Route optimization software flags incorrect or incomplete addresses before the routes are calculated. This allows the logistics manager time to follow up with customers or find the right address.
The system also automatically finds the exact location, even for tricky addresses, with the help of geocordinating improvements.
It suggests the correct address if customers make mistakes, avoiding missed deliveries and the hassle of finding the right place.
2. Weather slowing you down? Route optimization to the rescue
very year, the monsoons cause heavy rainfall and flooding in parts of the world. It translates to heavy delays in transportation, with roads being inaccessible.
Canadian snow leaves the country with freezing temperatures, and the ice blocks the highway, making it hazardous or completely inaccessible.
Real-time rerouting with route optimization can be a deal breaker for companies that want to continue operations despite difficult circumstances. Route optimization can instantly adjust roads that have been closed due to snow, rain, or flooding.
It saves delivery drivers time, instead of driving to the spot only to find the road closed.
Route optimization also concentrates on driver safety. It helps identify areas that must be avoided before leaving the depot.
3. Traffic jams eating up time? RO can help
With live traffic data, route optimization steers drivers around the congestion in real-time. No need to wait on the side of the road for maps to update, reroute, or figure out an alternative journey.
During peak rush hour, everyone is gridlocked in the same spot, which could significantly impact your delivery schedule. However, with the RO software, drivers’ departure times are adjusted to avoid rush-hour hotspots, which can also save the company money on fuel.
When planning drivers ‘ routes, the software also considers large events, such as parades, festivals, or games.
4. How to stop delivery drivers from making bad decisions
Let’s be honest; sometimes, drivers who have been in the industry for years can get a bit ahead of themselves and think they know the best route. However, route optimization takes that second-guessing out of the equation.
It ensures no wrong turns are made. All the routes are pre-planned by the automated system. No need for late-night schedules and rosters. Within seconds all the stops are uploaded to the system and automated to remove the pressure of last-minute decisions.
It also considers each driver’s skill set. This means the system will assign simpler routes to the new or less experienced driver. But for the more skilled worker, the system will work according to their individual skill capacity.
5. Route optimization prevents vehicle overloading
An overloaded truck or vehicle burns through fuel and takes longer to take a turn or drive up a steep hill. Yes, it sounds easier to fill the van to the maximum capacity, but that’s not wise.
Route optimization considers the load capacity of each truck before assigning it to a driver and stops. It distributes deliveries evenly.
It also can match orders to the right vehicle size. Filling a small van with large items is pointless, but a good balance can save fuel and time on the road.
When it comes to road restrictions and weight limits, the system automatically takes that into account.
6. Are inefficient routes slowing delivery drivers down?
Route optimization arranges stops in logical order. This means there is no zig-zagging across town to drop off parcels. A driver might think he knows the shortest route, but it’s not always the most efficient one.
You might wonder what would happen if more orders came in throughout the day. Or what if there is a major adjustment that needs to happen? Route optimization helps to change routes mid-shift when necessary.
So, in the case of time-sensitive same-day deliveries, it prioritizes them. Those orders are scheduled first to prevent disappointments due to unforeseen circumstances as the day progresses.
7. Are customers causing delays? Route optimization manages this
Are customers scheduling a delivery in your 4-6 hour delivery window but aren’t at home when your drivers arrive at their doorstep?
This is a common problem in the logistics world. But only if you don’t have accurate automated ETA (estimated time of arrival) updates.
Locate2u’s route optimization software sends customers automated ETAs to help them plan their day. Their delivery windows are also much smaller and more accurate, helping to reduce and almost eliminate missed deliveries.
When customers know exactly when to expect their order, they can ensure that they will be at the given address for 30 minutes. But asking that same customer to be home for four to six hours is not reasonable.
Route optimization software includes an address confirmation tool that fixes last-minute address changes instantly.
But let’s say there is an odd occasion when the customer is not home. The system can easily and efficiently reschedule for later the same day or tomorrow.
Can route optimization increase delivery speed?
Route optimization software solves nearly every delivery delay problem by using real-time data, smart routing, and automated decision-making.
It’s not just about faster routes; it’s about smoothing the whole process.
About the author
Mia is a multi-award-winning journalist. She has more than 14 years of experience in mainstream media. She's covered many historic moments that happened in Africa and internationally. She has a strong focus on human interest stories, to bring her readers and viewers closer to the topics at hand.
