Trying to navigate one child over a busy highway is still manageable, but try to do this with an entire classroom of children. Next level coordination, right. This is precisely what makes route optimization software stand out and is needed when dealing with multiple drivers.
Making sure everyone is in their place, starting with the right gear in the right place, incorporating the weather, traffic, and vehicle capacity, is no child’s play. That’s why route optimization can take all of these elements into consideration and ensure they work.
When the routes are inefficient, the entire business is affected, with late deliveries and overburdened customer care teams.
Basic planners like Google Maps don’t cut it for multi-driver fleets.
In this article, we’ll present five of the best route optimization software, and show what happens when the right type of route optimization is implemented.
What is route optimization software?
Route optimization uses advanced algorithms to calculate the most efficient routes, using real-time data. That means when a vehicle is one minute off schedule, it automatically updates the next stops’ new ETAs.
When a driver uses an optimized route, the technology has already incorporated the road surface, the traffic lights that are out, the delays in certain areas, and possible weather influences. It chooses the most efficient routes and ensures each driver follows these paths.
All delivery services are different, and we need to find the most effective route optimization software that suits the business’s needs.
This routing software cuts down on unnecessary idling and incorrect back routing, improving the operational efficiency of the delivery process.
Some might confuse route optimization with route planning, but it goes beyond the process of planning routes. It improves customer experience when dealing with multiple destinations in a day.
Why is Route Optimization Important for Multiple Drivers?
Why are multi-driver fleets so tricky to handle with route planners? Because it contains overlapping routes, there is increased idle time of vehicles, and worst… failed deliveries.
Everyone knows fuel costs are expensive, especially when working with massive fleets. Free route planners don’t cut; something more sophisticated is needed to optimize routes.
Using route optimization software has many benefits like saving fuel, improving delivery accuracy, increasing customer satisfaction, and even balancing workloads.
Route Planning vs Route Optimization
Route optimization is often confused with route planning. Here’s the difference: Route planning is for basic functions, while route optimization has multiple aspects and problems that it can solve.
What is route planning?
In the past, and some still do, route planning was manually done by working out the best route for the driver to travel from the warehouse to the customer’s home. This has been one-dimensional. If the driver gets stuck in traffic or in a storm, the delivery will simply be either late or failed.
This is an extremely time-consuming process using tools like pen, paper, maps, whiteboards, or spreadsheets. And it’s easy to make errors. Entrepreneurs starting a new business often start here, not knowing better.
In traditional delivery models, parcels might be sorted by suburb, and drivers then manually figure out their routes. What a time-waster! It relies only on the driver’s knowledge of an area or using a route believed to be the shortest, but it isn’t.
How does route optimization work?
Step 1: Route optimization collects data, from address to time window, and even driver shifts and vehicle capacity.
Step 2: The system uses algorithms to crunch millions of route combinations in seconds. It finds a sequence of stops that minimizes driving distances and fuel, balances workloads across multiple drivers, and respects constraints like weather, priorities, and delivery windows.
Step 3: Then, it creates the optimized routes. Each driver gets their personalized routes for the day, sent straight to their mobile app. They include all the navigation, stop orders, and notes with special instructions.
Step 4: Let’s say something goes wrong, and the driver falls behind schedule or an urgent delivery pops up. Re-optimization is ready to work out new paths on the go. There won’t be any disruptions that can snowball.
Top 5 Route Optimization Software for Multiple Drivers
Route optimization plays a pivotal role in the daily functionality of a successful e-commerce business or any business for that matter where customers receive a service or item at home. Many delivery services try to still cope without route optimization software.
Here are five of the top route optimization software that can change your business’s success instantly.
Locate2u
Locate2u combines route optimization, real-time tracking, proof of delivery, and customer communication in one system. It doesn’t just optimize routes it closes the feedback loop with real-time updates, automated notifications, and instant customer service triggers.
Key Features:
- Advanced multi-stop route optimization with live traffic/weather data
- Real-time real-time tracking and shareable live ETA links
- Proof of delivery with photos, e-signatures, and barcode scans
- Real-time adjustments and rerouting without breaking schedules
- Automated customer notifications and review capture system
Onfleet
Onfleet makes dispatching simple with a clean, intuitive interface that automates efficient route building, driver assignments, and real-time ETAs. Its filtering tools help managers quickly find drivers or orders. It is ideal when customers call in for updates.
Key Features
- Automated route planning and driver assignments
- Real-time delivery tracking and ETA updates
- Analytics and reporting dashboard
- The driver app is designed for ease of use
OptimoRoute
OptimoRoute shines when deliveries are unpredictable. With its drag-and-drop route editing, managers can instantly reshuffle tasks across drivers without losing efficiency.
Key Features
- Dynamic rerouting in real time
- Balances workload fairly across drivers
- Customer notifications with live tracking
- Driver scheduling and shift profiles
Route4Me
Route4Me focuses on compatibility and multi-location management. It integrates seamlessly with navigation tools like Google Maps and Waze while giving managers dashboards to monitor performance across fleets.
Key Features
- Drag-and-drop route adjustments
- Multi-stop optimization with territory/zone management
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android
- KPI dashboards with automated adjustments
Circuit
Circuit’s one-click optimization, offline navigation, and proof of delivery features make it a go-to for couriers and small teams who want minimal setup.
Key Features
- One-click fast route optimization
- Proof of delivery (photos, signatures)
- Offline navigation in patchy areas
- Priority deliveries and time windows
- Voice-command entry for faster updates
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.
