Experts in Operations Research and Logistics have recently developed solutions to provide concrete answers to Schedulers’ needs: How to reduce operating costs and improve productivity? How to enhance customer satisfaction? And how to retain deliverymen and technicians? How to optimise drivers’ planning and resources? How to meet environmental and sustainable urban logistics standards?

Discover 6 reasons to use appointment route planning and optimisation software:

1. Optimise your drivers’ planning

Operating cost reduction is a real challenge for Operations Managers. Firstly, cost optimisation requires a better assignment of the agents to improve the rate of resolution on the first visit. Delivery route optimisation software is designed to assign visits and deliveries according to agents’ skills. It rescues drivers from extra miles. The logistics team meet customers’ expectations on the first visit and avoid a second visit. The enhancement of customer satisfaction is another good reason to use transport route optimisation software.

2. Improve the quality of service

Due to the digital transformation, it’s a challenge for logistics professionals and Operations Managers to meet customers’ expectations regarding delivery time. Internet and new technologies development have strongly reinforced customers’ expectations. Rapidity of service is now becoming a synonym of quality. That’s why technicians must carry out visits, such as repair and maintenance, without delays and parcels must be quickly delivered. If so, there is a chance to enhance the satisfaction of customers.

Multi-stop route optimisation software is designed to meet these expectations and to help professionals to stand by their commitments. Artificial Intelligence and performant algorithms make possible smart appointment planning and integration of several constraints:

• Customer: opening hours;
• Visit: duration, prioritisation and traffic;
• Vehicle: capacity, engine power, costs and driving objectives;
• Agent: availability, working hours, lunch break, skills

The planning of feasible routes ensures the observation of deadlines. It improves the quality of service and the level of satisfaction. Furthermore, multi-stop route optimisation software use makes possible the automated sending of email and text message notifications. Customers are informed during the whole delivery process. They know delivery time beforehand and receive notifications in real-time when drivers are late. Waiting time for customers is minimized. They don’t have to wait hours before the delivery of merchandise or before the arrival of technicians.

Finally, a delivery route optimiser gives access to a list of visits and deliveries carried out for each customer. These indicators enable a better understanding of customers’ expectations regarding the receipt of their furniture.

3. Enhance the satisfaction of your drivers

The continuous improvement of deliverymen and technicians’ working conditions is now a challenge for many CEOs. Digital natives who are entering the labour market are accustomed to IT tool. Therefore, Operations Managers must adapt the management of their team. Drivers are not enthusiast about using paper road maps. To limit the turnover and retain drivers, Operations Managers must take into consideration these expectations.

Multi-stop route plan optimisation software improves working conditions of deliverymen and technicians thanks to the assignment of feasible routes. Drivers deliver parcels and carry out visits in all tranquillity, while observing time slots. Furthermore, the route optimisation mobile app helps drivers to stay on track and improve their safety. They get to a chosen destination and avoid traffic jam thanks to dematerialized road maps. Drivers spend less time on the road and more time with customers.

4. Reduce your operating costs

Delivery and multi-stop route optimisation software helps Operations Managers to limit and reduce miles. Thanks to this solution, companies are able to carry out deliveries and visits with a lower number of vehicles in the fleet. The optimisation of resources reduces the CTO: fuel consumption, maintenance costs and financial charges. Furthermore, choose vehicles according to their use is a significant way to reduce cost of ownership.

5. Improve your productivity

Using route optimisation software can give businesses a time advantage. Schedulers adjust planning in real-time when drivers are facing unexpected situations. Thus, agents can carry out a growing number of daily deliveries and visits. It also rescues them from hours of planning. Schedulers spend less time on administrative tasks. Finally, a delivery route optimiser gives access to indicators offering a better understanding of delivery and home service activity: working hours, driving time, actual duration of visits, etc.

6. Limit your carbon footprint

Governments are implementing sustainable urban mobility standards worldwide. For example, in France with the creation of several low emissions areas. Meet these standards is necessary for professionals managing deliveries and visits in urban areas. Customers are now aware of the global warming. Therefore, the environmental impact play a part in the decision-making process. By optimising the capacity rate of vehicles and limiting miles travelled, delivery route optimisation software helps businesses to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and to become sustainable.