Optimise Your Deliveries: Free Tools to Plan Your Routes

Published on 6 August 2024 • Reading time: 6 min read

The management of delivery routes can often be complex and difficult. Fortunately, there are solutions to make this process simpler and more efficient, without spending a penny!

We take a look at the advantages, features and limitations of these free software packages to help you make the most of them.

• Why should I use route planning software?
• The essential features of delivery software
• The advantages of free route planner
• The limitations of free delivery route software
• Free route planning solutions
• Paid tools: an alternative to free solutions

Free route planning is the first step towards optimising your logistics operations. Free tools such as Google Maps enable SMEs to improve their productivity at no extra cost.

Why Should I Use Route Planning Software?

If you’re wondering why it’s so important to use route optimisation software, here are a few points to enlighten you.

If you’re wondering why it’s so important to use route optimisation software, here are a few points to enlighten you.

Planning your delivery routes efficiently has a number of advantages:

• Reduce costs: Minimise the number of kilometres driven and optimise the use of your vehicles to save on fuel and maintenance.
• Save time: Organise your routes to avoid traffic jams and respect delivery windows.
• Improve customer service: Guarantee on-time, reliable deliveries, increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty.

But route planning can be complex and involves juggling multiple variables:

• Optimum routes
• Time windows
• Capacity of vehicles
• Delivery priorities

Without the right tools, these tasks can quickly become unmanageable. That’s where free (or paid) route optimisation applications help.

The Essential Features of Delivery Software

If you’re considering using a free route planning application or software package, there are a number of key features you need to ensure that your deliveries are managed efficiently and optimised. Here’s what to look for:

The essential features of delivery software.

1. Route optimisation

• Calculation of the shortest route: Ability to organise stops optimally to minimise the total distance travelled.
• Taking traffic into account: Integration of real-time traffic data to adjust routes.

2. Multi-stop planning

• Support for multiple stops: Ability to plan routes with multiple stops, although some free applications may have limitations on the number of stops.

3. Live tracking

• Geolocation of vehicles: Track vehicles on an interactive map to find out their precise location.
• Updates: Possibility of adjusting routes in the event of unforeseen circumstances such as traffic jams or delays.

4. Proof of delivery

• Electronic signature capture: Digital signature collection to confirm deliveries.
• Photos and QR codes: Option to take photos or scan QR codes as proof of delivery.

5. Effective communication

• Integrated messaging: Communication tool for exchanging information in real time between drivers and the management team.
• Automated notifications: Automated updates sent to customers about the status of their deliveries.

6. Accessibility and ease of use

• Intuitive user interface: Simple, easy-to-use interface for quick adoption by the team.
• Multi-platform compatibility: Works across a range of devices, including smartphones, tablets and PCs.

7. Analysis of performance

• Reports and statistics: Generate detailed reports on delivery times, driver performance, etc.
• KPI tracking: Track key performance indicators to identify areas for improvement.

With these features, you can maximise efficiency, reduce costs and improve customer service, even with a free solution.

The Advantages of Free Route Planner

Free route planning tools offer a number of significant advantages:

• Cost savings: No licence or subscription fees.
• Accessibility: These tools are often simple to use and set up. You don’t need to spend hours on training, and their intuitive interface means they can be adopted quickly from day one.
• Adaptability: Perfect for small and medium-sized businesses with limited delivery requirements.

The Limitations of Free Delivery Route Software

Although free delivery route software is attractive for its zero cost, it often has limitations:

• Basic features not always sufficient: Free versions often offer basic tools, but lack the advanced options needed for full optimisation. Complex route management, real-time planning and stock management may be limited or not available at all. For a small business with a few stops a day, this may still work. But for larger companies with 150 to 200 stops, these tools quickly become obsolete.
• Restrictions on deliveries and vehicles: Free software imposes limits on the number of deliveries or vehicles you can track.
• Limited technical support: No professional assistance for technical difficulties. Users often have to manage with online resources or forums.
• Security concerns: Free solutions don’t always guarantee the same level of protection as paid versions. This can expose your sensitive information and that of your customers to greater risks.
• Lack of flexibility for the future: If your business is experiencing rapid growth or frequent changes in its requirements, free software may not be flexible enough to adapt to these changes.

To sum up, free delivery route software is useful temporarily, but its limitations can slow down your growth and efficiency. For optimum management, it’s advisable to invest in a more comprehensive, long-term solution.

Free Route Planning Solutions

There are a number of free tools available for route planning, each offering unique features tailored to different needs. Here’s an overview of the most popular:

Google Maps: A must-have for everyday and business planning. Google Maps lets you plan routes with multiple stops, display vehicle positions in real time and share routes. Its intuitive interface makes it an invaluable tool for both personal and professional journeys.

Waze: Known for its real-time traffic information and community alerts, Waze helps to optimise journeys by avoiding traffic jams. Ideal for adjusting routes according to traffic conditions.

RouteXL: Simplifies route planning by quickly optimising several stops. Simply enter your addresses, and RouteXL generates the most efficient route in the blink of an eye.

Speedy Route: Free application that calculates the most efficient route to visit several destinations before returning to the starting point. If you need more, you can add up to 9,999 stops by paying a subscription fee.

Here is a comparative table of features:

In short, Google Maps is suitable for individual drivers and small businesses, while RouteXL and Speedy Route are better for more complex routes.

Paid Tools: an Alternative to Free Solutions

If you’ve already used free tools to plan your delivery routes, you’ve no doubt noticed their limitations. If you want to go beyond the basic functionalities and guarantee smoother, more efficient management of your operations, paid-for software offers undeniable advantages.

AntsRoute route planning software.

AntsRoute, for example, offers much more than just a map. Here’s an overview of its features:

• Analysis of performance: Get detailed reports and in-depth statistics on each delivery to identify areas for improvement.
• Integration with other systems: Easily connect AntsRoute with your ERP, CMS or invoicing software, avoiding data re-entry.
• Optimise available resources: Plan your deliveries according to time and geographical constraints, while taking into account the specific characteristics of your vehicles. This reduces empty runs and CO2 emissions.
• Unexpected event management: Adjust your schedules in real time to deal with unexpected events.
• Customer support: Benefit from dedicated customer service, tutorials and a help centre for fast, efficient technical assistance.

Free route planning is an accessible and effective solution, particularly for small businesses with limited needs. Tools such as Google Maps can improve your logistics efficiency at no extra cost. However, for more complex operations, paid software offers considerable advantages.

Don’t wait any longer to try out our AntsRoute solution, available from 17 euros per vehicle per month.

WRITTEN BY

Florine Martin
Florine has been a freelance web copywriter since 2021, writing for a variety of clients in a range of sectors. Since the beginning of 2024, she has been writing articles about logistics for our company, AntsRoute.