In the dynamic world of delivery logistics, the ability to swiftly and accurately optimise delivery routes is crucial. Ooooby empowers hubs with advanced routing options, ensuring that each delivery is conducted in the most efficient manner possible. This guide walks you through the process of selecting and modifying delivery route algorithms to suit your operational needs and preferences.
Choosing Your Routing Algorithm
Ooooby provides three sophisticated algorithms for calculating delivery routes, each catering to different operational strategies:
Prefer Google Maps Shortest Route: Leverages Google Maps to calculate the shortest routes for each delivery event, ensuring time efficiency. This is the default choice for most hubs and recommended for new ones.
Prefer Previous Route Order: Bases routing on the order set in previous delivery events, allowing for manual adjustments. Ideal for maintaining consistency but requires manual updates for new or returning customers.
As The Crow Flies: Skips Google Maps, calculating the shortest straight-line distance between points. Best for manual optimisation or when using third-party routing services, offering quick route generation.
To Select an Algorithm: Navigate to
Site Admin > Hub Details > Delivery Type. Choose your preferred option from the dropdown menu at the top left of the page and clickSave.
Calculating Routes with Google Maps
After creating an event, Google Maps begins processing the delivery information to generate routes. Note that during this time, route-related buttons will be temporarily disabled (greyed out) until the process is complete. For new hubs or routes, this initial calculation will take longer than normal.
Viewing and Editing Delivery Routes
To access and modify a delivery route:
Go to the Delivery Event Details page and click on the
Detailsbutton associated with the desired delivery route.Ensure each delivery has a start address, an end address, and a designated delivery driver.
From here, you can edit start and end points, change the driver, and adjust other details for the event.
Manually Changing Route Order
Manual Optimisation:
Click on
Manual Optimisation. The current route will be cleared, allowing you to click on the delivery points in your preferred order, thenUpdate Route.
Adjust Route Order:
Select
Adjust Route Order. You'll see a list of deliveries which you can reorder through drag and drop, then clickUpdate Route.
Utilising Routes for Deliveries
The calculated routes are crucial for organizing delivery sheets, labels, and packing manifests. Drivers can access these routes via their customer dashboard, guiding them through their deliveries with the option to mark each as completed. The system provides real-time updates with green ticks for completed deliveries and shows the driver's last known location for enhanced tracking and accountability.
Conclusion
By leveraging Ooooby's route optimisation features, hubs can significantly enhance their delivery efficiency and reliability. Whether prioritising the shortest path, maintaining a consistent order, or opting for straight-line simplicity, Ooooby provides the flexibility to tailor your delivery operations to your unique needs and challenges. Remember, the chosen strategy can have a substantial impact on operational efficiency, so consider your options carefully to ensure the best fit for your hub.