Orders can be enriched using the fields provided. In this article, we will cover what these fields mean and how they are used.
What is an order?
An order in OptimoRoute is a delivery, pickup, or task that needs to be completed at a specific location. When you plan routes, OptimoRoute assigns the order to a route as a stop.
An order can include details such as:
- Service location
- Service date and duration
- Time windows
- Customer contact information
- Driver or vehicle requirements
- Notes and proof of delivery requirements
Below we will go into more detail about what kind of information can be stored with the orders and how this information can affect planning.
Order details
Order details contain the information OptimoRoute, dispatchers, and drivers use to plan, assign, and track an order. You can enter or update these details when you add or edit an order.
Basic Info
The “Basic Info” section is the first section you see when you open an order.
| Field | Type | Definition |
| Order ID | Optional | An ID used by your business to identify the order. Order IDs do not have to be unique. |
| Date | Required | The date when the order should be completed. |
| Repeat | Optional |
Set up how often this order should repeat. |
| Order Type | Required | This defines the order type: Delivery, Pickup, Task. |
| Assigned to | Optional | The driver OptimoRoute should assign the order to during optimization. Changing “Assigned to” does not move an order that is already scheduled. To move a scheduled order to another driver, change the “Scheduled Driver” field. |
| Location | Required | This is the address or latitude/longitude of the order. |
| Duration | Required |
The expected amount of time the driver will spend completing the order at the location. |
| Priority | Required | This tells OptimoRoute how important an order is and where in the route to prioritize the order. There are 4 priorities: Critical, High, Medium, and Low. Critical will place the order at the beginning of the route to be done first. |
| Time Window | Optional |
The time range(s) when the order must be completed. You can add up to three time windows. |
| Notes | Optional | Extra information the driver may need to complete the order, such as property access instructions. |
| Skills | Optional | This shows which driver skills are required for this job. This can be set up in Administration→Skills |
| Vehicle Features | Optional | This shows which vehicle features are required for this job. This can be set up in Administration→Vehicle features |
| Status | Automatic |
Shows whether the order is Unscheduled or Scheduled. For orders on a live route, it will show whether the order is On Route, Servicing, Completed, Failed, Rejected, or Canceled. |
| Order Status Overwrite | Optional | Change the status of an order after its route has been sent to a driver. Manual status changes will replace updates from the driver app. |
| Scheduled Driver | Automatic | Shows the driver assigned to the route that contains the order. |
| Stop Number | Automatic | Shows the order’s position on its route. Stop 1 is first, stop 2 is second, and so on. |
| Restrict Scheduling Date | Optional | Set dates or date ranges when OptimoRoute can or cannot schedule the order. This option is used with weekly planning. |
Load parameters
Load parameters show how much vehicle capacity an order uses.
Set up load parameters under “Administration” → “Vehicles” → “Capacities.” You can then add a load value to each order.
OptimoRoute uses load parameters during planning only when the driver has a vehicle assigned.
For example, you can create a capacity called “Boxes.” If a vehicle can carry 50 boxes and an order contains 5 boxes, the order uses 10% of the vehicle’s capacity.
When a vehicle reaches its capacity, OptimoRoute may add a depot trip so the driver can reload. Otherwise, OptimoRoute cannot assign more orders to that route without exceeding the vehicle’s capacity.
Skills
Driver skills show what requirements a driver must have to complete an order. OptimoRoute uses these requirements during planning to limit which drivers can be assigned to the order.
Set up driver skills under “Administration” → “Skills.”
To add skills to an order:
- Click the dropdown box and all the available skills will appear for selection
- Choose the skills
- Click "Save"
To remove skills:
- Select the skill you want to remove
- Click “Remove skill”
- Click "Save"
Vehicle features
Vehicle features show which equipment or capabilities a vehicle must have to complete an order. OptimoRoute uses these requirements during planning to limit which vehicles can be assigned to the order.
Features can be set up in "Administration→Vehicles→Vehicle features".
To add vehicle features to an order:
- Click the dropdown box and all the available features will appear for selection
- Choose the features
- Click "Save"
To remove vehicle features:
- Select the feature you want to remove
- Click “Remove vehicle features”
- Click "Save"
Details
| Field | Type | Definition |
| Optional | The email contact for this order. This will be used when sending customer notifications. | |
| Phone | Optional | The phone number contact for this order. This will be used when sending customer notifications. |
| Custom fields | Optional | Any custom fields you have set up in your account. Learn more about custom fields here. |
Order tracking
The “Order Tracking” section lets you choose how the customer receives notifications for this order. By default, OptimoRoute uses the communication settings under “Administration” → “Settings” → “Order Tracking.”
However you can change the notifications to be:
- Do not notify
- Text Message
- Both (email and text message)
This section also shows all notifications sent for the order, including any notification errors.
You can preview the order tracking page and what the customer sees by clicking “Order Tracking Page” in the top right.
Barcodes
In the "Barcodes" section, you can add barcodes to be used for proof of delivery.
Learn more about how to setup barcode scanning here.