Planning settings help you adjust some routing constraints and choose the results you want from optimization. This article explains each setting and how it affects your routes.
| Who can use this feature | |
| All plans | |
| All users | |
| All regions | |
What are planning settings?
Planning settings let you control how OptimoRoute builds routes. Use them to set route limits, choose how existing routes can change, balance work among drivers, allow depot returns, and adjust the drivers and vehicles included in planning.
The planning settings window and controls appear when you click "Plan Routes" so that this can be reviewed and adjusted before each optimization.
Accessing planning settings
Planning settings appear when you are optimizing your routes. To see this screen:
- Go to the "Plan and Optimize" tab
- Click “Plan Routes”
- The "Planning Settings" window will appear
This window allows you to review your settings before clicking “Plan routes” which will then optimize your orders into routes for your drivers.
| If you have Weekly Planning enabled, the planning settings window will also show "Advanced" settings that can be used to configure constraints for planning over multiple weeks. |
Planning settings
Planning settings let you control what OptimoRoute prioritizes during optimization. Use them to adjust route limits, how work is distributed, and how existing routes can change. Below we will go over the available options and how to use them.
Allowed changes
Use Allowed changes to choose how OptimoRoute adds orders to routes that are already planned.
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Allow all changes to the current solution
OptimoRoute can rearrange all routes, orders, and assigned drivers when you plan your routes. Existing routes may change significantly as OptimoRoute searches for a better solution.
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Keep planned routes unchanged and add new orders to unused drivers
OptimoRoute keeps existing routes unchanged. It assigns new orders only to drivers who do not already have routes.
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Keep drivers/vehicles for planned orders and fit in new orders
OptimoRoute keeps each planned order assigned to its current driver and vehicle. It may change the order of stops on existing routes to efficiently fit in new orders.
Balancing
Use balancing settings to determine how work is distributed among drivers:
- No balancing - OptimoRoute does not apply balancing rules. It plans routes to use fewer drivers and reduce total working time.
- Balance routes - Balancing rules can be chosen (see below)
- Balance routes and use all drivers - Balancing rules can be chosen (see below) and all drivers' routes will be used. This will also expose the "Balancing Factor" slider.
Balancing Rules
- Balance by working time - Orders will be distributed to ensure that drivers have similar working hours
- Balance by number of orders per driver - Orders will be distributed to ensure that drivers have similar number of orders on their routes
- Balancing Factor - This option will be exposed if you choose “Balance routes and use all drivers”. It’s purpose is to give you control over how strict or loose the balancing constraint is applied.
Return to depot
There is also the option to allow drivers to return to the depot to collect more orders. This option is important to consider if you’re using load capacities in your routing, as it increases the amount of orders a driver can do in a single route.
When this option is enabled:
- Drivers will be sent back to the depot after they’ve unloaded their current vehicle capacity so that they can pick up more orders
- You can define how long the depot visit duration is
- The depot visit will be included in the routing plan
When this option is disabled:
- A driver’s route will be limited by the vehicle capacity
- Once vehicle capacity is reached, no other orders will be added to the route
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Using multiple loading and unloading sites? You can add mid-route depot stops to account for landfills, fuel terminals, and warehouses. To learn more, click here. |
Adjusting drivers
If necessary, you can adjust:
- Which drivers are included in the route planning
- Load capacities
- Driver work time
- Which vehicle they will be driving
To do this, click directly on the yellow boxes in the work time, vehicle, and capacity constraints.