Set up time windows

Time windows set the time range when an order can be scheduled. They help make sure services and deliveries are scheduled at the right time. This article explains how to set up time windows in OptimoRoute.

Who can use this feature
	All plans
	All users
	All regions

What are time windows?

Time windows set when an order can be scheduled. Each time window has a start time and an end time.

For example, if an order has a time window from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, OptimoRoute plans the order based on that time range.

You can use time windows when:

• A customer is only available during certain hours.
• A delivery must arrive within a specific time range.
• A service appointment has a scheduled time range.
• A location has limited receiving or access hours.

Depending on your time window settings, OptimoRoute can require either the start of the order or the entire service duration to fall within the time window.

An order can have up to three time windows.

Configure time window settings

To configure how OptimoRoute uses time windows when planning routes:

1. Go to "Administration→Settings"
2. Then "Orders→Time windows"
3. Choose how you want the time windows to behave
4. Click "Save"

Time window options

Choose one of the following options:

• Service duration: The order must start and finish within the time window.
• Service start time: The order must start within the time window, but it can finish after the time window ends.

Add time windows to an order

To add time windows to an order: 

1. Go to the "Plan and Optimize" tab
2. Add or open an order you want to add a time window to
3. Click "+Add Time Window"
4. Enter the start and end times for the time window.

You can add up to three time windows to each order.

Importing time windows

You can add time windows to multiple orders when you import orders.

First, choose whether to import time windows using one column or two columns.

OptimoRoute recognizes time formats that your spreadsheet recognizes as time. For example:

• 1pm-3pm
• 1:00pm-3:00pm
• 13:00-15:00

Import time windows in one column

1. Add a "Time Windows" column to your spreadsheet.
2. Enter the start and end time for each time window.
3. To add multiple time windows to one order, separate them with a comma (,).
4. Import the spreadsheet and map the column to "Time Windows".

Import time windows in two columns

1. Add the columns "Time Window from" and "Time Window to" to your spreadsheet
2. Enter the start time in "Time Window from" and the end time in "Time Window to".
3. Import the spreadsheet 
4. Map the columns to "Time Window from and Time Window to"

Time windows must have a start and end time. If either is missing, the time window will not be imported.

Routing results

When time windows are applied, then OptimoRoute will make sure that the order isn't scheduled outside of that time window. Below you can see examples of time windows on the timeline.

Wait time

Time windows can sometimes create wait time. Wait time appears as blue slanted lines on the timeline.

"Wait time" occurs when a driver arrives before the next order can start and must remain idle until its start time or time window begins.

For example, see the screenshot below. 

If a driver finishes Stop 29 at 11:00 AM and it takes 35 minutes to drive to Stop 30, the driver arrives at 11:35 AM. If Stop 30 cannot start until 11:45 AM because of the time window, then the driver has 10 minutes of wait time.