Coordinated orders are used when a job requires two or more drivers or technicians to be at the same location at the same time. In this article, you’ll learn how to set up coordinated orders in OptimoRoute.
| Who can use this feature | |
|---|---|
| Custom plans | |
| All users | |
| All regions | |
What are coordinated orders?
Coordinated orders are used when a job or task requires two or more drivers or technicians to complete it. For example, a pool installation may require three or four people to get the job done.
Coordinated orders are linked using matching coordination tags. Orders with the same coordination tag are scheduled at the same time on different routes. This keeps the coordinated orders aligned, regardless of what is scheduled before or after them on each route.
Drivers/technicians will be scheduled for coordinated orders according to availability. Adding time windows and driver assignments are not needed and in some cases can impact results.
| Note: This feature needs to be enabled. Please reach out to support to request access to coordinated orders. |
Adding coordination tags
You define the coordination tag. It can contain letters and numbers.
You can add a coordination tag to an order in any of these ways:
- Add it in the order edit window.
- Include it when importing orders from an Excel or CSV file.
- Add it through the API.
Add coordination tags directly to the order
To add coordination tags directly to an existing order:
- Go to "Plan & Optimize"
- Find the order you want to edit
- Input a coordination tag (eg. POOL3)
- Click "Save"
- Find the order you want to coordinate with this order
- Edit the order and add the same coordination tag
Now these orders will be linked when you plan your routes.
| Tip: Use the "copy order" function to duplicate orders to the same date. This will clone the entire order including the coordination tag, meaning you only need to set up one order and then copy it. |
Importing coordination tags
When setting up your Excel for import:
- Add a column to your import called “Coordination tags”
- Match coordination tags to orders you want to be linked (POOL3 with POOL3)
- Import and map the coordination tags column
Now these orders will be linked when you plan your routes.
Coordination tags and API
Coordination tags can be assigned via API, however as this feature is currently in beta. Please contact support to get access and documentation.
Results
Orders with the same coordination tag are planned so the assigned drivers or technicians arrive at the same location and the same time.
For example, if two orders use the coordination tag A1, OptimoRoute plans them on different routes so two drivers arrive at the same time and place.
Coordinated orders are planned together only when they are included in the same planning process. If you plan them in separate optimizations, the orders may not be coordinated.
| The coordinated orders will act as a group and therefore if one or more cannot be scheduled in the group, all orders will be "not scheduled". |