Route optimization (window)

In dispatch: right-click on a resource > Route optimize.

In dispatch: select shipments in one of the lists > F9.

In dispatch: select shipments in one of the lists > Other > Route optimize shipments (F9).

On the map in dispatch: select the shipment and click on in the upper right corner (for more information, see Assigning shipments to resources in dispatch).

In this window, the route sequence can be calculated for one or more vehicles, or the shipments can be sorted manually. The window looks slightly different depending on how it opens and on your settings.

Multiple vehicle settings

This section only appears if route optimisation is being carried out on several vehicles.

Function	Description
Filter	Filter the vehicles and shipments that are displayed in the vehicle list and shipment list via a dispatch filter. Default setting: [All]
Maximum time for calculation (mm:ss)	Enter the maximum time in minutes and seconds that multi-vehicle optimisation should take. A default value can be entered for this field in the Calculation time (seconds) multiple vehicle optimization field in the route optimisation settings.
Distribute shipments among vehicles	: As few vehicles as possible are used in route optimisation. : The shipments are assigned more evenly among the vehicles, and every vehicle is assigned at least one shipment. A default value can be specified for this checkbox in the route optimisation settings (Distribute shipments among vehicles checkbox).
Lock the shipment to the existing resource	The resources keep the shipments already assigned to them when the route sequence is calculated. If a resource has time for more shipments within the working session, more shipments may be added, but no assigned shipments are deleted from any resource. Deselect the checkbox in order to ensure the optimum calculation of the route sequence for all shipments, without taking into account shipments that have already been assigned. The shipments may then be assigned to other resources. Default setting:
Show resources’ ongoing shipments	A default value can be specified for this checkbox in the route optimisation settings (Show resources’ ongoing shipments checkbox). Default setting:

Setting

Function	Description
Setting	Select the route optimisation configuration to be used in the calculation. It is possible to have different configurations for different types of route optimisation. Click on to open the Route optimization settings window.

Route optimization

For instructions, see Manual route optimisation and Multi-vehicle optimisation.

Function	Description
Ignore timeconstraints	Select the checkbox if route optimisation is to be carried out without taking into account the earliest and latest pickup and delivery times for the orders. The proposed route is based only on the optimum route sequence between the addresses.
Ignore latest time constraints	Dimmed if Ignore timeconstraints is deselected. Route optimisation only takes into account the earliest, not the latest, pickup and delivery time for the orders. This can be useful if you have a lot of deliveries with the same latest delivery time. Deselecting Ignore timeconstraints will also deselect this checkbox (if it was selected).
Hide pickups	Only shown when route optimisation is being carried out on one vehicle at a time. Hides the pickup addresses (red) in the shipment list, and they are not taken into account when calculating the route sequence. Mainly used if all goods are picked up at the same address, such as a terminal.
Calculate using different date	Calculate pickup and delivery times for a day other than today.
Vehicles must start route at	All vehicles must start from this address. The driving time to the starting address is included in the route optimisation and the delivery time for the first shipment takes this driving time into account. If you select [None], the route starts at the vehicle’s current position. If [Home location] is selected, the route starts at the resource’s home location, if one has been entered in the vehicle or driver registry. For more information, see Selecting first and last stops for vehicles.
Vehicles must end route at	All vehicles must end their working session at this address. The driving time to the final address is included in the route optimisation and the end time of the working session is taken into account. If you select [None], the route will end at the delivery address of the last shipment. If [Home location] is selected, the route will end at the resource’s home location. For more information, see Selecting first and last stops for vehicles.
Calculate route sequence	The route sequence is optimised according to the settings. The arrival times for the pickup and delivery addresses are calculated, and the route is displayed on the map.
Calculate times (retain route sequence)	Only shown when route optimisation is being carried out on one vehicle at a time. Select this option if the route sequence has been manually adjusted and is to be retained, but calculate the times. The route sequence can be changed manually by dragging and dropping the stops in the address list. The driver can also change the route sequence in Opter Driver if it is set up for this. For more information, see Manual route optimisation and in Synchronising the route sequence in Opter Driver and dispatch.
Flip route sequence	Only enabled when one vehicle at a time is being route optimised and when all the shipments have the same sender address. Changes the direction of the route so that it is driven in the opposite direction. This can be useful for ending the route as close to the sender's address as possible.

The vehicle list

The vehicle list is only displayed if route optimisation is carried out for several vehicles at the same time. The list shows the vehicles available for route optimisation.

Vehicles with a pink background in the list have no position. A fallback position should be set for vehicles without a position. For more information, see Vehicle position.

Function	Description
No. of selected vehicles	The number of vehicles currently selected in the vehicle list that will be used for route optimisation.
Select all	Selects all vehicles in the list. By clicking on , vehicles that meet or do not meet certain criteria can be selected: Select scheduled resources Note: Advanced setting. We recommend leaving this criterion as . : Vehicles that are logged on according to the MapAndGuide.DefaultVehicleStartTime setting in the vehicle registry or the office settings are selected. Vehicles that are not logged on according to the MapAndGuide.DefaultVehicleStartTime setting in the vehicle registry or the office settings are selected. : All vehicles are selected whether they are logged on or not according to the MapAndGuide.DefaultVehicleStartTime setting. Select resources that have updated positions : Vehicles whose position has been updated within the time specified for Issue warning if resources have a position that is older than (mins) in the route optimisation settings are selected. The Issue warning if resources have a position that is older than (mins) checkbox is on the General tab in the Interface box. : Vehicles whose position has no been updated within the time specified for Issue warning if resources have a position that is older than (mins) in the route optimisation settings are selected. The Issue warning if resources have a position that is older than (mins) checkbox is on the General tab in the Interface box. : All vehicles are selected whether their position is updated or not. Select resources that do not have any shipments : Vehicles without shipments assigned are selected. : Vehicles with shipments assigned are selected. : All vehicles are selected regardless of whether or not they have shipments assigned. Select resources with active working sessions : Logged-on vehicles are selected. : Logged-off vehicles are selected. : Both logged-on and logged-off vehicles are selected. Selecting for all options is the same as clicking on Select all. Default:
Columns	See Route optimization settings (window).

Function

Description

No. of selected vehicles

The number of vehicles currently selected in the vehicle list that will be used for route optimisation.

Select all

Selects all vehicles in the list.

By clicking on , vehicles that meet or do not meet certain criteria can be selected:

Selecting for all options is the same as clicking on Select all.

Default:

Columns

See Route optimization settings (window).

The address list

The address list looks slightly different depending on whether or not multi-vehicle optimisation is enabled. The columns to be displayed can be set on the Column Settings - Shipments tab in the route optimisation settings (see Route optimization settings (window)).

The route sequence sent to dispatch and Opter Driver is the route sequence that is visually displayed in the list, not the route sequence calculated by the route optimisation in the Order column

The following three columns always appear in the list:

Function	Description
Include in optimisation	: The shipment is taken into account when calculating the route sequence. : The shipment is excluded from the route optimisation. If one of the address rows of a shipment is selected/deselected (red/blue), the other is automatically selected/deselected.
Lock to resource	Only shown if multi-vehicle optimisation is enabled. For more information, see Route optimisation: preparation and configuration. : The shipment is locked to the resource and is not moved to any other resource when calculating the route sequence. : The shipment is not locked to the resource and can be moved when calculating the route sequence. When one of the address rows of a shipment is locked/unlocked (red/blue), the other is automatically locked/unlocked.

Function

Description

Include in optimisation

: The shipment is taken into account when calculating the route sequence.

: The shipment is excluded from the route optimisation.

If one of the address rows of a shipment is selected/deselected (red/blue), the other is automatically selected/deselected.

Lock to resource

Only shown if multi-vehicle optimisation is enabled. For more information, see Route optimisation: preparation and configuration.

: The shipment is locked to the resource and is not moved to any other resource when calculating the route sequence.

: The shipment is not locked to the resource and can be moved when calculating the route sequence.

When one of the address rows of a shipment is locked/unlocked (red/blue), the other is automatically locked/unlocked.

Each shipment in the address list has two lines, a red one for the pickup address (1) and a blue one for the delivery address (2). This is because the optimal route sequence is not always to pick up and deliver the shipments one by one, but perhaps to first pick up five shipments, (red addresses) then deliver one (blue address), pick up two more, deliver two and so on.

The address list is grouped on the vehicles that already have shipments assigned to them. A vehicle can be expanded to display the shipments assigned to that vehicle (3). The shipments that have not yet been assigned are located under No resource (4). If there is capacity and time, those shipments are assigned to resources when calculating the route sequence.

A shipment can be excluded from the route optimisation by deselecting the checkbox for that address. If one of the addresses for a shipment is deselected, the other is automatically deselected (5). Individual shipments cannot be removed from the list. To do so, close the Route optimization window and select only the shipments that are to be included in dispatch before pressing F9.

To prevent shipments from being moved to other resources when calculating the route sequence, the shipments can be locked to the resource by clicking on (6). These shipments then remain on the resource even if it is not optimal from a route optimisation perspective. The shipments can be unlocked again by clicking on .

Shipments can be assigned by selecting them in the list, pressing Ctrl + M and then selecting the new resource in the dialogue box that opens (7). The shipments are then locked to the new resource so that they are not moved to any other resource when calculating the route sequence.

Map

The routes for all resources are shown on the map, the resources are circular and the addresses are squares. Hover over a resource or address to display more information. For more information, see Explanation of symbols – map.

Addresses can be selected on the map by holding down shift and then dragging the mouse over the addresses. When the mouse button is released, they are highlighted in the address list and can be dragged and dropped as usual. This can be useful for selecting addresses that are geographically close to each other, instead of having to look them up in the address list.

Tip

Press Ctrl + M to assign the selected tasks to a resource.