Route optimisation: preparation and configuration

In order to carry out route optimisation on your route, you need to have a subscription to PTV Map&Guide. The subscription is available in two variants, one for optimising one vehicle at a time (which works for both manual and automatic route optimisation), and one for optimising multiple vehicles at the same time (multi-vehicle optimisation). More information is available on the PTV website.

Activate the route optimisation service in Opter

Decide what type of route optimisation is needed: one vehicle at a time or several vehicles at the same time. Then contact support to activate PTV Map&Guide. Once Opter has confirmed that the service has been activated, proceed as follows:

Click on Settings > Offices > the Weight/Distance tab.
Select PTV v2 from the Routing drop-down list for route optimisation of one vehicle at a time. Select PTV v2 from theRoute optimization (muliple vehicles) drop-down list, if you have enabled this option.
Restart dispatch if it is open.
Click on to save all changes.

Route optimisation for vehicles or drivers?

The type of resource on which to carry out route optimisation is configured in the office settings. Click on Settings > Offices > the Dispatching tab. Then select Connect shipments by vehicle or Connect shipments by driver under Dispatch.

Default settings for positions

For the best possible route optimisation, it is important for the locations of the addresses to be correct and for all vehicles to have a position. For more information, see:

Default settings specifying how times are calculated

The earliest pickup time and latest delivery time for the shipments on which you want to carry out route optimisation define a time frame within which the shipments should be completed. The route sequence within the time frame and the estimated pickup and delivery times for shipments are affected by the following factors and settings.

Add columns in dispatch for route optimisation information

If you want to be able to see the route sequence and estimated arrival times of the shipments in dispatch, you can add the following columns to the shipment lists.

Estimated delivery time: Used for manual route optimisation. The information in this column can be displayed in Track & Trace and sent out in notifications.
Estimated delivery time (automatically adjusted): Used for automatic route optimisation. The information in this column can be displayed in Track & Trace and sent out in notifications.
Estimated pickup time: Used for manual route optimisation.
Estimated pickup time (automatically adjusted): Used for automatic route optimisation.
Route sequence - auto: displays the route sequence according to the current status of the shipment. If the shipment is not loaded, the location shown in the route sequence is the pickup address. If the shipment is loaded, the location shown in the route sequence is the delivery address. This column shows the most up-to-date overall route sequence for all shipments, and reflects the route sequence currently displayed in Opter Driver.
Route sequence - from: displays the route sequence of the pickup addresses. If several shipments have the same pickup address (for example, a terminal), it is possible to define whether the loading order should be the opposite of the delivery order. In other words that the shipment to be delivered last is loaded first (furthest in). This can be configured via the Reverse route sequence for pickups from the same address checkbox in the Route optimization settings window.
Route sequence - to: displays the route sequence of the delivery addresses.

Example

In the Assigned list, the Route sequence - from and Route sequence - auto columns show the same order (1), because the shipments have not yet been loaded. In the Picked up list, the Route sequence - to and Route sequence - auto columns show the same order because the shipments have been loaded and are to be delivered (2).

The Route sequence - auto column (3) shows the next stop, regardless of whether it is a pickup or a delivery. Lowest number = next stop.

Choose which warnings to display in the Route optimization window

In the Route optimization window, various warnings can be displayed when calculating the route sequence, for example if shipments have poor positional accuracy or if resources have zero capacity.

Choose which warnings are relevant to display based on the workflow:

Click on Settings > Route optimization settings.
Select the warnings to be displayed under Interface in the General tab. For example Issue warning if shipments have poor positional accuracy and Issue warning if resources have zero capacity.

By default, all warnings are displayed. For more information, see Route optimization settings (window).
Click on to save all changes.

Reference Materials

Route optimization settings (window)

Route optimization (window)

Dispatch settings (window)

Explanation of symbols – map

Route optimisation

PTV Map&Guide