Routes and Auto dispatch, overview

Two types of routes

There are two types of routes that can be combined to form a comprehensive distribution network.

Distribution routes

Delivery routes consist of a collection stage and a delivery stage. Collections are made from an area to a terminal, and deliveries are usually made in the opposite direction, from the terminal to the same area as the collection. Pick-up and drop-off areas can be specified by postcode, but may also be a town or a country.

You can enable direct transport for distribution routes, which means that the goods are transported directly from the sender (in the collection area) to the recipient (in the delivery area), without stopping at the intermediate terminal.

Line haul

Routes that run between two terminals are known as line routes. They are used to link distribution routes in different locations. You may have scheduled routes that depart from one terminal and stop at several terminals to load and unload goods on the way to their final destination, and routes that depart from several terminals and arrive at a final terminal at the same time.

Arrival times, departure times and plus days

The arrival and departure times on the routes are used to calculate delivery dates and delivery times for the orders matched to those routes. If the pickup takes place on day 1, the line haul and delivery can be automatically scheduled for the subsequent days using the times on the routes. It can be likened to a train timetable, where it is possible to work out connections and arrival dates using the trains’ departures and arrivals.

Plus days

‘Plus days’ are used to indicate on which day of the week a particular journey on the route is to take place in relation to previous stops. Plus days can only be used within one route and cannot be used for date relationships between different routes.

You set the extra days for the various stops in the timetables for the routes.

Example

This is how Opter calculates the arrival time of 17:00 on day 2.

Name	Departure time	Arrival time	Day
Distribution Stockholm	8.00 am	4.00 pm	Day 1
Line haul Stockholm–Jönköping	6.00 pm	10.00 pm	Day 1
Linehaul Jönköping–Malmö	11.00 pm	4.00 am +1	Departure on day 1, arrival on day 2)
Distribution Malmö	8.00 am	4.00 pm	Day 2
Last delivery time		4.00 pm	Day 2

The scheduled service between Jönköping and Malmö departs at 23:00 on day 1 from the terminal in Jönköping. The arrival time in Malmö is 4 am the following morning, i.e. on day 2 of the route. The arrival at the terminal in Malmö should therefore be marked with a ‘1’ in the column Plus days.

Concepts and benefits of routes

Concepts and benefits	Comment
Distribution and line haul routes	You can use postcodes, cities/towns or countries as pickup and delivery areas in what are known as distribution routes. Between terminals it is possible to set up line haul routes.
Default resource and status	Set it so that a particular delivery route or line is always carried out by a specific driver/vehicle or subcontractor. You can also set the status of the shipment to Assigned (for example). The shipments are then automatically allocated to the resource when the order is matched with that route. Hence the term ‘auto dispatch’.
Allocate revenue using points	Allocate the revenue on a percentage basis amongst the shipments on the order, weighted against the costs of the routes, using a points system. For example, these can be used to automatically allocate a smaller or larger share of the income to a pickup or line haul service.
Determine arrival and departure times	You can set the arrival and departure times for the routes. These are used to calculate delivery times and delivery dates for the shipments being transported on the routes.
Let Opter choose the route based on arrival time or cost	If an order fits several routes, you can choose whether Opter should select the route with the earliest arrival time or the one with the lowest cost, based on the points system.
Default region	If you make a region the default for a route, that region will be automatically assigned to the shipment when the route is selected. This makes it possible to filter by region in dispatch. It also makes it possible to control the account coding and economic units for the shipment's share of revenue and costs, based on the region.
Link shipments to routes in dispatch	You can filter a route in dispatch and see how many and which shipments are linked to it.

Preparation

If you want to start working on routes, it’s a good idea to begin by sketching out the route or routes you have in mind on paper, something like this:

Consider the following:

What type or types of routes do you need?
Should pick-up and delivery areas for distribution routes be based on street name, street number, postcode, town or country?
Do you need to add any new terminals to the terminal registry or do you already have all the ones you need?
What times are applicable to the route?
Do you want shipments that are matched to the route to belong to a specific region?
Do you have regular drivers, vehicles or subcontractors who cover certain routes? In that case, can you set a status and allocate the shipments when an order is matched with a route (auto dispatch)?
Should customer revenue be allocated as a percentage with different weightings, using Opter’s points system?
Would you like Opter to choose between routes based on the lowest number of points (cost) or the shortest journey time?

Ask a deployment consultant for assistance

If you have any questions or need help getting started, contact to make an appointment with an installation expert.