10 Best Routing Software: Optimize Your Deliveries with the Right Tools

Managing a fleet of vehicles for deliveries can quickly become complex. For businesses offering delivery services, from couriers and third-party logistics providers (3PLs) to companies making their own home deliveries, having the right routing software can make a big difference.

If you're looking to optimize your delivery routes and improve operational efficiency, choosing the best routing software is essential. In this blog, we’ll break down what routing software is, how it works, its benefits, and highlight the 10 best routing software options available today.

What is Routing Software?
How Routing Software Works
Benefits of Routing Software
10 Best Routing Software

What is Routing Software?

Routing software goes beyond the offerings of free software like Google Maps or Waze. While these tools are useful for basic route navigation, they come with significant limitations. 

For example, Google Maps only allows for up to 10 stops on a route and does not optimize your journey for factors like vehicle capacity, time windows, and driver schedules. 

This leaves the task of organizing deliveries up to you!

Delivery routing software, on the other hand, automates this process. It optimizes your routes by considering all the variables in your delivery operations, such as delivery time windows, vehicle capacity, and scheduling, so you don't have to manually adjust for these factors.

How Routing Software Works

Routing software simplifies delivery management by automating route planning and optimization. Here’s how the process works:

1. Import Delivery Data

• Upload customer addresses via spreadsheet, API, or direct integration with an ERP or order management system.
• The software automatically processes the data, eliminating manual entry errors.

2. Optimize Routes

• The system calculates the most efficient delivery sequence based on factors like time windows, driver availability, and vehicle capacity.
• Routes can be organized by zones or territories for better efficiency.

3. Dispatch to Drivers

• Optimized routes are sent directly to drivers via a mobile app.
• Drivers receive turn-by-turn navigation and any special delivery instructions.

4. Live Tracking & Updates

• Dispatch teams can monitor driver locations, route progress, and delivery statuses in real time.
• Proof of delivery (POD) photos, signatures, and failed delivery reasons are instantly accessible.

5. Make Adjustments if Needed

• If a new order comes in or a driver needs to reroute, updates can be made on the fly.
• Drivers receive push notifications for any changes to their route, ensuring smooth and efficient deliveries.

By automating these steps, routing software reduces planning time, improves efficiency, and enhances the overall delivery experience.

Benefits of Routing Software

• Save time, fuel, and increase efficiency: Delivery routing software helps you optimize delivery routes, reducing unnecessary driving time and fuel consumption, which leads to significant cost savings and improved overall delivery efficiency.

• Optimize routes on the fly: With real-time updates, you can adjust routes quickly to accommodate unexpected changes such as new orders, traffic disruptions, or road closures, ensuring deliveries stay on schedule. 
• Scalable for business growth: As your business grows, your routing software can scale with you. It can handle an increasing number of deliveries, optimize more complex routes, and offer additional features to meet your expanding needs.
• Improve customer satisfaction: Accurate delivery ETAs and real-time tracking ensure that customers are always in the loop about their deliveries, reducing the chances of missed or delayed deliveries and enhancing customer satisfaction.
• Reduced operational costs: By minimizing fuel consumption, vehicle wear and tear, and time spent on the road, routing software helps to reduce the costs associated with running a delivery fleet, making your operation more cost-effective.

10 Best Routing Software

When researching the best routing software for your business, consider factors like usability, affordability, and industry-specific features. Below are 10 of the top routing software options to help streamline your delivery operations:

1. SmartRoutes

Usability: 10/10
Affordability: 9/10

Features:

• Route Optimization: SmartRoutes automatically calculates the most efficient routes based on your criteria and delivery data.
• Driver App: Drivers can follow the optimized routes directly from the mobile app.
• Recurring Routes: Set up weekly or recurring routes for regular deliveries.
• Notifications: Send real-time updates to customers via SMS or email about delivery status.
• Tracking Portal: Provide customers with a link to track their deliveries in real-time.

SmartRoutes is designed to streamline and optimize your entire delivery process. The software's route optimization feature automatically calculates the most efficient routes for your drivers, taking into account factors such as delivery time windows and vehicle capacity. 

The driver app enables drivers to capture proof of delivery (POD), leave notes for each stop, and easily communicate any issues they encounter along the way. Since the app is synced with the desktop platform, real-time updates can be sent back to the office, providing both drivers and office staff with live information at all times.

For businesses with regular routes, recurring route planning is a huge time-saver. You can set up weekly or recurring routes for deliveries that happen on a regular basis, which eliminates the need to manually plan routes each time and ensures consistency in delivery schedules.

The tracking portal allows customers to track their deliveries in real-time via a unique link sent to them. This feature not only enhances the customer experience but also frees up your customer service team from answering tracking-related queries.

SmartRoutes integrates seamlessly with popular navigation apps like Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Waze, giving you the flexibility to use your preferred navigation tool. Plus, if something unexpected happens, like a new delivery or road diversion, you can easily make live adjustments to the route and send them directly to the driver through the app.

With SmartRoutes, businesses can optimize their delivery operations, improve driver performance, and provide customers with a smoother, more reliable delivery experience.

2. Route4Me

Usability: 8/10
Affordability: 7/10

Features:

• Real-time tracking
• Route planning and optimization
• Multiple vehicle support
• Customizable route stops
• Integration with other systems

Route4Me is a a widely used routing solution, known for its simple interface and ease of use. 

While it can be more expensive for small to medium-sized businesses, it offers a solid range of features, especially for field servicing and sales teams. 

Route4Me helps streamline delivery routes and improve efficiency, but some users have reported issues with route reliability and accuracy. Nevertheless, it remains a great option for larger enterprises looking for robust route planning capabilities.

3. Circuit

Usability: 7/10
Affordability: 8/10

Features:

• Driver-only app
• Route planning and optimization
• Proof of delivery (POD)
• Estimated time of arrival (ETA)
• Notifications

Circuit is an industry leader for couriers and is optimized for teams managing daily deliveries. 

While the software provides reliable route planning, some users have found it lacking in advanced features and integrations with major eCommerce systems. 

Despite this, Circuit still offers strong value for courier companies, providing an efficient and straightforward tool for route management.

4. Onfleet

Usability: 9/10
Affordability: 6/10

Features:

• Notifications
• Up-to-the-minute updates
• Route progress tracking
• Driver performance monitoring
• Real-time ETA

Onfleet is a popular delivery management system, ideal for large businesses needing real-time tracking and advanced reporting. 

However, it can be expensive, and the lack of historical route data may hinder continuous improvement. 

Despite its drawbacks, Onfleet remains a strong contender for businesses that require in-depth tracking and a reliable delivery management system.

5. OptimoRoute

Usability: 8/10
Affordability: 7/10

Features:

• Customer notifications
• Live tracking
• Reporting and analytics
• Route optimization
• Integration with existing hardware

OptimoRoute excels at efficient route planning and significantly improves delivery operations, particularly for small businesses. 

While it can be difficult to learn initially, its responsive support team and quick integration make it a solid choice for businesses looking to streamline their delivery processes.

Despite its outdated interface, it still offers a competitive solution for route management.

6. Track-POD

Usability: 8/10
Affordability: 8/10

Features:

• Route optimization and planning
• Proof of delivery
• Real-time tracking
• Scanning capabilities
• Delivery reporting

Track-POD is a reliable option, particularly for companies seeking an integrated solution with a focus on Proof of Delivery (POD). 

While the software is generally easy to use and provides live route management, some users have noted issues with customer support and reporting features. 

Nevertheless, it is a great option for businesses that need a streamlined delivery process with solid POD capabilities.

7. Routific

Usability: 7/10
Affordability: 7/10

Features:

• Live tracking
• Notifications
• Record of deliveries
• File uploads
• Route optimization

Routific is a straightforward routing solution, ideal for small to mid-sized businesses looking for route optimization and delivery tracking. 

Although it is more expensive compared to other solutions, it offers essential features such as live tracking and notifications. 

It remains a great choice for businesses that need reliable route optimization without the complexities of more advanced systems.

8. DispatchTrack

Usability: 8/10
Affordability: 7/10

Features:

• Delivery ETAs
• Digital proof of delivery
• Route progress tracking
• Customer notifications
• Reporting

DispatchTrack is a robust solution for last-mile delivery management, with an emphasis on customer notifications and digital proof of delivery. 

Some customers have expressed a desire for more user training and better communication regarding updates, but DispatchTrack’s comprehensive reporting and positive support team experience make it a solid option for businesses looking for a reliable delivery management tool.

9. Zeo Route Planner

Usability: 7/10
Affordability: 8/10

Features:

• Driver app
• Zone management
• Proof of delivery
• Estimated time of arrival (ETA)
• Reporting

Zeo Route Planner offers a modern and easy-to-use interface that works well for couriers. 

However, some customers have expressed dissatisfaction with the limited features on lower-tier plans and the need to manually upload a lot of data. 

Despite these drawbacks, Zeo Route Planner is still an excellent choice for couriers seeking an intuitive route planning system at an affordable price.

10. Stream

Usability: 6/10
Affordability: 5/10

Features:

• Delivery performance reports
• Out-of-the-box integrations
• Notifications
• Route optimization
• Fleet management

Stream provides valuable insights into delivery performance and includes out-of-the-box integrations, making it a versatile platform for fleet management. 

Although it is on the expensive side, with a somewhat outdated interface, it remains a solid option for businesses looking for a comprehensive fleet management solution in addition to route planning.

Find the Right Routing Software for Your Business

Choosing the best routing software depends on your business’s specific needs. If you’re looking for the best routing software for your business, SmartRoutes offers a robust set of features, easy-to-use interface, and great customer support—making it an excellent choice for those looking to optimize delivery routes.

If you're interested in giving it a try, sign up for a free 7 day trial of SmartRoutes and experience how our platform can improve your delivery operations, save on fuel costs, and increase customer satisfaction. Don't miss out on improving your delivery efficiency - start optimizing today!

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