Route Planning: The Complete Guide

Choosing destinations and determining their optimal order can easily become a headache-inducing challenge.

Effective route planning is paramount to achieving success in delivery operations. Maximizing the efficiency of your drivers' routes can significantly impact the overall quality of your company's service.

Whether you operate a courier or logistics company or are considering in-house delivery, this blog will serve as your comprehensive guide to getting started.

What we will cover in this blog:

What is Route Planning?

5 Best Route Planning Apps

Why is Route Planning so important?

5 Route Planning Tips for Your Businesses

What is Route Planning?

Route planning is the strategic process of determining the optimal sequence to serve each stop or waypoint along a given route. While traditionally associated with finding the shortest path between destinations, it now encompasses a broader set of considerations.

Delivery route planning involves weighing various factors, such as time constraints, delivery windows, and the need to accommodate future pickups or drop-offs. Route management is a dynamic process that requires careful analysis of specific requirements unique to each route.

This goes hand in hand with route optimization. This involves leveraging technology, such as route planning and optimization software, to fine-tune routes for maximum efficiency. By using automated route planning software, businesses can minimize errors and oversights that are common with manual planning methods.

Ultimately, the goal of route planning and optimization is twofold: to reduce operational costs and enhance customer satisfaction. By streamlining delivery routes, businesses can minimize fuel consumption, vehicle wear and tear, and labor expenses.

5 Best Route Planning Apps

Now let’s take a look at the best route planning software currently available:

1. Google Maps

Cost: Free

Limitations: 10 stops per route

Route Optimization: Not available

Best for: Individual drivers with less that 10 stops per route and little to no optimization needed

Perhaps the delivery route planner that we’re all most familiar with, Google Maps has been around for over 15 years. In that time, it has evolved from a basic desktop solution to a fantastic mobile app that can help you navigate anywhere in a few short seconds.

The beauty of Google Maps is that it is robust, easy-to-use, and of course, free. Google Maps also gives you the ability to send your planned routes from your desktop to your mobile app, which can be useful for planning with flexibility.

It does, however, have its limitations.

If you are going to plan a route on google maps, you will be limited to 10 waypoints or stops per route AND all data must be entered manually. The Google Route Planner is really designed for once-off journeys as opposed to being a commercial tool.

For those that do infrequent, small capacity routes, this may not be a problem. It also doesn’t account for any other factors like vehicle capacity, delivery priorities, delivery areas/zones and so on.

2. RouteXL

Cost: Free plan available or paid subscriptions for: daily (€5 or €10 p/day) and monthly (€35 or €70 p/month)

Limitations: 20 stops per route on free plan, 100-200 on paid plans

Route Optimization: Very basic

Best for: Small businesses with 1 or 2 drivers

RouteXL solves for the main problem with Google Maps:

1. the limit on the number of stops to 10

2. having to input stops individually.

The free version of RouteXL allows users to plan routes with up to 20 stops for free. It also allows users to copy and paste addresses in bulk, saving time on manually inputting each one like Google Maps.

Of course, it is likely that you will have to plan routes with more than 20 stops for your business and RouteXL offer competitive prices for daily and monthly plans of 100 and 200 stops per route.

However, like Google Maps, it also has its limitations when it comes to planning routes for your business.

The most important, is that it does not offer a route planning app and routes must be printed before embarking on a journey. While this might not be a problem if you and your drivers are familiar with their routes and geographic areas, it can be a pain for drivers to manually route each stop on their Google Maps or Waze app throughout the day.

If you run infrequent routes with 20+ stops, RouteXL’s reasonable daily pricing may just be the answer for you.

3. SmartRoutes

Cost: Free trial available with subscriptions starting for as little as €26 p/month

Limitations: While any business on the road might find us useful, we are best suited for delivery teams

Plan Multiple Routes: Yes AND they can start from multiple depots

Best for: Medium to large delivery teams, logistics and courier companies

The difference between the previous two route planners and SmartRoutes in simple, they are designed for personal use, not commercial. These solutions are great if you are heading off on a road trip, or even if you have a need to do deliveries occasionally.

But if you’re frequently running deliveries, you’re going to want to use a tool that is designed with business in mind and saves you precious time and money.

SmartRoutes offers route planning that is designed to make planning, optimizing and monitoring your deliveries easy. The solution combines a desktop-based route planner and a mobile driver app that allows you to plan unlimited routes, with unlimited stops.

Regardless of how many vehicles and drivers you have available to you on any given day, a dedicated commercial route planner will optimize for the best way to complete all of your deliveries.

Drivers can also view their routes on a dedicated mobile app, navigate to each waypoint, and have the ability to reschedule and re-optimize their routes as necessary throughout the day. By unifying all of your employees when it comes to your logistics operations, you’ll help make them happier and more efficient.

SmartRoutes is built to be user friendly and allows you to optimize routes at the click of a button. Freely update routes on the fly, view performance metrics, capture proof of delivery and the list goes on!

Our customer support team is based 100% in house and they know our platform inside and out-they are on hand to help you get the most out of our platform.

4. Circuit for Teams

Cost: Starting at $100 per month for 500 stops and limited users. Packages vary based on stop count and features, potentially becoming costly for high-volume needs.

Limitations: Inflexible editing options and lacks end-time display for routes, requiring manual calculation.

Plan Multiple Routes: Yes

Best for: Couriers

This British-based route planner has found favor, particularly with couriers, throughout the UK.

Positioning itself as the software empowering the next wave of delivery enterprises, Circuit combines a desktop-based route planner under its 'Team' pricing tier with a mobile driver app, available either bundled within the package or as a standalone driver application. The comprehensive Circuit for Teams solution encompasses user management, fleet tracking, and proof of delivery functionalities, making it an all-encompassing tool for team logistics.

For delivery businesses, Circuit offers a 'Teams' package featuring a desktop route planner alongside extras like customer notifications and proof of delivery, starting at $100.

However, Circuit does come with certain constraints. Its editing capabilities are somewhat limited compared to rival solutions, and it lacks the convenience of displaying route end times, necessitating manual computation. Additionally, its pricing might pose a barrier to entry for some, particularly those with extensive stop counts and feature requirements.

5. Route4Me

Cost: Starts at $40 per month, but requires a minimum of 5 users at each subscription level, effectively setting the entry price at $200.

Limitations: Route optimization is only included in the higher-priced plans.

Features: Offers a comprehensive array of features, although some functionalities commonly found in standard packages of similar platforms are available only as paid add-ons.

Best for: For large teams or field servicing operations.

Route4Me stands out as a dispatch software offering extensive reporting capabilities on delivery times and driver performance, empowering dispatchers to pinpoint areas for enhancement and streamline operations. With a single click, dispatchers can effortlessly map out delivery routes, equipping drivers with precise driving directions and stop instructions via mobile apps.

However, it's worth noting that while Route4Me provides a wealth of features, some functionalities that are typically bundled in standard packages by comparable platforms are only accessible as paid add-ons.

Why is Route Planning so important?

Saves Time & Reduces Costs

No matter what line of business you're in, you need to keep an eye on your bottom line.

If your business has one vehicle or one hundred, it can be one of the most expensive assets to run and maintain. With a dedicated route planner, your business can save up to 33% on the cost of operating your fleet. Using optimized routes, unnecessary mileage can be reduced by up to 50% over the course of a year.

The knock on effects of these savings can have even wider impacts on your business. Reduced fuel consumption, maintenance and driver overtime can quickly see your business realizing the benefits of a route planner.

With intelligent routing, businesses will be more efficient at capacity planning as they can handle more deliveries with the same or fewer resources.

Tip: It can be useful to run a simple cost/benefit analysis before and after using a Route Planner for your business. Looking at weekly mileage, fuel consumption and driver overtime will quickly indicate the savings your business can realize.

Delivery Experience

Consumers are more demanding than ever before and they expect a 5-star customer experience to be part of any purchase.

As Amazon have tightened their grip on the online retail space in recent years, they have incorporated the ‘Delivery Experience’ into the service. Turning to the ‘gig economy’ model with Amazon Flex and hiring drivers to deliver parcels directly to customers' own vehicles, they have effectively removed the need for 3PL companies. This has also given them greater control over the experience provided at the point of delivery.

By implementing delivery route optimization in your own business, you can go toe-to-toe with the likes of Amazon by providing a great experience for your customers. Just some of the features that can drive this are:

• Accurate ETD’s (Estimated Time of Delivery)
• Automated SMS & Email Notifications prior to delivery
• Automated Delivery Notifications with Proof-of-Delivery
• Automated Delivery Scheduling

In the not-so-distant past, when you ordered something to be delivered, it was a simple waiting game. (Who misses that element of surprise when something you’d forgotten you’d ordered arrived unexpectedly?)

Today, however, customers expect to be kept informed on their delivery status. Routing software can help to incorporate this as part of the delivery experience in order for businesses to compete with the power of Amazon.

Tip: A dedicated Route Planner gives you the ability to include details such as preferred drop location, customer details, and extra notes for the delivery driver on each stop. Giving the driver as much detail as possible helps them to provide that 5-star final touch that leaves a lasting impression of your business.

Allows you to successfully bring your delivery operations ‘in-house’

If you have products to deliver, that’s a good sign.

You’ve worked hard to establish your business and your reputation and you are being rewarded for your efforts in sales.

At this point, the last thing you want is for the final step in the customer journey to spoil the hard work. That’s why many businesses opt to bring their deliveries ‘in-house’ rather than outsource to a third-party. With the popularity of online shopping growing, so too has the rise in lost, stolen and damaged packages.

Not only do damaged and lost parcels pose a risk to your business's reputation, but they can also hit your pocket should you be unfortunate enough to be hit by a few losses and damages in a short timeframe.

A route planner allows your business to bring your delivery operation in-house and take control of your deliveries. Not only does this give you the peace of mind that your products are delivered safely, but it also allows you to tailor the experience that we mentioned in the last tip.

Branded vehicles and a smiling delivery driver can make all the difference when it comes to turning a once off customer into a repeat customer. Having the control over your delivery operation gives you that extra edge over a drop and run courier driver.

Increases driver efficiency

When it comes to operating a delivery service, there can be a lot to juggle for your employees. Even in a small business, there can be quite a few stakeholders involved:

• Owners
• Logistics Staff
• Customer Support
• Warehouse Handlers
• Drivers

Keeping everything running smoothly is the key to reducing stress for everyone. Using a Route Planner can unify your entire business when it comes to your deliveries.

Drivers can access their routes and use navigation from their mobile while on the road. This eliminates the need for roadside routing and optimized routes mean less time spent on the road.

The result is less stress and more free time.

Happy drivers will lead to a better delivery experience and all round benefits for your business.

Similarly, a multi stop route planner can give your logistics, admin and support staff far more visibility and control over deliveries. From time saved creating routes and optimizing them, to giving support staff real-time ETA’s that can be passed onto enquiring customers, a dedicated routing solution can make everything tick.

Reduces Carbon Footprint

Reduction of carbon footprint is a paramount concern in today's environmental landscape, with last-mile delivery emerging as a critical area for improvement. This final leg of the order journey to the customer is under intense scrutiny due to its significant environmental impact. As a result, numerous businesses are actively pursuing carbon neutral shipping and delivery.

Sustainable delivery practices offer dual advantages, benefiting both the customer and the business. Customers can rest assured that their purchases are not exacerbating their carbon footprint, fostering a sense of environmental responsibility. Meanwhile, businesses reap the rewards of decreased fuel consumption and associated costs, aligning with their sustainability goals while enhancing their bottom line.

5 Route Planning Tips for Your Businesses

When searching for software for route planning, there are a few things you can do from the outset that will help to ensure successful deliveries. Here are 5 route planning tips for your business:

1. Good quality delivery address data

Your route plan will only be as good as the addresses and data that you use.

Let us explain.

Every address has 2 obvious identifying factors:

1. The named address

2. The Postcode

Nine times out of ten, a Postcode will get your delivery to the customer. After all, every address has only one unique code.

But that doesn’t tell the whole story.

Oftentimes you will find that customers have omitted a postcode when making a purchase online. When you go to look for the address, you can run into some problems.

For example, some rural addresses have a number of houses within one yard and it can leave the driver with a parcel in their arms and scratching their head.

This can lead to drivers stressing on the job and losing value time on a stop

For this reason, it is wise to set postcodes as required fields on your shopping cart or order form, and also give them a field to add any specific instructions for the driver (e.g concealed entrances, gate passcodes, angry dogs etc.).

Pro Tip: If you're running large, multi-stop routes, it will really help to ensure that you have a robust ‘address validation workflow’. This is basically a hierarchy of how your route planner looks for addresses when routing. You can learn more about how SmartRoutes handles address validation here. You can also directly integrate your route planner with software you already use such as Shopify or WooCommerce, which will directly send delivery information to your route planner and further reduce manual errors.

2. Internal driver communications

Route Planning is not a ‘static exercise’.

As is the nature of deliveries, things change from minute to minute. For instance, an order for a perishable foodstuff needs to be refrigerated upon arrival.

But what if the customer calls the office to say they’ve unexpectedly been called to collect their kid from school?

Routes will need to be rescheduled and re-optimized through the working day. Most dedicated route planners will allow for this both on the depot/office side and on the driver side.

But ensuring that any changes to plans are communicated to drivers is critical. The problem is, you don’t want to distract drivers while they are on the road. Similarly, you don’t want drivers to have to spend their time calling the office to find out why a customer might not be there to accept delivery as agreed.

There is a whole host of ways for drivers to quickly communicate information to the office without having to make calls from the roadside.

Another challenge for companies is communicating the actual route to drivers in advance. Having drivers come to the office in the morning to find out where their route will take them can be avoided by having an automated solution to send the routes to the drivers the night before. This has the benefit of allowing drivers to plan breaks, and allow them to begin loading their vehicle without any delays in the morning.

Pro Tip: A dedicated route planning software like SmartRoutes will allow you to send routes directly to driver mobile apps, ready for the day ahead.

The same app will allow drivers to feed POD’s (Proof-of-Delivery) and undeliverables back to the office in real-time on the road at the touch of a button. As a consequence, your office staff can then communicate in a timely and honest way when dealing with customer queries.

3. Customer delivery notifications

We’ve just touched on it, but communication is the key to successful deliveries.

When planning routes for a business, a great way to increase customer confidence and satisfaction is by communicating the planned ETA directly to them.

As you optimize your routes, you will have a good estimate as to what time you or your driver will drop off a parcel.

This is not only valuable information for you, but also for your customer

By communicating your planned ETA to customers, they can also make plans to be present to accept delivery or notify you if they won’t. By incorporating these communications into your business, you have the ability to build up a rapport with your customer and show that you're willing to go the extra-mile to ensure they get their delivery.

Pro Tip: When using a delivery route planner, make use of automated SMS and Email notifications to communicate ETA’s to customers. By automating this process, you don’t need to invest any additional human resources but can really improve customer satisfaction.

4. Zonal territories for delivery drivers

When it comes to any business, your employees are your greatest asset.

When it comes to a business that operates a delivery service, your drivers are the key to your success.

If you have a number of drivers working as part of your team, they will continually build up route and customer knowledge over time. Avoiding busy commuter bottlenecks at certain times, for example, is the kind of thing they learn pretty quickly.

Similarly, they can also get to know your customers in specific geographic areas over time and cement your business relationship with them. In fact, research by McCarron Coates found that more than half of the UK public (57%) say their attitude to delivery drivers and couriers has become more positive.

When planning routes for a business, assigning drivers to specific territories can have a remarkable effect on customer loyalty over time. Leveraging off the newfound respect for delivery drivers amongst the public will do your business no harm at all.

Pro Tip: Dedicated Delivery Route Planners allow you to allocate drivers to specific geographical territories. This helps to familiarize the driver with their route and build up relationships with repeat customers.

5. Use the right delivery route planner for your business

Earlier in this post, we looked at 3 different solutions you can use to plan routes for your business. Each one has its limitations but it is important to identify what exactly you need from your route planner from the outset.

If you only deliver to 10 addresses once per week, you will probably find everything you need in Google Maps. As the largest tech company in the world, they’ve built a solution that you can rely on to do exactly what it says it does. You’re likely to already be familiar with the solution too which is a bonus.

But if you’re route planning in logistics, it’s definitely worth looking to a dedicated delivery route planner. The time and cost savings can quickly see a positive ROI and it will give you an edge on competitors spending their valuable time on manual routing. The additional features such as customer notifications, proof-of-delivery and live vehicle tracking can also bring your business to the next level and leave customers with a great experience.

Pro Tip: If you’re unsure about what solution is best for your business, run a simple test. Outline your current delivery process and try to analyse how much time and resources go into planning over a week.‌

Looking to get started with Route Planning?

Whether you are looking for route planning tools for small businesses or large logistics teams, this guide should help you to get started with route planning and help you to understand what type of solution is right for you.

Like any other part of your business operations, planning and executing go hand in hand. Using a tool that not only helps you to plan your routes, but also execute deliveries or visits in the most efficient way will see wider benefits for your business.

We recommend that you try SmartRoutes out for free over a 7-day trial and see the benefits for yourself.

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