What is a Route Planner?

October 12, 2023
Articles
Francesco Bassetti
Growth
What is a Route Planner?

If you work in the delivery industry, utilizing a route planner can significantly enhance your efficiency and simplify delivery.. Kosmo Delivery is an exceptional route planner that fulfills all the necessary criteria.

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If you work as a delivery driver or fleet manager, you understand the importance of being efficient and productive. Ensuring prompt deliveries keeps your customers satisfied and your superiors content. Moreover, it allows you to finish your work early and relax, or take on additional tasks, depending on your preference!

That’s why companies need to provide Route Optimization Solutions.

The solution lies in route planning

You can plan your routes based on location, grouping stops in the same neighborhood together. This approach enables you to tackle all the stops in one area at once, instead of having to complete stop No. 1 in neighborhood A, stop No. 2 in neighborhood B across town, and then stop No. 3 back across town in neighborhood A again!

This type of route planning saves time by avoiding unnecessary backtracking. Consequently, you waste less time, granting you more hours in the day to spend as you please. Additionally, it helps you save money by reducing fuel expenses.

While route planning is undoubtedly advantageous, it can be a time-consuming task. Furthermore, it becomes challenging to adjust your routes in real-time once you hit the road. Additionally, you might be unaware of factors such as traffic congestion or construction, which can cause delays, resulting in prolonged working hours.

Thankfully, there's an app to assist you, as there is for almost everything these days.

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Smart companies such as Momo, rely on route planning software like Kosmo Delivery to determine the most efficient and cost-effective routes.

These route planning apps update routes based on real-world conditions, such as road closures due to construction. Furthermore, they often offer additional features like delivery time windows, proof of delivery, and driver tracking.

The best part is that many route planning tools are available for free, allowing you to allocate the money you earn as a delivery driver toward more enjoyable pursuits. 

How does a Route Planner work?

3 simple steps: 

‍1. Select all the orders you want to optimize

2. ‍Click in “Optimize”

3. Get the Route Optimized

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The Significance of Effective Route Planning

Before we delve into the specifics and recommend various apps, it's essential to understand why utilizing a route planning app is beneficial for your delivery drivers. After all, your phone is likely already filled with numerous applications—do you truly need one more?

Let's explore some advantages of efficient route planning:

Time Savings

The primary objective of route planning is to chart out a sequence of delivery stops that is practical and time-efficient. 

By optimizing routes, route planning minimizes driving time, helping you avoid unnecessary detours and wasted time, such as backtracking. Certain route planners even integrate with mapping tools like Google Maps to provide real-time data on traffic conditions. This enhances efficiency by enabling you to circumvent obstacles like traffic congestion.

Increased Earnings

The ability to complete deliveries quickly directly translates to increased earnings within a shorter timeframe. While also, reducing expenses and efficiency is increased.

Cost Reduction

Route planning assists in reducing overhead costs by establishing faster delivery routes. For instance, a route planner can help you save on fuel expenses by avoiding unnecessary miles and obstacles like traffic congestion. 

Decreasing vehicle mileage also minimizes wear and tear on your delivery vehicle in the long run, resulting in lower maintenance costs. 

Enhanced Customer Experience

Route planners not only simplify the lives of delivery drivers but also contribute to an improved customer experience. Real-time tracking allows for the setting of delivery time windows and provides estimated arrival times (ETAs) for package deliveries. Consequently, customers are aware of when to expect their goods, enhancing their satisfaction. A delighted customer is a boon not only for you but also for your employer.

What Constitutes a Route Planner?

A route planner organizes deliveries in a logical manner, prioritizing efficiency.

But how does this technology work?

Firstly, you need to download a route planning app. Afterward, you input the delivery addresses that require your attention.

The route planner then utilizes AI and map data to arrange the delivery addresses in a logical sequence, with the aim of saving time and effort.

The best route planning tools allow for the addition or removal of stops as needed, with the technology subsequently reoptimizing the route based on these changes.

However, a route planner doesn't solely consider the physical locations of delivery stops on a map. It takes into account several factors to prioritize efficiency.

Let's explore these factors in detail.

The Science behind an Effective Route Planner App

One might assume that by looking at delivery stops on a map, one could create efficient routes based solely on geographic proximity. However, route planners consider more than just the physical locations of each stop.

Route planners also incorporate real-time data on traffic conditions and road situations, aiding in the avoidance of obstacles such as traffic jams and construction sites. They don't merely select the shortest route based solely on distance.

A route planner factors in details such as speed limits, guiding you away from routes likely to hinder your progress. One-way streets are another potential time-consuming hurdle that a route planner takes into account when charting a driving path.

Furthermore, you can prioritize stops according to special requirements. For instance, if a package requires expedited delivery (e.g., within 24 hours), you can mark it as "priority," and the route planner will ensure that the stop receives top priority.

Certain route planners also offer additional features like proof of delivery, a package finder, delivery notes, and delivery time windows.

Factors to Consider When Selecting an Efficient Route Planning Application

The market offers a plethora of route planner apps, but it's crucial to note that not all of them are created equal. Choosing the ideal route planner depends on your specific requirements and preferences. To make an informed decision, here are some key factors to consider:

Capacity: Evaluate the number of packages you typically deliver in a day. Certain tools provide free route planning for a limited number of routes and stops. You can try Kosmo Free Now.

Purpose: Consider the intended use of the route planner. Some apps are designed for specific industries. For instance, a route planner tailored for long-haul truckers takes into account factors like highway tolls and bridge clearances for planning routes suitable for large trucks. While crucial for truckers, such considerations may not be necessary for last-mile delivery services.

Personalized Needs: Identify your unique requirements and preferences. You might desire additional features, such as an integrated proof-of-delivery function to safeguard your personal liability. A package finder feature can help save time searching for packages within your delivery vehicle. Real-time alerts, delivery time windows, or estimated time of arrival (ETA) notifications for customers might also be important. Furthermore, the ability to prioritize certain packages for marketing purposes could be beneficial.

Technical Compatibility: Ensure that the chosen app is compatible with your current mobile phone and operating system.

Considering these factors will aid in selecting the most suitable route planner for your needs.

A Quick Comparison between Route Planning Apps

Thanks to Kosmo, you can start now to streamline your delivery and optimize routes without limits.

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FAQ

What is Kosmo Delivery?

Kosmo Delivery is a Last Mile Delivery app designed for teams. 

Kosmo Delivery provides you with everything you need to optimize, manage, and track your local delivery operations. With our app, you can easily create routes and assign them to your own drivers or third-party couriers. It's a comprehensive solution to streamline your delivery process and ensure efficient operations.

How does a route planner work?

To use a route planner like Kosmo Delivery, follow these three simple steps: 1) Select all the orders you want to optimize, 2) Click on "Optimize," and 3) Get the route optimized. 

The app uses AI and map data to arrange delivery addresses in a logical sequence, considering factors like traffic conditions and road situations to prioritize efficiency.

Save hours every day with Kosmo

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