Optimal routing is the search for the perfect route between point A and point B; that is, among all the possible paths in a network such as streets and highways, to find the one that is "best". From this same statement arises the need to define the best route: the one that transports us in the shortest time, the one in which we will find the least amount of obstacles, the one that allows our operators to save the most time and energy, and therefore improves the overall field process through better routing.
Optimal routing has evolved over the years; the latest technologies interact with the updated condition of routes and roads, constantly defining and redefining, dynamically, the optimized way to get from point A to point B.
Companies that generate field operations, with the required operational deployment that this entails, are not only faced with the need to monitor the activity of their operators but also to facilitate it, by means of valuable tools that make their routing more efficient and simple, that is, that allow them to save decisions and save time in terms of route selection.
Optimal routing increases the productivity of the logistics process: it lowers operating costs and makes the operator's task easier and more efficient.
Routing technology reduces the idle time of equipment in the field. The time spent by an operator in deciding which route to take is generated more intelligently and quickly by software such as that designed by GoDoWorks, which knows exactly the variables inherent to the technician and his field activity, and therefore manages to reduce the effort dedicated to routing in field operations. This in turn reduces all coordination operations related to routing and improves operational, administrative and management processes. The different waiting times generated when different actors in this chain interact are reduced, resulting in more fluid, flexible and, above all, efficient operations.
These improvements and savings translate into increased productivity and lower costs. For example, our experience in process optimization with companies such as Conatel, Axon Pharma or Contacto Solutions has allowed us to reduce operating and management times and costs, which, added to all the process digitalization provided by the GoDoWorks tool, has improved productivity by more than 20%.
Optimal routing is more secure, efficient and intelligent because it not only obtains data in real time but also knows its historical evolution and forecasts demand.
The artificial intelligence that is in charge of establishing which route is the best choice at a certain time, has updated and accurate information that a human driver does not have. In addition, it is capable of obtaining in an instant a historical view of the demand for routes for a certain area, according to the time of day, week or year, which provides an enriched context of information to generate optimal decisions.
The routing optimization performed by state-of-the-art artificial intelligence is no longer static but dynamic: routing is posed as open to various unexpected factors, such as the occurrence of process failures, and therefore dynamic decisions are obtained, handling large amounts of information simultaneously and contemplating a multitude of processes and operators in parallel. This substantially eases the supervisory burden on operations and improves the quality of the supervisory work.
Optimal routing also makes the process operation safer, allowing the driving technician to concentrate better, avoid bad roads, or congested roads where accidents are more likely to occur.
Improved lead times result in more satisfied customers
The savings in waiting times and the reduction of handling times translate into an acceleration of process operations. These benefits are reflected in the service provided, which, on the customer's side, enjoys greater punctuality, fewer delays and a better response. In other words, the tools we incorporate into the process operations allow us to ensure the quality agreed with the customer.
Conclusion
Optimal routing is one of the tools used by geomanagement software to improve field operations. It allows the field operator to better navigate complex routes through the integration and knowledge of his field activity, generating facilities, both for him and his supervisors, and shortening times and distances. This translates into an overall improvement of operations and a noticeable increase in the productivity of field processes.