Descartes Route Planner Workflow

1    Setting Up Descartes Route Planner

·        The administrator sets up the different templates.

·        The administrator sets up the Schedules (planning, reservation, dispatch).

·        The administrator sets up resources which will also create the Route link between Schedule and resource entities.

·        The administrator sets up the buckets.

·        The administrator sets up the Depot Locations.

2    Getting Data Into Descartes Route Planner

·        The administrator ensures that the necessary data for resources, locations, orders, and buckets (if Reservations is being used) is available to Descartes Route Planner.

·        The administrator can use Transport Order Entry™ to enter existing data.

·        LNOS Drawbridge™, an intermediate data transfer application; can be used to support the data transfer into Descartes Route Planner.

·        The administrator ensures that new incoming data (orders, resources, reservation windows, etc.) enters Descartes Route Planner using these methods.

3    Assigning Data to a Schedule

·        The administrator sets up groups - also called Schedules - to organize the incoming data into logical problem sets.

·        Descartes Route Planner translates orders into activities and Stops. It creates empty Routes and Unassigned Stops when resources and orders are imported into Descartes Route Planner.

4    Creating Routes

·        The Route planner uses Descartes Route Planner to create routing plans using the empty Routes and Unassigned Stops.

·        The Route planner can use several methods to optimize the Routes and schedule Stops according to your organization’s established criteria and order requirements.

·        The Route planner reviews the Schedules and Routes and verifies that Stops have been assigned to Routes optimally and that resources are being used efficiently.

5    Executing Routes

·        Planned Routes and associated data are moved to the dispatch Schedule for execution by the dispatcher.

·        The dispatcher can assign new orders and optimize Routes as new orders arrive.

·        The dispatcher can communicate with drivers using wireless technology to monitor the progress of Routes and communicate Route changes.

Data Model Introduction