Application Overview

1    Setting Up Descartes Route Planner

a   The administrator sets up the Schedule, Route, and Stop templates.

b   The administrator sets up the Schedules (planning, reservation, Dispatcher, etc) that are used to determine and assign activities for incoming orders.

2    Getting Data Into Descartes Route Planner

a   The administrator ensures that the necessary data for Resources, Locations, Orders, and buckets (if Reservations is being used) are available to Descartes Route Planner.

b   Descartes Dataflow, an intermediate data repository, can be used to support both methods of data entry.

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

See the Descartes Route Planner Installation & Configuration Guide for details on Descartes Route Planner data entry.

3    Assigning Data to a Schedule

a   The data are assigned to a schedule when imported into Descartes Route Planner. The assignment is based on the Schedule key passed on in each of the records imported into Descartes Route Planner.

b   The process of creating Stops and Routes is done automatically during the import process. Descartes Route Planner translates orders into activities and Stops, and resources into Routes. It creates empty Routes and Unassigned Stops when resources and orders are imported into Descartes Route Planner.

4    Creating and Planning Routes

a   Descartes Route Planner can create routing plans using the empty Routes and Unassigned Stops.

b   Route Planner can use several methods to optimize the Routes and schedule Stops according to the organization’s established criteria and order requirements.

c   Route Planner reviews the Schedules and Routes and verifies whether Stops have been assigned to Routes optimally and that resources are being used efficiently.

5    Executing Routes

a   Planned Routes and associated data are moved to the Dispatcher schedule for execution by the dispatcher.

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

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

Planning Routes

Executing Routes