Optimal routing - distribution

 The majority of our clients are distribution companies.For such kind of companies, while planning routes, it is necessary to take into account - in various combinations - the following parameters:

  •  vehicle type;
  •  Vehicle load capacity, kg;
  •  Vehicle volume, m3;
  •  Capacity, pcs;
  •  SP groupings by type;
  •  SP groupings by geo-zones;
  •  Product groups and their compatibility;
  •  Loading / unloading time at delivery points;
  •  Calculation of costs and prime cost;


We decided to put together all the information on setting the listed parameters, supplementing them with the missing material  in this article.

ANT-Logistics

Vehicle type

 In the system, you can specify what type of vehicle is yours: cargo or passenger.  If delivery is carried out within the city by trucks, while planning, it is necessary to take into account the fact that some roads or even districts may be closed to truck traffic.  If the delivery is carried out by cars up to 3.5t.  - such cars do not belong to the prohibition and are type of passenger cars.  You can select the vehicle type by opening the vehicle properties:

ANT-Logistics

Carrying capacity, capacity, volume


 While planning routes, it is necessary to take into account the restrictions associated with the capacity of vehicles.  These are such units of measurement as: kg, m3, pcs.  These values ​​can be used individually or in any combination.  First, you need to add the required units of measure to the properties of the machines, for which you need to click on the Service - Settings - Accounting tab.  Opposite the needed values,you have to select Yes:

ANT-Logistics

After clicking OK, the selected values ​​will be added to the vehicle properties. Then you can set the capacity of vehicles, enter data about the number of products delivered to the points, and the system will calculate routes taking into account the specified restrictions.


SP groupings by type


 A common situation for distributors is the delivery of large batches of products to supermarkets, and small batches to small shops. From the first type of outlets we should  deliver by larger vehicles that can take on board more goods and for which the supermarket has a place to park. From the second type of outlets we can deliver by small vans, which are easier to maneuver and park on congested streets.  In the service, we divide outlets into 2 groups, for example: supermarkets and minimarkets.  For each group of them, we assign vehicles, for example, trucks for supermarkets and vans for minimarkets, then we start the calculation.  As a result, trucks will go to supermarkets, and vans to small shops.  Detailed instructions in the article Routes by delivery groups. Set up once and use.


 TT grouping by geo-zones


 Another way of the most common planning methods is TT grouping by geo-zones with a specific vehicle or group of vehicles assigned to each zone.  This planning method allows drivers to thoroughly learn the service area and establish contacts with receivers, which generally speeds up the delivery process.  Do not forget that before the introduction of automatic systems, logisticians send cars to certain districts - i.e.  this method also contributes to faster learning to work in the service, since it involves the automation of a model already worked out by the logistician, who only needs to draw zones on the map and start the calculation.  How to start drawing geo-zones on a map and how to create routes by zones, we considered in the webinar Geo-zones and their use in planning.


Product groups and their compatibility


For the transportation of certain groups of goods, specialized vehicles are required, in which it is impractical or impossible to transport other groups (for example, frozen products).  If your distribution activity involves the delivery of different product groups, then you can find instructions with step-by-step settings in the article Calculating of routes by product groups.


 Loading/unloading time at delivery points


 While calculating routes, it is also necessary to take into account the time spent by the vehicle at the point of delivery, which is required for loading / unloading products.  In the system, such an administrative time spent at a point consists of 2 parts:


 1. Fixed - the time required for the car to park, fill out documents, etc.  This time is set in the parameters for all points, or imported into each specific application, taking into account possible changes;


 2. Variable - the time required to unload products, that depends

 on the amount of products to be unloaded or loaded.  It sets in the properties of product groups for each group of goods, separately for loading and for unloading;


 In this example, the loading/unloading speed is set to 10 m3/min:


ANT-Logistics

I.e. If a car needs, for example, 10 minutes to park at a point, and it has to unload 2m3, then the administrative time spent at the point will be 30 minutes (10+10+10).  Thus, the service automatically calculates the unloading / loading time for each point, depending on the size of the shipped products, and takes this time into account while building the route.

 Calculation of costs and prime cost


 While calculating routes, the service allows you to get not only mileage and time, but also the cost part.  Tariffs are registered in the subordinate box of the car, Tariff tab:


ANT-Logistics


If you specify several tariffs, they will all be summed up and at the end of the calculation the total cost for the route and the cost per point will be displayed.

 If, while importing, you specify how much you can earn delivering goods to a either point (Profit field), then after the calculation, profit will be displayed for the route and points:


ANT-Logistics

The cost price can be displayed in 2 versions: costs are proportional to the points (as in the previous example), or taking into account the tariffs per km and hour - while choosing this formula, the cost of the points will be calculated according to the formula:


 Point cost = total mileage/number of points* pare per km + total travel time/amount of points*pare per hour + time at the point*pare per hour.



 You can select the type of prime cost calculation formula in the parameters, Logistics+ tab:

ANT-Logistics

If you are interested in the described functionality, we are ready to demonstrate its operation, perform the necessary settings and provide access to the service.  To do this, leave a request on the ANT-Logistics website.








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