21.10.2025 — admin

How not to fall into the «minus»? — Monitoring the cost-effectiveness of routes

Posted on 21.10.202521.10.2025 by admin

In the webinar Calculate the cost of routes, we showed how the cash calculation model works, in which the service first of all selects vehicles with lower tariffs for planning.

The «financial» capabilities of the system are not limited to this. The user can also calculate the profitability of routes. This calculation allows you to exclude unprofitable points from the route or calculate additional profit for them, which will always allow you to get the most profitable routes.

First of all, you need to set the calculation per money model in the parameters, set the tariffs for vehicles and load the delivery points with the Profit field filled in:

We will calculate the profitability of routes in 3 different versions, and having determined the optimal one for ourselves, we will copy the route to the main one. Before the calculation, do not forget to copy the calculation parameters from the «Basic» version to other versions in order to obtain objective results.

So, we will choose Version 1. In this version, the route will be calculated taking into account profitability. To do this, in the Additional parameters box, go to the Calculation modes tab, in the Calculation of profitability field, select Do not exclude unprofitable points from routes. Save the changes OK and start generating routes:

As a result, we got a route in which the Expenses are 4649 monetary units higher than the Profit received from the points, which makes this route unprofitable. Below, in line № 2, the number of unprofitable points is displayed, the total profit of which is less than the Expenses. Lower, in the subordinate route box, unprofitable points are marked with the corresponding icon:

Pay attention! The columns Expenses and Profit in routes, and Profit and Extra profit are displayed using the Table Settings directory.

For the next calculation option, select Version 2. In the Routes formation box, select the same vehicle. In this case, in the Calculation of profitability field, select Exclude unprofitable points from routes:

In this calculation, the system excluded all unprofitable points from the route, calculating the route only for 1 point. The profit from delivery to which exceeds the Expenses:

Version 3. In this calculation option, we will offer the system itself to determine the extra profit that needs to be received from unprofitable points so that the route turns out to be profitable.

In the Routes formation box, select the same vehicle, and in the Calculation of profitability field, select Add to profitability:

In contrast to the first version of the calculation, the profit in this route is 18 units higher, which makes it profitable, while, unlike the second version, there were not any points excluded from the route. The system determined the amount of extra profit (in other words, how much more money you need to take from the client for delivery) to make this route profitable:

So there are 3 calculation options:

The system calculated the route for all points, indicating at the same time which of them are unprofitable in this transport task;
The system calculated the route only for cost-effective points, the remaining points are excluded from the route;
The system calculated the route for all points, while additional profit was calculated for unprofitable points;

Which option to choose? — of course, it depends on the processes established in your company. If, for example, the 3rd option is more suitable for you, just copy the routes into the main version of the calculation:

After copying, the routes will be displayed in the Main version, and the order points will be marked as those for which the routes have already been calculated, i.e. will not be active for calculations.

Now let’s complicate the task. We will load 120 delivery points and calculate the profitability. In this case, the system has calculated 2 routes and it is already more difficult to find points for which additional profit is calculated:

And if the calculation is performed for 600 points, then manually sorting out 20 or more routes becomes even more problematic. However, it is not difficult to filter such points in the analytical module. Go to the Analytics module, select Analysis — Profitability, set the desired range and you will see a clear picture of the routes as a whole, as well as a list of points with additional profit.

An example of a report in the form of a table:

Pay attention! If you didn’t find the corresponding report — it needs to be created. If you are our client — contact support and we will add a report to your account.

Let’s summarize. The calculation of profitability gives an understanding of whether your transport service is working to «plus» or «minus». If the expenses in most cases are greater than the profit, this indicates that it is time not only to look for new ways to optimize costs, but also to revise the cost of delivery.

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.

Routes by delivery groups. Set up once and use.

Posted on 21.10.202521.10.2025 by admin

Previously, we described how to use the Delivery Groups tool, link vehicles to a specific service area, and calculate routes for different geo-zones. This is convenient, but not in all cases.

For example, for the delivery of large-sized goods, it is necessary to use trucks, while targeted deliveries of small-sized goods are handled much more efficiently by more maneuverable and economical cars. Also, there are often situations when it is not necessary to do the division into routes — it has already been done in another program and you just need to correctly display real routes, calculate time and mileage.

In this article, we will look at how to use delivery groups in combination with sales point groups and calculate routes for these groups. We consider that the division into routes is made in the user program and uploaded to the sales point group field . We need to take into account this division on the ANT-Logistics service.

In the directories, select Sales point groups, then press +, in the field that appears, enter the caption, for example, TMS group, indicate the opening hours for the point groups and the desired figure, then press OK:

In the same way, we will create 2 more groups: AFT group and TCP group.

Then, you need to add machines, how to do this can be seen here. In this case, I’ve added 3 vehicles: cargo — MAN 1 and cars — Mercedes and Mersedes 2:

Let’s create delivery groups. To do this, open the Directores, Delivery groups, +, specify the name, OK:

I’ve added 2 more groups: Group 1 and Group 2.

Now we need to link a car to each delivery group. To do this, we press the desired group, select the Vehicles tab at the bottom, +, specify the vehicle, OK, check the «Select» checkbox:

Link 2 more vehicles to other delivery groups in the same way.

The last step in the settings is linking a point groups to a delivery group. Press the desired group, open the Groups tab at the bottom, +, select the desired group of points, OK:

Now link 2 more point groups to the rest of the delivery groups.

All settings are completed, so you can export delivery points.

To generate an Excel file, you have to fill in the CompGroup_Name column, in which, opposite each address, you must put the name of the desired point groups:

Open Directories — Delivery groups, open Requests.

Pay attention — the inscription Delivery groups must be green. If the inscription is red — open Requests.

Click on General and click Distribute by SP groups:

The points are divided into groups according to the names of the delivery groups. The list of points of a particular delivery group can be seen below by clicking on the desired group:

Specify the groups for which you want to generate routes and click Generate routes:

Routes are generated at the same time.

Go to Routes, click Compare routes, select all routes:

Routes by delivery groups are clearly presented on the map.

Calculation of routes by product groups

Posted on 21.10.202521.10.2025 by admin

In November 2017, a new service feature was added — calculation of routes with the condition of distributing groups of goods by vehicles assigned to them. For example, goods of the «frozen» group have to be transported only by vehicles specially equipped for this purpose, nevertheless other goods should not get into the refrigerator.

Start setting — go to Settings, Accounting tab, opposite the Use Product Groups field, select Yes and save the changes:

Create product groups in the Product Groups directory. In our example, two groups are created: Frozen and Fruits and vegetables — a group that does not require special transportation conditions.

Then go to the Products directory 1 and add the necessary products. When adding record in the Name field 2, select a product group from the drop-down list (in our example, it is Frozen or Fruits and vegetables):

Let’s go to the Vehicle directory 1, select the vehicle and open the Prod.Group tab 2 in the subwindow. From the drop-down list, select the product group that this car will transport 3 :

In the same way, we will link product groups to other vehicles from the directory. If it’s necessary, you can select several product groups for the machine by adding product groups using the + button on the control panel for the elements of the directory 1:

Prepare an Excel file for importing delivery points. To do this, add the following columns to it:

Product_Id 1 — product code. Here you can specify the code of the product that needs to be delivered to this point. If several goods need to be delivered there, the point must be duplicated the required number of times .
Request_Num 2 – request number. This field specifies the request (order) number for the delivery point.

Pay attention! For goods of the same product group which are delivered to the same point, the request number must match. But for different points or for different product groups, the request number must not match.

Upload the file to the server, click Generate routes, and in the Additional parameters select the Compatibility 1 tab. Then, in the Control rule for product groups 2 field, set the required parameter:

The option Consider the compatibility of points and vehicles — while forming routes, distributes product groups by vehicles intended for them. This option allows you to transport several groups of goods in one car, if this option is specified in the vehicle settings. For example, if the product groups Frozen and Documents are specified for a refrigerated truck in the vehicle settings, then if the Consider the compatibility of points and vehicles option is enabled, the service can place both product groups in this vehicle at the same time.
The Separate and account for compatibility parameter must be activated if it is required to transport strictly only one product group in each vehicle, even if the vehicle settings indicate the possibility of transporting several product groups. For example, if for a refrigerated truck the Frozen and Documents product groups are specified in the vehicle settings, then if the Separate and account for compatibility option is enabled, the service will place only one product group (either frozen or documents) in this vehicle.

After calculating the routes, it is clear that the product groups are distributed strictly according to the vehicles assigned to them:

Loading sheet — accounting of goods

Posted on 21.10.202521.10.2025 by admin

Let’s talk about the Loading Sheet today. This functionality is indispensable for distributors or companies involved in the distribution of bottled water.

So what is a Loading Sheet and why it is needed?

A Loading sheet is a functionality in the ANT-Logistics mobile application that allows you to keep track of the amount of goods loaded into a vehicle from a warehouse and unloaded at sales points.

Using the Loading sheet, you can see the list and quantity of products in the vehicle at the moment and, based on this information, plan the possibility of visiting additional points.

The Loading sheet table includes:

1. Data on goods (1) :

Product group;
Product code;
Product code string;
Product name.

2. Data on the quantity of goods:

Order Quantity, Order Weight, Order V, m3 2 — total quantity of goods for all points of the route (calculated field — these values are calculated automatically by the service);
Loaded Quantity, Loaded Weight, Loaded V,m3 3 — quantity of goods loaded into the vehicle in the warehouse (this value is filled in by the user);
New quantity, New weight, New V, m3 4 — the total quantity of goods currently shipped to the visited points (calculated field);
Remaining Quantity, Remaining Weight, Remaining V, m3 5 — the amount of goods that is in the vehicle. This is a calculated field, calculated by the service according to the formula: Balance = Loaded — New quantity;
Reserve Quantity, Reserve Weight, Reserve V, m3 6 — reserve quantity of goods loaded into the vehicle in the warehouse. Calculated by the service according to the formula: Reserve = Loaded — Order + Quantity of goods not shipped at the visited points.

Pay attantion! In the loading sheet, fields with data on the quantity of goods are displayed depending on the selected units for accounting 1 (weight, quantity, volume, or their combinations ) in the Accounting tab 2 of the Settings box 3. In the example below, accounting is only in pieces, therefore The following fields are displayed in the Loading sheet: Order Quantity, Loaded Quantity, New Quantity, Remaining Quantity, Reserved Quantity.

It’s vital to note that the service has the ability to customize the display (Show / Hide) and the width of the fields in the Loading sheet. To do this go to the Table Settings Directory 1, select Documents/Loading Sheet 2. A list of fields that can be edited will open in the sub-box: hide 3 or change the width.

In order for drivers to be able to use Loading sheets, it is necessary to enable the use of this functionality. To do this, go to the Service, Settings 1. In the Mobile App tab 2 in the Type of loading list used field 3, select the required value. Save changes — OK.

Then add applications with goods to the Requests’ Directory to create a route.

After that, when a driver enters the mobile application using his login, the generated route will be available to him.The actions of the driver in the mobile application for working in the Loading sheet :

The driver clicks on the route and selects the Settings button 1 in the quick access menu that opens. If the Loading button is not in the quick access menu or additional menu, they can be added in Settings 2 by ticking the required item 3.

After loading the products into the truck, the driver fills in the Loaded field 1 in the Loading sheet. To do this, he must click on the line with the goods and in the Editing box 2 that opens, enter the actual value of the quantity of loaded goods. You can also click the Loaded all button 3 — after confirmation, the values from the Order field 4 will be copied to all empty Loaded fields. Lines in which the Loaded field is filled are displayed in bold. If goods that are not in the order were loaded into the vehicle, then such goods can be added to the Loading sheet using the Add button 5.

The Warning icon 6 can be displayed in the Product Name field in the following cases:

If the quantity of the goods loaded into the vehicle is less than the quantity of the ordered goods (i.e. the value of the Loaded field < the value of the Order field).
If the Order field for the item is empty.

Further, in the process of bypassing points, the driver enters data on the number of goods issued. To do this, he enters the Products of point 1 . In the list that opens, by clicking on the line with the goods, the driver calls up the Editing 2 box and enters the issued quantity of products.

When the point is marked visited by 1, the Loading sheet will update the data on the shipped quantity and the remaining goods 2,3.

Thus, in the process of visiting points, the driver will always see how much goods are still in the car, and will be able to quickly make decisions on the possibility of supplementing the route with new requests without returning to the warehouse for the missing products.