Once again, it’s time for our traditional «Service Update» section. This time we have prepared even more new features that will make your work more convenient.
What have the developers brought us this time? Let’s take a closer look at the main updates.
New methods of working with requests and routes
In API(v2), new methods of working with requests and routes have been added, namely:
1. Request Comps – working with request points:
- Get Request Comps – returns a page-by-page list of request points;
- Edit Request Comps – updates the list of request points on the server;
- Delete Request Comps – sends a command to delete request points to the server.
2. Request – working with a list of requests:
- Get Request – returns a list of requests;
- Edit Request – updates the list of requests on the server;
- Delete Request – sends a command to delete requests to the server.
3. Routes – working with routes:
- Get Routes – returns the formed routes. Will return only those routes that are fully calculated;
- Edit Routes – updates the list of pre-configured routes on the server;
- Delete Route – sends the command to delete routes to the server;
- Calculate route – calculates the route.
4. Route Comps – works with route points:
- Get Route Comps – returns the list of points of formed routes;
- Edit Route Comps – updates the list of points of ready-made routes on the server;
- Delete Route Comps – sends the command to delete routes to the server.
Merging related directories
We have completely rethought the structure of the system directories, combining them into logical groups. Now related directories are available through a convenient tab system, which significantly speeds up work.
An important feature: when switching tabs, the system saves your filters and highlighted items, and hides elements that are not relevant to this tab.
There is now a new button in the Vehicles/Vehicle Groups directory on the Vehicles tab. It allows you to hide or show additional tabs.
New parameters for optimizing route compactness
The service has implemented a tool to increase route compactness. Now, compactness can be influenced using two parameters:
- Allowable deterioration score, % – the maximum permitted decrease in route evaluation when increasing compactness;
- Minimum distance to candidate, km – the minimum distance between neighboring points in the route, at which a point can be considered a candidate for transferring to another route.
They are available in the Settings module, Optimization factors tab.
The work of this functionality is described in more detail in the article “How to make routes more compact. New functionality in ANT-Logistics”.
The mobile app hasn’t been overlooked either — plenty of cool updates here as well!
Changes in navigation.
Among the new features is a pilot version of the internal navigator. Now, by clicking on the navigation icon in the “Next point” block (the “Route point” screen), you will immediately get a route from the current point to the next one.
Also, the ability to select a navigator has been added to the settings. The user can choose an internal or one of the proposed external options. To do this, click the Settings icon on the top panel of the Point screen, choose the Navigation option, and select the desired navigator from the list of available ones.
Depending on the launch option (from the top panel or from the Next Point block), the navigator will open the current or next route point.
Changing point coordinates
Another update concerns changing point coordinates. Now, when the «Coordinates» command is used, a window opens with a pin at the location of the last recorded coordinates.
To confirm the coordinates (the location displayed on the map), the driver clicks the tick on the top panel (1), after which the data is sent to the server.
If the received coordinates are not correct, the driver can reposition himself at the current location (2) or refuse to update the coordinates by closing the map screen.
Update to Register of Orders
Working with the order register has become more convenient. Now it has tabs for orders of the corresponding statuses, as well as a general tab “ALL”, which greatly simplifies work and increases the efficiency of order management.
To prevent situations where orders were not formed on time and did not reach the server, a corresponding warning is displayed when exiting the Register.
To improve tracking of orders, when they are sent to the server, the time and date of acquiring the status «Formed» are indicated.
Limiting the directions of a point for a new payment
The next new feature is the ability to limit the directions for new payments depending on the point.
When setting a limit on points on the server, only those directions that are available to both the employee and the selected point are now provided for a new payment.
Adding photos from any source
You’ve asked for it – we did it. The mobile application now allows you to add photos from any source to a task. This applies both to the Photo type task itself and to other tasks when adding photos to them as additional information.
If adding photos from any source is allowed, a source selection window will open when adding a photo, otherwise the camera will open immediately.
The method of adding a photo is defined on the server for each task separately:
- open the Tasks directory and double-click on the desired line to open the Editing Record window;
- in the General tab, move the Photo from arbitrary source switch to the active position.
By default, the option is disabled, i.e. you can add photos only from the camera.
Route Points screen update
There are already a lot of new features, but we didn’t stop there – the Route Points screen has changed its appearance. A Search button has appeared on the top panel, after clicking on which, a search bar opens. The search is carried out for all points, including hidden ones.
There is also a QR code button in this row, which when clicked opens a barcode scanner. It finds the corresponding route point based on the scanning.
If one match is found, the corresponding point will open automatically.
And that’s not all. In addition to searching and scanning, tabs have been added to filter route points, allowing you to quickly switch between visited and unvisited points, as well as view the entire route.
Points in tabs are arranged in the order of the route. The number of points is indicated in brackets next to the tab name.
Additional columns in the route point list
Additional columns in the route point list are now displayed more effectively.
To display additional columns on the Route Points screen, you need to:
- open the Table Settings > Routes (SP) document in the service. In the subwindow, select the field that will be displayed in the column;
- in the Mobile app tab, set the Show (mobile) switch to the active position;
- for the Portrait and Landscape orientation fields, select the Separate column option.
The column headers will appear on the Route Points screen.
Please note! Different column sets can now be selected for landscape and portrait orientations.
Restriction on the frequency of sending location data to the server
The changes do not end there — the settings for the time interval for GPS data transmission have been updated (Settings>GPS data transmission> Time interval).
The default interval is set to 1 minute.
To ensure correct operation after the update, the system automatically adjusts the value: if the set interval goes outside the allowed range, it is adjusted to the nearest valid value or reset to the default — 1 minute.
That’s all the new features for now, but we’re not stopping! There are still many interesting updates ahead that will make your work with us even more convenient and productive.
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.
