ROUTE SCHEDULING

Getting the best return on applied resources, whilst protecting both the individual and customer service, is a difficult balancing act. Whether the objective is to cover more client visits with fewer people, reduce fuel costs and carbon emissions or to simply strike a better balance between drive time and customer-facing time, Geoplan route scheduling software can help you achieve it.

Whilst recent economic events may have sharpened resolve in these areas, it is true to say that visit scheduling is always a challenge and has the ability to be very wasteful if not planned, implemented and reviewed on a frequent basis.

Current issues with Route Scheduling

Increasingly, resource is overstretched, overspent or misdirected; this is often due to poor organisation rather than insufficient capacity or budget. This situation is often misunderstood or mis-communicated, resulting in management stress, disgruntled staff, high levels of absence, unnecessary investment, recruitment or re –direction and ultimately unhappy customers.

How Geoplan can help

The key is to accurately match resource to business needs, not simply at a “territorial level” but to dig deeper, by developing service approaches that are appropriate for differing customer profiles. For those who need face-to-face contact, realistic and efficient call cycles, based on achievable and flexible routes, are of paramount importance.

Wherever we have applied our approach we have succeeded in reducing customer servicing costs by circa 20%. Even where there has been doubt in the minds of the field forces involved, we have been able to demonstrate to their satisfaction that the routes are better for them, the business and the customer.

Many other route scheduling solutions result in the production of a pre planned cycle. In some cases this can work, but often the ability to continually flex plans in the field within pre –agreed limits delivers the best result. To achieve this Geoplan has developed TOM TOM Visit Manager, a system that links route scheduling to “Sat Nav” and provides the ability to flex plans using a PDA or laptop for feedback to the new plan as required.

Learn more about our Route Scheduling software