Dynamic route planning bedeutet, dass Touren nicht nur einmal am Morgen geplant, sondern während des Tages laufend an neue Ereignisse angepasst werden. Eilaufträge, Stornierungen, Staus oder Fahrzeugausfälle fließen sofort in die Planung ein. So bleiben Touren auch dann wirtschaftlich und pünktlich, wenn der Tag anders läuft als geplant.
Route planning often takes place in a dynamic environment, i.e. there are constant changes and information that must be taken into account immediately (new orders, cancellations, disruptions, order changes, delays, vehicle breakdown, etc.). Software with dynamic route planning can react automatically and flexibly to changes during planning in real time, as possible events and uncertainties are included in the planning in advance. This means that created and modified route plans are robust with regard to changes, i.e. only minor changes are made.
A comparison of static and dynamic route planning.
In static route planning, the route plan is drawn up once – usually the day before or early in the morning – and then remains in force for the whole day. Dynamic planning, on the other hand, treats the plan as a starting point that is continuously adjusted.
| Characteristic | Static route planning | Dynamic route planning |
|---|---|---|
| Time of planning | once before the tour begins | before and during the tour |
| Data source | well-known commissions | Known orders plus real-time data |
| New orders received during the day | manually or the following day | are scheduled into ongoing tours |
| Response to disruptions | The planner reschedules manually | The software suggests adjustments |
| Suitable for | Regular delivery schedules, predictable quantities | Urgent orders, call-off customers, service call-outs |
In practice, the two are not mutually exclusive. Many companies plan a stable basic structure using static methods, such as framework tours, and supplement this with dynamic planning for anything that comes up at short notice.
Which events trigger dynamic planning.
Any deviation from the plan is a potential reason to recalculate the routes. Typical examples include:
- New orders received during the day: urgent orders, repeat orders or call-off customers who only get in touch in the morning.
- Cancellations and changes: A customer cancels, reschedules their time slot or changes the quantity.
- Traffic and road closures: Traffic jams, accidents or last-minute road closures can increase journey times.
- Disruptions: If a vehicle breaks down or a driver is unable to work, their stops must be redistributed across other routes.
- Delays at the customer’s premises: Longer waiting times during loading and unloading cause all subsequent stops to be delayed.
- Failed delivery attempts: The recipient is not at home; the parcel must be delivered at a later date.
Without dynamic planning, these incidents end up with the dispatcher on the phone. With it, he can see straight away which routes are affected and which rescheduling option is the most cost-effective.
Für welche Branchen sich die Planung in Echtzeit lohnt.
The benefits are greatest wherever some of the orders are only confirmed later in the day.
- Service technicians and field staff: Fault reports and emergencies come in at short notice and must be fitted into existing work schedules. → Route planning for service staff
- Laboratory and healthcare logistics: Samples must reach the laboratory within a maximum transi t time, and some doctors’ surgeries arrange collections at short notice: → Route planning in the healthcare sector
- Courier, express and parcel services: high number of stops, tight time slots and collection orders throughout the day. → Route planning for CEP services
- Passenger transport: Passengers cancel or are booked at short notice, for example with patient transport services. → Transport service software
- Wholesale and food logistics: Replenishment orders and reloads must be incorporated into existing delivery routes. → Route planning for the wholesale sector
Touren im Tagesverlauf anpassen mit TransIT.
With the TransIT route planning software, you can plan your routes optimally in the morning and adjust them flexibly throughout the day without having to rebuild the plan from scratch each time. You can see just how much potential your routes hold in just a few steps using our savings calculator.
Frequently asked questions about dynamic route planning.
What is the difference between dynamic tour planning and dynamic route planning?
Dynamic route planning determines which vehicle carries out which jobs and in what order. Dynamic route optimisation recalculates the route between stops, for example in the event of traffic jams. Together, these two features ensure that routes remain efficient even when disruptions occur.
For which businesses is dynamic route planning worthwhile?
For anyone who receives, has cancelled or has amended a significant proportion of their orders at short notice. Typical examples include parcel and express delivery services, service engineers, laboratory and healthcare logistics, waste disposal companies and transport services.
Will software replace the dispatcher?
No. The software detects discrepancies and suggests alternative schedules; the decision remains with the dispatcher. This saves the dispatcher time, as they no longer have to calculate every change manually.
What data does real-time planning require?
In addition to order data, the focus is primarily on real-time information: vehicle locations via GPS, the status of completed stops from the driver’s app, and new orders from the ERP system. This is supplemented by time slots, vehicle capacities, and driving and rest periods.
Will the journeys remain reliable for drivers and customers?
Yes, provided the planning is robust. Good systems only alter the existing plan as much as is necessary, so that drivers aren’t constantly being given new sequences and customers retain their time slots.
