If you and your business are new to vehicle routing software, deciding which product is best suited to your operations can be a real challenge - not least because there are so many options available.
How well a system works for your day-to-day activities may take some trial and error: only after some weeks using a package will it become clear how it enhances your business. For this reason, it's important to take advantage of any free trial periods.
'Hitching your cart' to the right software is also critical because many products are not cheap - especially when you start paying for add-on features. You need to ensure there is a real return on investment.
However, almost any dedicated route planning software saves time when compared to planning routes manually.
An effective route optimisation system will integrate seamlessly with website order/warehouse data, help streamline deliveries with optimal route plans, keep customers updated with delivery times and be able to handle the unexpected - such as customers being suddenly unable to take delivery at the scheduled times.
Here we look at some of the most popular route management software options available to UK businesses, with pros and cons for each.
What are the benefits of route planning software?
Route optimisation software companies often use a plethora of complex-sounding features to sell their products, but their prime objective is quite simple: to plan the most efficient route for your day's deliveries.
Before route planning software, a delivery driver would be handed a printed list of delivery locations and would then have to work out the most logical route. This would take time and was often less efficient due to human error. GPS-based route planning software can work out the best route in seconds - saving time and money.
Today's systems also allow fleet managers to see where their drivers are and include features like proof of delivery and automated customer notifications.
What about free route planning software options?
Free products like Google Maps are great for planning routes on an ad hoc basis, but aren't useful for companies who carry out dozens of deliveries a day; using Google Maps to plan such routes would waste many hours. It might, however, be a helpful tool for companies that only have one or two deliveries a day - such as furniture removers.
Below we look at the seven of the most popular route optimisation applications.
Circuit
UK-based Circuit offers real-time route management and optimisation that is flexible enough to adapt to problems as they occur, thereby saving time and by extension, money.
Users have been impressed by the intuitive interface, which, the firm says, means you can be up and running with the software on the first day of use.
Pricing is scalable and new features are being added on an ongoing basis.
More than 500 million packages have been delivered with Circuit.
What customers like about Circuit:
- Easy to use
- Stable application (rarely crashes)
- Being able to add delivery timeframes
- Customers can send messages while items are out for delivery, enabling time slot changes
What customers don’t like about Circuit:
- Relatively expensive
Key features of Circuit:
- Live driver tracking
- Territory management
- Performance metrics
- Status tracking
- Scheduling
- Mobile access
- Delivery tracking
- GPS
- Instant route adjustments
- Delivery proof capture
Features not offered:
- Fuel tracking
Capterra rating: 4.8/5
Google Play rating: 4.6/5
OptimoRoute
Long-established OptimoRoute harnesses sophisticated algorithms to plan and optimise deliveries in seconds. The publishers point to the app's ease of use, flexibility and ability to dramatically reduce fuel and driver costs.
OptimoRoute is aimed at businesses of all sizes, whether they do a handful or thousands of stops per month.
What customers like about OptimoRoute:
- Good customer service
- Affordable compared to other platforms
- Customisable mails and texts
- Easy to use
What customers don’t like about OptimoRoute:
- Lack of calendar feature
- Some concerns about map accuracy/updates
Key features of OptimoRoute:
- Live driver tracking
- Territory management
- Performance metrics
- Status tracking
- Scheduling
- Mobile access
- Delivery tracking
- GPS
- Instant route adjustments
- Delivery proof capture
Features not offered:
- Fuel tracking
Capterra rating: 4.6/5
Google Play rating (Driver app): 4.5/5
Motive
This hugely popular route planning software offers GPS tracking, ELD compliance, smart dashcams, maintenance scheduling - all in real time.
As well as planning efficient routes, Motive maintains a strong focus on driver safety and compliance, with its integrated dashcam systems. It also helps keep tabs on the location and health of vehicles, equipment and assets.
This software was previously called KeepTruckin.
What customers like about Motive:
- Uncluttered, easy-to-use desktop and mobile apps
- High quality, stable camera feed
- Good customer service
What customers don't like about Motive:
- Expensive compared to some alternatives
- Not satellite-based - meaning tracking is unreliable in areas with limited mobile phone coverage
Key features of Motive:
- Live driver tracking
- Territory management
- Performance metrics
- Status tracking
- Scheduling
- Mobile access
- Delivery tracking
- GPS
- Instant route adjustments
- Delivery proof capture
- Fuel tracking
Capterra rating: 4.5/5
Routific
Another popular piece of route optimisation software is Routific, which harnesses Google Maps data meaning it can be used reliably around the world - including in the UK.
Routific describes itself as "a complete delivery management platform" with an emphasis on automating and managing deliveries.
Aimed at small to medium-sized businesses, Routific helps keep deliveries on schedule while tracking drivers and keeping customers updated.
Planning, tracking and optimising routes can be accomplished in minutes, say the publishers.
What customers like about Routific:
- Dramatically reduces time spent planning routes
- Being able to see orders ready to dispatch on a specific day - at a glance
- Customer notifications - which cut down time spent talking to customers
What customers don’t like about Routific:
- Live tracking costs extra
Key features of Routific:
- Live driver tracking
- Performance metrics
- Status tracking
- Scheduling
- Mobile access
- Delivery tracking
- GPS
Features not offered:
- Fuel tracking
- Territory management
Capterra rating: 4.9/5
Google Play rating: none
eLogii
eLogii is another UK-based route optimisation platform that counts the National Health Service and Foodservice among its clients.
The publishers say its product is best suited to organisations with more than 10 vehicles and over 100 orders per day.
Real-time visibility and tracking, a high level of configurability and a high end-user satisfaction rate are among its key draws.
Would-be users can book a demonstration.
What customers like about eLogii:
- Easy-to-navigate dashboard
- Beginner friendly
- Good training and support
- Bugs are rare but get fixed promptly
What customers don't like about eLogii:
- Integration problems
- Translations sometimes inaccurate
Key features of eLogii:
- Live driver tracking
- Territory management
- Performance metrics
- Status tracking
- Scheduling
- Mobile access
- Delivery tracking
Features not offered:
- Fuel tracking
Capterra rating: 4.8/5
Google Play rating: 2.7/5
GSMtasks
UK-published GSMtasks is a dedicated route planning and optimisation platform that aims to make planning multi-stop routes as easy as possible for fleet managers.
It maintains a heavy focus on controlling costs, optimising route efficiency, and providing actionable analytics.
The publishers say it helps drivers accomplish more tasks quicker, while keeping end-user customers in the loop at all times with SMS notifications.
Drivers benefit from the intuitive app, while dispatchers get a real-time web dashboard.
What customers like about GSMtasks:
- Easy to use
- Excellent customer support
- Bugs are remedied quickly
- Attractive pricing compared to some rivals
What customers don't like about GSMtasks:
- Some crashing issues
- Doesn’t work well with some phones
- Some GPS issues
Key features of GSMtasks:
- Live driver tracking
- Territory management
- Performance metrics
- Status tracking
- Scheduling
- Mobile access
- Delivery tracking
- GPS
Features not offered:
- Fuel tracking
Capterra rating: 4.7/5
Google Play rating: 3.9/5
Stream
Stream is a route planning application that aims to help businesses manage their fleet deliveries and collections more efficiently.
Optimised route planning, delivery tracking, proof of delivery and automated notifications are managed through a driver mobile app.
The product's APIs can connect with numerous other applications.
Various filters can be applied to data to create customised overviews, helping to maintain a top-down view of fleet and partner vehicle activity.
What customers like about Stream:
- Easy to move from one set of filters to another
- Potential problems can be addressed before they become a customer issue
- User friendly; easy for staff to learn
- Good customer support
What customers don’t like about Stream:
- Some issues using the app with certain phone models
- Some tracking problems
Key features of Stream:
- Live driver tracking
- Territory management
- Performance metrics
- Status tracking
- Scheduling
- Mobile access
- Delivery tracking
- GPS
Features not offered:
- Fuel tracking
Capterra rating: 4.8/5
Google Play rating: 3.2/5
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