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The simplest type of a best-route caclulating system, proposes the most optimal route, concerning the distance, between two geographical points.
In the past, the systems of optimal routing provided general information only. It was consequently usefull only in the strategic planning and not for the daily practice and activity of transportations. Today they are using GIS (Geographical Information Systems) for the creation of specific routes with maximum precision in minimal time. Till now, efforts in Greece for the operation of optimal route applications did not have the desirable results, but also the support for the GIS in Greece wasn't sufficient to install these applications.G4S Telematix Α.Ε. in collaboration with NAMA Geoinformaticsdeveloped a GIS with all details, started by developing the project of supporting Olympic Games of 2004, with an application fulfils the needs of optimal route calculating.
Picture 1. Calculating the best route with the usage of GIS.
Investing in technology of optimal routing the administrators of fleet have already the possibility of developing in biggest degree the vehicles that they allocate and raise the bar in service of their customers. As a result they will have increased output (more itineraries with the same number of vehicles), more balanced charges and direct return of money that they invested via the economy but also the increased productivity.
NEED OF MOST OPTIMAL ROUTING
The planning and the follow-up of transports are a complicated process. An abundance of problems and developments they force the administrators of fleets to seek continuously methods for the improvement of organisation of their activities.
• The margins of profit are decreased. In the modern exigent market they only survive those who program their daily work rationally and check continuously their results.
• The needs for transports are rendered continuously more dynamic. They increase the itineraries at application (on demand) contrary to the constant ways. New commercial practices as the electronic trade they are expected to strengthen this tendency.
• With the concentration of services of storage and transport in united institutions (3PL) are created questions of interaction the two these,distinguishable operations.
• The conditions of movement particularly in urban regions are worsened while henceforth are placed also restrictions in the movement in national roads (for instance,prohibition of movement on Sundays). A modern organism is called to react immediately in such changes.
• The competition raises as the requirements of customers. The benefit high, and constant, level of services (quality of service) is henceforth condition for the success.
• The modern systems of telematics provide direct and valid information for the executed itineraries. They cannot however self-same automate the current process of production of itineraries.
All these fields can be improved dramatically with the use of modern applications of routing. Automating the core of work of transport of goods, that is the planning and the production of itineraries, the companies can achieve most important profits.
PROFITS OF OPTIMAL ROUTING
Exist a lot of sectors of daily activity of carriers that require corrective movements. The automatic production of itineraries, that receives an abundance of parameters quantitative (for instance, distance, weight, volume, value) but also qualitative (such as customer's preferences for time of delivery or the type of vehicle that considers acceptable) is possible to have as a result:
• The better exploitation of resources of company. Increase of productivity with more deliveries and less itineraries and maximisation of use of beneficial space of vehicles. Here the profits are direct measurable in economic terms.
• The more precise and reliable forecast of time of delivery and receipt. This leads to better organisation of work of carrier but also customer that receives hence in better level of operation and convenience.
• The production of detail planning of itineraries is able to lead also the most optimal exploitation of deposit. The time that is required for the collection of orders (picking) is decreased while warehouse functions with concrete timetable of distributions and it very earlier knows the needs that should be served.
• Reduction of time of waiting for loading or delivery. Minimisation of “dead years” at which the vehicles do not execute useful work.
• The creation of powerful tool of administration. The initial program as well as his information of implementation, via systems of telematics, provides a complete and valid picture of activity of vehicles in real time.
• The existence of reliable system of strategic planning.A routing application can present alternative scripts of use of fleet of vehicles (with suitable parametrization) with in an amazingly easy manner. Are henceforth rendered feasible the planning with base long-lasting objectives but also the direct control of repercussions of each likely change-modification in the activity of vehicles. Meaning that this a application of routing is for a dispatcher/logistician that Spreadsheet for a economic analyst.
So an application of automatic routing contributes in the more direct and more precise planning and control of distributions.It is known that “The one that checks the planning of distributions checks also their cost!!!”.
APPLICATION OF MOST OPTIMAL ROUTING
Firstly, a routing application is parameterized with the operation data of the company served. These contain the departure points, the license plates and the vehicle type used as well as several quantitative and numeral parameters that the company wishes to improve or those who comprise a stunt to the company’s activities.
For each customer/service point the input of one or more ‘’time windows’’ which define the wanted delivery time, is possible. Furthermore, there is the possibility of defining qualitative service data, such as the vehicle type which should be used ( for example due to narrow width of the road).
When the routing system creates traffic plane it takes into consideration a series of parameters beyond the kilometric distance. For example, every vehicle type is deferent, because of natural characteristics (length, height, width, weigh) of the cargo it can transport (for ex. A fridge), of the function cost, even due to the license plates.
The optimization of the routs is a subjective process every administrator has a deferent group of priorities and goals which he wants to achieve for its appropriate function. Some administrators locate their goal into an absolute decrease of cost, while others focus on a better customer service. The definition of optimization is unique for every company and probably defers per action.
We now have the capability to see both with graphic presentation (picture 5) and through analytical reports the rout which corresponds to every vehicle which, according to the system, are necessary for the orders service. Furthermore the printout of analytical instructions for the vehicle drivers who will be asked to accomplish the scheduled routs, is possible.
Picture 2. Monitoring route progress in real time.
Today GAS TELEMATIX AE associates with Paragon Software Systems,exclusively in Greece, providing Greek market with routing products of the last mention company, completely adapted to the needs of Greek market, as well as implementation and support services.
Routing applications of Paragon are installed in more than 1000 spots worldwide. Among the companies that entrust Paragon’s technologies lie internationally granted firms such as EXEL,TNT,Dixons,Tesco,Henkel,GoodYear etc.
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