My Visits - location and sectorization of addresses to visit on a map
Basic principles
The My Visits - Locating addresses to visit page (or another title, depending on the default terminology applied or customised as defined in the My Activity page) is a necessary step before each route plan optimization simulation.
Preparation required
Each optimization of a series of visits starts with the import and configuration of constraints for your visits. This step needs to be performed prior to locating the visits on a map. Refer also the Data import and association page to see how to set constraints for visits to optimize.
Locating addresses on a map can then be performed automatically and can be validated via an interactive wizard. On completion of automated geocoding, a statistics window displays for the purpose of quantifying the geocoding precision achieved via a dedicated table and a series of graphs.
Utilisation
> Geolocation and treatment of results
> Geographic sectorization of visits
>> Definition of the perimeter
>> Link sectors to the vehicles & Export
> Application of assignments and running the route optimization
Geolocation and treatment of results
This page allows you to track the automated geolocation of addresses as it takes place, consult results and modify, if need be, automated correspondences or unmatched address results where addresses have errors in them, or are incomplete. The Street View button allows you to consult the location suggested before validation. On this page you can:
- track the automated address location process as applied to your visits
- consult location report indicators at the end of the automated process
- analyse results using sort and filter functions
- check the location of visits in the overall map context using the map and all its layers (transport, satellite + traffic, terrain...)
- verify the mapped location of visits overall
- verify some addresses individually and the way they have been located automatically
- choose a different correspondence for an address than that offered automatically
- if needed, modify the address and re-locate individual visits
- if needed, adjust the visit location, working in the map, to improve on its geographic positioning.
Geographic sectorization of visits
The PREMIUM version of TourSolver allows you to perform a geographical sectorization of the visits before launching the tour optimization.
The button proposes to carry out this sectorization before the optimization. Thanks to the function of geographical sectorization of the visits, it is possible :
- View, optimize or modify an assignment of visits to resources, already defined via the TourSolver Assign Resources or Sector constraint
- Perform a new automatic geographical sectorization of the visits on the team in charge of optimizing the rounds to be carried out, without prior assignment of the visits to the resources; this sectorization can also be modified manually if necessary before validation and launch of the optimization of the rounds
Definition of the perimeter
The button opens a dialog that allows you to define the perimeter of the sectorization. The user is invited to select :
- A team
- Indicators. It is possible not to define any, in which case the sectorization will be essentially geographical. Note that all the imported numerical fields are selectable. It is thus possible to sectorize on your data of turnover, quantity to be transported, duration, indices etc...
Sectorize
In the Sectorization page that appears, it is then possible to perform :
- an automatic sectorization according to the number of resources of a team, balanced on the number of visits or on any other indicator imported with the visits (quantity to deliver, duration of visits, turnover, potential, etc.)
- balancing of sectors according to the number of visits and/or according to a balancing indicator imported with the visits (quantity to be delivered, duration of visit, etc.)
- assisted modification of the sectorization, based on a geographical distribution of visits by resource or group of resources
Linking sectors to vehicles & Exporting
Once the sectorization is completed, the button displays an interface allowing the confirmation, definition or modification of the assignment of resources to sectors.
The interface offers an export functionality accessible via the button. The export summarizes the assignments and integrates sector maps in Excel format.
Finally, the button displays a window allowing you to confirm the main optimization parameters before launching the process. The sectorization performed here can also be displayed in the optimization results map.
Running the route optimization
Once the verification of addresses positioned on the map is complete and any modifications have been made, click on to run the automated route optimization process.
The Optimization parameters window summarises information for the period, the team and the resources to optimize. You can adjust the time period, the team chosen for the optimization and available resources using the check-box opposite each resource in the table. So, if one or several resources are unavailable at the last minute, you can leave them out of the optimization by unchecking the respective check-boxes. The mean of transportation and the fuel type to use can be overwritten in this step to correct the data defined for the team.
A gear wheel icon at the top right of the table serves to customise the fields to display in the list, in which you can choose which resources to optimize.
At the bottom of the optimization parameters window, the Means of transport parameter defined in the My activity page is posted as a reminder and can be modified if necessary.
Once parameters have been verified or edited, click on the button to run the route optimization.
Now you can carry on using TourSolver, tracking optimizations of your routes and exploiting the results of the optimized route plan.
Happy TourSolving!
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> THIS ARTICLE MAY ALSO BE OF INTEREST: Optimization results