In-Depth Article on Cigo Tracker's Routing Software

Written By: Mike Souheil, 15 years+ in last mile logistics

Overview of Cigo Tracker's Route Optimization Platform

Cigo Tracker's Route Builder stands out in the realm of route planning and management tools. It centralizes the planning, management, and optimization of itineraries, crucial for enhancing productivity in delivery and service operations.

Key Features of the Route Builder

Map Section

• Unique Benefit: Unlike many route planning tools, Cigo Tracker's calendar simplifies day-to-day scheduling, enhancing job creation and editing efficiency.
• Date Filtering: This feature allows you to create and adjust trips based on specific dates, offering the flexibility to filter the Planner by past, present, or future dates​.
• Route Plan Visualization: You can view the route plan as a single map, accompanied by a list of customer information, enhancing route planning and customer service​.
• Calendar Tab: The Calendar tab in the dashboard allows for searching jobs based on specific time periods, aiding in efficient scheduling and time management

• Comparative Advantage: Cigo Tracker's map section offers unparalleled custom route displays, determining the most efficient paths for jobs more effectively than standard tools.
• Core Functionality: The Map tool in the Route Builder allows for viewing and creating custom routes based on estimated locations, facilitating the determination of the most efficient routes for jobs​.
• Map Views: Offers different visual map styles (Standard, Standard No Labels, Greyscale, Classical), aiding in accurate route creation​​.
• Centralized Hub: The Route Builder, with its Map Section, serves as a centralized platform for planning, managing, and optimizing itineraries. It consolidates all necessary information for route optimization and effective job assignment to drivers​ (More info)

Lasso Tool

• Standout Feature: The lasso tool, a unique offering by Cigo Tracker, allows for selecting multiple tasks simultaneously, optimizing route efficiency beyond typical capabilities. (More Info)

Auto Dispatch

• Distinctive Functionality: This feature streamlines assigning and creating routes, organizing jobs based on zones for maximum efficiency, a feature not commonly found in many route builders. (More Info)

Pending Jobs Section

• Superior Overview: Cigo Tracker provides a clearer, more detailed view of upcoming tasks compared to many other tools, enhancing task management. (More Info)

Itineraries Section

• Enhanced Tracking: Tracks each driver’s itinerary with more detailed job information and editing options than many alternatives. (More Info)

Zone Management

• Specialized Area Display: Cigo Tracker excels in displaying serviced areas comprehensively, a feature that is often less detailed in other route builders. (More Info)

Advanced Map Navigation

1. Real-Time Tracking: Advanced systems often include real-time tracking of vehicles, allowing for up-to-the-minute location updates. This is crucial for accurate delivery estimations and route adjustments.
2. Interactive Maps: Maps in such systems are typically interactive, allowing users to zoom in/out and view different areas in detail. This can be crucial for understanding the geography of a delivery area.
3. Route Optimization: Advanced map navigation includes algorithms for optimizing routes. This can mean finding the shortest path, the fastest route based on current traffic conditions, or the most fuel-efficient route.
4. Geofencing: This feature allows companies to set up virtual boundaries and get alerts when a vehicle enters or exits a specific geographical area. This is useful for monitoring delivery zones and ensuring compliance with operational guidelines.
5. Historical Data Analysis: Advanced systems may use historical data to predict route efficiency, considering factors like time of day, historical traffic patterns, and past delivery times.

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Route Viewing Modes

Cigo Tracker's flexibility in route planning with different viewing modes – Road, Flight, and Markers View – is often more advanced than in standard routing tools.

Utilizing the Pending Jobs Section

Utilizing the Pending Jobs Section in Cigo Tracker is a critical aspect for effective route planning and management in last-mile delivery operations. Here's a detailed overview of how to effectively use this section:

• Functionality: The Pending Jobs section in Cigo Tracker provides a comprehensive view of all pending jobs for a selected day. It offers essential details for each job, such as customer’s address, phone number, invoice details, comments, handle time, quantity, piece count, value, weight, volume, and the associated branch or warehouse​​.
• Combined Information: This section also aggregates data, including combined handle time, value, quantity, piece count, weight, and volume, aiding in the efficient planning of routes​​.

Key Features and Comparative Analysis

Cost-Effectiveness

Route planning software, like Cigo Tracker's Route Builder, has been shown to reduce operating costs significantly. It can cut down mileage by up to 10% and increase order capacity without the need for more vehicles or drivers​​. Moreover, it reduces the overall operational cost per mile, which includes fuel bills and drivers' salaries, by ensuring efficient and cost-effective routes​​.

Scalability

Cigo Tracker's Route Builder aids in scaling business operations. Traditional manual routing processes, especially in field service companies, require significant time and resources. With Cigo Tracker, the planning process is streamlined, reducing the person-hours needed for planning and allowing businesses to bring in more clients and save resources​​. This scalability is a key advantage over traditional route planning methods​​.

Improved Driver Retention

A notable challenge in the transportation industry is driver retention. Efficient route planning ensures a balanced workload, leading to less frustration and potentially higher pay for drivers, which can improve retention rates​​.

Increased Customer Satisfaction

Optimized routes lead to faster deliveries and adherence to schedules, which significantly enhances customer satisfaction​​.

Integration with Other Systems

Cigo Tracker's Route Builder is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing systems, such as TMS, for a fast and seamless flow of data​​. This integration is crucial for modern businesses that rely on various interconnected systems for their operations.

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Comparative Analysis

Cigo Tracker's Route Builder offers unique features and benefits that set it apart from other route planning tools. While some route builders may offer basic functionality, Cigo Tracker excels in providing comprehensive, user-friendly, and efficient solutions. From the advanced map navigation to the detailed pending jobs section, Cigo Tracker is designed to meet the nuanced needs of modern delivery and service operations.

Challenges in Last-Mile Logistics

Costs and Efficiency:

Last-mile delivery can constitute up to 41% of the total shipping cost, posing significant financial challenges for businesses. This phase of delivery, crucial in both B2B and B2C contexts, is often inefficient due to its inability to be integrated into larger shipping networks or economies of scale. (Source)

Customer Satisfaction:

The rise of e-commerce has heightened customer expectations, necessitating fast, flexible delivery options and real-time tracking. This aspect of logistics directly influences customer loyalty and the overall competitiveness of a business. (Source)

Ecological Impact:

The last mile is responsible for a considerable portion of carbon emissions in postal services, emphasizing the need for eco-friendly practices in delivery operations.(Source)

Complex Logistics:

Handling urban deliveries is increasingly challenging due to regulatory issues, traffic control systems, and the need for efficient coordination between shippers and retailers.(Source)

Trends and Innovations

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1. Hybrid Delivery Models: Retailers are integrating various delivery methods, combining in-house fleets with third-party providers and crowdsourced options. This approach offers more flexibility and control but requires sophisticated last-mile delivery technology for optimal management. Read more about it at Dropoff.
2. In-House Shipping Carriers: Businesses are increasingly keeping logistics in-house, investing in their fleets to offer secure and reliable local delivery services. This approach allows better control of costs and the delivery experience.
3. Data Analytics: Utilizing big data helps businesses gain insights into customer behavior, demand prediction, and trend anticipation, thereby enhancing delivery efficiency and personalization. The food delivery industry has fully embraced this innovation. Learn more about this trend at Dropoff.
4. Real-Time Tracking Technology: Offering customers real-time updates on their deliveries builds trust and optimizes logistical operations. Companies like Amazon use this technology extensively. More on this can be found at Dropoff.

Conclusion

Cigo Tracker's Route Builder emerges as a leader in routing software. Its unique features, tailored to enhance efficiency and user experience, make it a preferred choice in the competitive world of last-mile logistics.