Vehicle Routing Software Survey
The information in the survey that follows was provided by the vendors in response to a questionnaire developed by Randolph W. Hall. The survey should not be considered as comprehensive, but rather as a representation of available vehicle routing packages. Questionnaires were sent to vendors drawn from previous survey participants, the OR/MS Today database and other sources. It includes the products of those vendors who responded by the deadline. If you know of a vehicle routing package that is not in this survey, please contact Patton McGinley at (770) 431-0867, ext. 214 or e-mail them to [email protected]. They will be included in an online version.
Be sure to read the accompanying article.
UPDATES:9/24/10 — added ORTEC Transport and Distribution from ORTEC
The survey is divided into 15 separate pages. Following is an index of the pages and the information they contain:
Page 1 Vendor Year Introduced Platforms Supported: Windows, Linux, Unix, Mac/Mac OS, Application as Service, Parallel Machines, Other (specify)
Page 2 Maximum size of problem solvable by the system: Number of Stops, Number of Vehicles, Number of Terminals
Page 3 Maximum size of problem solvable by the system (continued): Recommended Hardware, Processor Speed, Memory, Hard Disk Space
Page 4 Performance: Computation time to solve problem with 50 routes, 1,000 stops, two-hour hard-time windows (specify platform for calculations and any other assumptions); What types of algorithms are employed (open-ended)?; Are approximations used to reduce computation time?
Page 5 Routing Functions: Node Routing, Arc Routing, Real-time re-routing, Real-time Stop Scheduling, Daily Routing, Route Planning & Analysis, Incorporates Real-time Traffic Information, Collects Historical Travel Time Information
Page 6 Price Information: Single Site License (50 routes), Does license fee include map for one region?, What brand of map is provided?, Installation support cost ($/hour), Typical support hours needed for installation (50 routes)
Page 7
GIS Capabilities: Displays routes & stops on maps, Can edit routes with drag & drop, Geocodes stops from addresses
Page 8 Solution Algorithm: Does system accept Soft Time Windows?, If so, how are Soft Time Windows Specified?
Page 9 Product is available as part of a suite that provides: On-board electronic display, Wireless messaging to driver, Real-time vehicle tracking, Bar-code scanner, Supply chain management software (e.g. inventory mangement), Customer order processing, Computer aided dispatch for police, fire or emergency vehicles
Page 10 Features: Assigns individual drivers, Turn-by-turn route instructions, Automatic forecasts of delivery, Load manifests, Loading plan for truckload, Weather forecast information displayed to dispatcher, ETA automatically sent to the customer if there is a delay
Page 11 Types of fleets that currently use the product: Local pick-up and delivery, Long-haul less-than truckload, Long-haul truckload, Courier, Buses, Taxis, Service fleets, Emergency services (police, fire, etc.)
Page 12 Other special features Recent innovations in system
Page 13 Has your routing software been integrated with either cell phone or PDA technology? Describe the application: Have you developed other software innovations, such as use of social networking for information sharing? Describe:
Page 14 How has economic downturn affected market New features that address sustainability/green requirements
Page 15 Number of companies using software Most significant installations
Page 16 What is the largest change in the industry over the last two years? What do you expect to be the biggest change in the next two years?
Vendor List
The survey appeared in the February 2010 issue of OR/MS Today. To order a copy of this issue, contact Customer Service at 770-431-0867, ext. 224 or send e-mail to: [email protected] Routing Software SurveyTable 1
Product VendorYear Introduced
Platforms Supported
Windows Linux UnixMac OS
Application as Service Parallel
Other (Specify)
Accellos One Optimize
Prophesy Transportation Solutions, an Accellos Company
1999 y y
Direct Route Appian Logistics Software, Inc.
1996 y
DISC MJC2 1990 y y y y
DRTraCK Appian Logistics Software, Inc.
2003 y y Web Service Web Service
IBM ILOG Transportation Analyst
IBM y No
JOpt.AAS DNA Evolutions - Distributed Natural Algorithms GmbH
2009 y SOAP WebService
JOpt.SDK DNA Evolutions - Distributed Natural Algorithms GmbH
2005 y y y y y
MOBi MJC2 1998 y y y y
Mobile Asset Route Optimization
FreshStart Logistics
2009 y y Yes
Optrak Optrak Distribution Software Ltd
1988 y
ORTEC Transport and Distribution
ORTEC 2004 y y
Paragon Routing and Scheduling Optimizer
Paragon Software Systems, Inc.
1997 y
PlanOp Jeppesen, a Boeing Company
1998 y
QMms - Quant Methods for Management Science
QuantMethods 2009 y
REACT MJC2 1993 y y y y
Roadnet Anywhere
UPS Logistics Technologies
2006 y y y y Web app - multiple processors used
Roadnet Transportation Suite
UPS Logistics Technolgies
1983 y y y Multiple CPUs used
Citrix, Terminal Services
Route Planning Suite
Descartes Systems Group
2004 y y unlimited
StreetSync Basic RouteSolutions 2008 y y
StreetSync Desktop
RouteSolutions 2005 y
TruckStops MicroAnalytics 1984 y
TruckStops (UK) Mapmechanics 1991 y Server or PC
WebSTARS 5.2 SAITECH, Inc. 1995 y y optimzier available on Unix
Vehicle Routing Software SurveyTable 2
Product
Maximum size of problem solvable by the system
Number of Stops Number of Vehicles Number of Terminals
Accellos One Optimize Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
Direct Route 12,000 10,000 1,000
DISC unlimited unlimited unlimited
DRTraCK Based on routes from Direct Route
Based on routes from Direct Route
Based on routes from Direct Route
IBM ILOG Transportation Analyst NA NA NA
JOpt.AAS unlimited unlimited unlimited
JOpt.SDK unlimited unlimited unlimited
MOBi unlimited unlimited unlimited
Mobile Asset Route Optimization 100,000 10,000 10,000
Optrak No fixed limits No fixed limits n/a
ORTEC Transport and Distribution not limited not limited not limited
Paragon Routing and Scheduling Optimizer
20,000 3,000 2,000
PlanOp Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
QMms - Quant Methods for Management Science
Limited by browser memory Limited by browser memory Limited by browser memory
REACT unlimited unlimited unlimited
Roadnet Anywhere Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
Roadnet Transportation Suite Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
Route Planning Suite unlimited unlimited unlimited
StreetSync Basic 250 Unlimited Unlimited
StreetSync Desktop Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
TruckStops Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
TruckStops (UK) Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
WebSTARS 5.2 unlimited unlimited 20
Vehicle Routing Software SurveyTable 3
Product
Maximum size of problem solvable by the system (continued)
Recommended Hardware
Processor Speed Memory Hard Disk Space
Accellos One Optimize Windows XP, Server 1.8GHz + 1GB + 100 MB +
Direct Route current level OC/server 2.8 1GB 60GB
DISC Windows or Unix based machines
3GHz 2GB 100GB
DRTraCK Web service Web Service Web Service We Service
IBM ILOG Transportation Analyst
Dual or Quad Core processor
4GB 100GB
JOpt.AAS Intel or AMD 3 GHz 4 GByte or more 200 MB
JOpt.SDK Intel or AMD 3 GHz 4 GByte or more 200 MB
MOBi Windows or Unix based machines
3GHz 2GB 100GB
Mobile Asset Route Optimization
2 Ghz Intel Processor 2 Gb 5 Gb
Optrak Standard PC 2Ghz (dual core or more)
4gb 15gb
ORTEC Transport and Distribution
dependents on the number above
dependents on the number above
dependents on the number above
dependents on the number above
Paragon Routing and Scheduling Optimizer
PC / Windows Server Fast Intel Core, e.g. 3.6 GHZ
Minimum 512 MB 2 GB
PlanOp Intel Core2 Duo CPU @ 3 GHz
4 GB RAM 100 GB Hard Disk
QMms - Quant Methods for Management Science
Browser (Windows, Mac, etc)
REACT Windows or Unix based machines
3GHz 2GB 100GB
Roadnet Anywhere PC with Internet Access
Roadnet Transportation Suite
Depends on implementation type
Depends on implementation type
Depends on implementation type
Depends on implementation type
Route Planning Suite Windows compliant servers
Configuration dependent
Configuration dependent
Configuration dependent
StreetSync Basic Intel PC / Windows 1Ghz or faster 512 MB or greater At least 100 MB
StreetSync Desktop Intel PC / Windows 2 GHz or faster 512 MB or greater At least 2 GB
TruckStops PC. Server optional 1.4 or higher 256 kb 1 GB
TruckStops (UK) PC, Server Optional 1.4 or higher 256 KB 1 GB
WebSTARS 5.2 Windows server, PC 3.0 Ghz 2GB 80 GB
Vehicle Routing Software SurveyTable 4
Product
Performance
Computation time What types of algorithms are employed (open-ended)?
Are approximations used to reduce computation time?
Accellos One Optimize 4-5 minutes Proprietary No
Direct Route <5 minutes Prorietary Prorietary
DISC A few seconds Multi-layered optimisation approach
No
DRTraCK Based on routes from Direct Route
Based on routes from Direct Route Based on routes from Direct Route
IBM ILOG Transportation Analyst
problem specific contact IBM No
JOpt.AAS 5 Minutes on a 3 GHz CPU
construction and improvement algthm
convergency criteria on costfuction
JOpt.SDK 5 Minutes on a 3 GHz CPU
construction and improvement algthm
convergency criteria on costfuction
MOBi A few seconds Multi-layered optimisation approach
No
Mobile Asset Route Optimization
< 1min on current PC configuration
AI/Expert Systems/Constraint No
Optrak 5 - 10 minutes, Win/Intel Core2 Duo
Heuristics, relaxation, genetic. Only for rush-hour time bands
ORTEC Transport and Distribution
5 minutes Construction + neighbourhood search
Yes, heuristics
Paragon Routing and Scheduling Optimizer
Around 2 minutes Range of cost saved & improvement
PlanOp Minutes Column Generation and Local Search
Yes, various options and parameters
QMms - Quant Methods for Management Science
Untested LP; branch & bound
REACT A few seconds Multi-layered optimisation approach
No
Roadnet Anywhere <30 Seconds Heuristic algorithms are employed No assumptions made
Roadnet Transportation Suite
<30 Seconds Heuristic algorithms are employed No assumptions made
Route Planning Suite Configuration and customer dependen
Configuration and customer dependen
Configuration and customer dependen
StreetSync Basic < 15 Minutes Proprietary Proprietary
StreetSync Desktop < 15 Minutes Proprietary Proprietary
TruckStops User settable, 1-5 minutes
Proprietary Heuristics no
TruckStops (UK) User settable, Min 1-5 minutes
Proprietary Heuristics No
WebSTARS 5.2 1 min on Windows PC with 2.8Ghz
local search, integer programming tuning parameters for local search
Vehicle Routing Software SurveyTable 5
Product
Routing Functions
Node Routing
Arc Routing
Real-time re-Routing
Real-timeStop Scheduling
Daily Routing
Route Planning & Analysis
IncorporatesReal-time Traffic Information
Collects historical travel time information
Accellos One Optimize
y y y y y
Direct Route y y y y y y y y
DISC y y y y y y y y
DRTraCK y y y y y y y y
IBM ILOG Transportation Analyst
y y y y
JOpt.AAS y y y y y
JOpt.SDK y y y y y
MOBi y y y y y y y y
Mobile Asset Route Optimization
y y y y y y y
Optrak y y y y y
ORTEC Transport and Distribution
y y y y y y
Paragon Routing and Scheduling Optimizer
y y y y y y
PlanOp y y y
QMms - Quant Methods for Management Science
y y
REACT y y y y y y y y
Roadnet Anywhere
y y y y y y y y
Roadnet Transportation Suite
y y y y y y y y
Route Planning Suite
y y y y y y y y
StreetSync Basic y y y
StreetSync Desktop
y y y
TruckStops y y y y y y
TruckStops (UK) y y y y y y
WebSTARS 5.2 y y y y y y y
Vehicle Routing Software SurveyTable 7
Product
Price Information
Single Site License (50 Routes)
Does license fee include map for one region?
What brand of map is provided?
Installation support cost ($/hour)
Typical support hours needed for installation (50 routes)
Accellos One Optimize
Contact for pricing
y BING Included 2 Days
Direct Route $23,500 y Teleatlas/Navtech Annually billed Flat implementation and training fe
DISC POA Compatible with many map products
POA POA
DRTraCK minimal site branding fee
y Navtech/teleatlas None None
IBM ILOG Transportation Analyst
contact IBM y IBM ILOG contact IBM contact IBM
JOpt.AAS monthly fee 375ˆÑ setup cost 4 hours
JOpt.SDK 5000 ˆÑ free less than 1 hour
MOBi POA Compatible with many map products
POA POA
Mobile Asset Route Optimization
Varies $200/hr Varies: 24-100hrs
Optrak Price on application
y Varies according to country/problem
Price on application
Varies according to routing problem
ORTEC Transport and Distribution
$50K y NAVTEQ, AND, any other
$1000 / hour 240 hours
Paragon Routing and Scheduling Optimizer
$35,000 for 100 vehicles
y NAVTEQ $755 or $930 per day
80 hours
PlanOp Price on Application
MapInfo and ESRI files supported
Price on Application
Depends on user requirements
QMms - Quant Methods for Management Science
$19.95 n/a
REACT POA Compatible with many map products
POA POA
Roadnet Anywhere Please contact for pricing
y TelaAtlas North America
Included 20
Roadnet Transportation Suite
Please contact for pricing
Multiple vendors used globally
$120 80
Route Planning Suite
n/a varies n/a dependent on customer
StreetSync Basic $99 per month y NAVTEQ $125 hr, if requested
Unnecessary
StreetSync Desktop < $10,000 - Call for info
y NAVTEQ $125 hr, if requested
Unnecessary
TruckStops $9500 Mappoint. PC*Miler as add-on.
Included in Support cost
Varies 24-48 hours
TruckStops (UK) Please contact Mapmechanics
Geoconcept Please contact Mapmechanics
Varies greatly, please contact
WebSTARS 5.2 call y Chicago Map $ 100 4 hours
Vehicle Routing Software SurveyTable 6
Product
GIS Capabilities
Displays routes & stops on maps
Can edit routes with drag & drop
Geocodes stops from addresses
Accellos One Optimize y y y
Direct Route y y y
DISC y y y
DRTraCK y y y
IBM ILOG Transportation Analyst y y y
JOpt.AAS
JOpt.SDK
MOBi y y y
Mobile Asset Route Optimization
Optrak y y y
ORTEC Transport and Distribution y y y
Paragon Routing and Scheduling Optimizer
y y y
PlanOp y y
QMms - Quant Methods for Management Science
REACT y y y
Roadnet Anywhere y y y
Roadnet Transportation Suite y y y
Route Planning Suite y y y
StreetSync Basic y y y
StreetSync Desktop y y y
TruckStops y y y
TruckStops (UK) y y y
WebSTARS 5.2 y y
Vehicle Routing Software SurveyTable 8
Product
Solution Algorithm
Does System Accept Soft Time Windows?
If so, how are Soft Time Windows Specified?
Accellos One Optimize y Time Range
Direct Route y application of +/- buffers and/or h
DISC y Configurable rules
DRTraCK y from Direct Route
IBM ILOG Transportation Analyst y penalties applied for early/late
JOpt.AAS y soft time windows are default
JOpt.SDK y timewindows are fuzzy per default
MOBi y Configurable rules
Mobile Asset Route Optimization y Target time with allowable window
Optrak
ORTEC Transport and Distribution y x min flexib; quadratic cost function
Paragon Routing and Scheduling Optimizer
y Specify "flex" time per window
PlanOp
QMms - Quant Methods for Management Science
REACT y Configurable rules
Roadnet Anywhere y Time window factors
Roadnet Transportation Suite y Time window factors
Route Planning Suite y soft time windows
StreetSync Basic
StreetSync Desktop
TruckStops
TruckStops (UK)
WebSTARS 5.2 y allowable delay time
Vehicle Routing Software SurveyTable 9
Product
Product is available as part of a suite that provides
On-board electronic display
Wireless messaging to driver
Real-time vehicle tracking
Bar-code scanner
Supply chain management software (e.g., inventory management)
Customer order processing
Computer aided dispatch for police, fire or emergency vehicles
Accellos One Optimize
y y y y y
Direct Route y y
DISC y y y y y y
DRTraCK y y y
IBM ILOG Transportation Analyst
y
JOpt.AAS
JOpt.SDK
MOBi y y y y y y y
Mobile Asset Route Optimization
y y y y y y
Optrak y y y
ORTEC Transport and Distribution
y y y y y
Paragon Routing and Scheduling Optimizer
y y
PlanOp
QMms - Quant Methods for Management Science
REACT y y y y y y
Roadnet Anywhere
y y y
Roadnet Transportation Suite
y y y y
Route Planning Suite
y y y y y y
StreetSync Basic y y y
StreetSync Desktop
y y y
TruckStops
TruckStops (UK) y y y y
WebSTARS 5.2 y y y
Vehicle Routing Software SurveyTable 10
Product
Features
Assigns individual drivers
Turn-by-turn route instructions
Automatic forecasts of delivery
Load manifests
Loading plan for truckload
Weather forecast information displayed
ETA automatically sent to the customer
Accellos One Optimize
y y y y y
Direct Route y y y y y y
DISC y y y y y y
DRTraCK y y y y y y
IBM ILOG Transportation Analyst
JOpt.AAS y
JOpt.SDK y
MOBi y y y y y y
Mobile Asset Route Optimization
y y y
Optrak y y y y y
ORTEC Transport and Distribution
y y y y y y
Paragon Routing and Scheduling Optimizer
y y y y
PlanOp y y y
QMms - Quant Methods for Management Science
y
REACT y y y y y y
Roadnet Anywhere
y y y y y
Roadnet Transportation Suite
y y y y y y
Route Planning Suite
y y y y y y y
StreetSync Basic y y y y y
StreetSync Desktop
y y y y y
TruckStops y y y y y
TruckStops (UK) y y y y
WebSTARS 5.2 y y y y
Vehicle Routing Software SurveyTable 11
Product
Types of fleets that currently use this product
Local pick-up and delivery
Long-haul less than truckload
Long-haul truckload Courier Buses Taxis
Service fleets
Emergency services (police, fire, etc.)
Accellos One Optimize y y y y y y
Direct Route y y y y y y
DISC y y y y y y y
DRTraCK y y y y y y
IBM ILOG Transportation Analyst
y y y
JOpt.AAS y y y y y y y
JOpt.SDK y y y y y y y
MOBi y y y y y
Mobile Asset Route Optimization
y
Optrak y y y
ORTEC Transport and Distribution
y y y y y y y y
Paragon Routing and Scheduling Optimizer
y y y y
PlanOp y y y y
QMms - Quant Methods for Management Science
REACT y y y y y y y
Roadnet Anywhere y y y y y
Roadnet Transportation Suite
y y y y y
Route Planning Suite y y y y y y y y
StreetSync Basic y y y y
StreetSync Desktop y y y y y
TruckStops y y y y y
TruckStops (UK) y y y y
WebSTARS 5.2 y y y y y y
Vehicle Routing Software SurveyTable 12
Product Other special features Recent innovations in system
Accellos One Optimize Integration with Maptuit real-time, commercial, turn-by-turn driving directions
New proprietary integration module; for quick, common integrat
Direct Route Full integration with multiple on-board devices of all types
DISC Integrated warehouse planning and driver shift optimisation.
Container scheduling and trunking models added.
DRTraCK linked to Direct Route Multiple OBD types in same fleet
IBM ILOG Transportation Analyst
JOpt.AAS SOAP WebService JOpt.AAS is a SOAP WebService which allows for integration wi
JOpt.SDK ¬€genetic algorithm supported by domain specific contruction algorithms
domain specific algorithm cope with special requirements such as human transportation
MOBi Mobile workforce optimisation. Strategic territory assignment
Mobile Asset Route Optimization
FreshStart offering is an engine designed to be integrated with dispatch platforms
FreshStart route & dispatch opt API to be available to third party dispatch platforms
Optrak Multi-compartmented tankers Optrak Realisation includes analysis, reporting, alerting tools and vehicle tracking
ORTEC Transport and Distribution
multi user, multi site software
Paragon Routing and Scheduling Optimizer
Single/multi-site/integrated fleets pl Link with truck tracking = actual movements tracked against th
PlanOp Customisable route costing, advanced product combination constraints and more
Integration of Open Source mapping tools providing high-quality, low-cost map support
QMms - Quant Methods for Management Science
QMms is a tool to teach the concepts of routing
n/a
REACT Integrated dispatching and real-time scheduling solution.
Real-time yard management.
Roadnet Anywhere Web-based easy to use daily routing and GPS tracking application
Web-enabled application with integration of historical traffic and commercial roads
Roadnet Transportation Suite Includes strategic planning, daily ro Integration of historical traffic, commerical road restrictions, CO2 emission calc
Route Planning Suite Integration of purchase transportation, enterprise class web native architecture, abi
Synchronization of deliveries with sales and merchandising oper
StreetSync Basic Web-based subscription routing system. One-click import and export.
Integration with commercial Garmin andTomTom devices.
StreetSync Desktop Integrated customer database. One-click import and export.
Integration with commercial Garmin andTomTom devices.
TruckStops Extensive special equipment coding
TruckStops (UK) Speeds by Time of Day and Vehicle Type
WebSTARS 5.2 integration of onlien GIS, available as SaaS
Vehicle Routing Software SurveyTable 14
Product
Has your routing software been integrated with either cell phone or PDA technology? Describe the application:
Have you developed other software innovations, such as use of social networking for information sharing? Describe:
Accellos One Optimize Yes. Cell phones, black boxes, various MDTs. Full suite of Supply Chain Execution software and solutions
Direct Route Yes, through DRTrack for both route information and tracking
DISC Yes. Please see our MOBi toolset.
DRTraCK Yes - delivery and service
IBM ILOG Transportation Analyst
No No
JOpt.AAS no
JOpt.SDK
MOBi POD and mobile data capture tools are integrated.
Mobile Asset Route Optimization
Integration with PDA devices for real-time P&D confirmation and enroute GPS updates
Optrak Supports signature capture, real-time billing, for waste collection, forestry, etc
n/a
ORTEC Transport and Distribution
yes no
Paragon Routing and Scheduling Optimizer
Paragon can be linked with satellite navigation & proof of delivery technology
Paragon multi-tripping function optimizes resources in double-dispatched operations
PlanOp
QMms - Quant Methods for Management Science
No No
REACT Yes. Please see our MOBi toolset.
Roadnet Anywhere Yes - enables paperless office, GPS tracking, proactive service failures
Roadnet Transportation Suite
Yes - enables paperless office, GPS tracking, proactive service failures
Release of multiple web-based reporting tools for daily and historical analysis
Route Planning Suite Integration with GPS enabled cell phones, windows mobile enabled d
networked applications
StreetSync Basic Integration with Garmin and TomTom devices. Advanced integration with TomTomWork.
StreetSync Desktop Integration with Garmin and TomTom devices. Advanced integration with TomTomWork.
TruckStops
TruckStops (UK)
WebSTARS 5.2 Cell phones with GPS can be integrated
Vehicle Routing Software SurveyTable 13
ProductNumber of Companies Using Software Most Significant Installations
Accellos One Optimize 1001+ Boston Beer, Gold Medal Bakery, Piggly Wiggly
Direct Route 1001+ Multiple fortune 100/8 of top 10 Logi
DISC 1001+ Our systems are used by many high profile organisations and household names.
DRTraCK 101-500 Multiple national retail chains
IBM ILOG Transportation Analyst
1-100 contact IBM
JOpt.AAS 1001+ New York Department of Health, Roland Berger Transport Consulting, Kinetix Wireless (Canada), Akquinet (Poland), BOC Gases
JOpt.SDK 1001+ New York Department of Health, Roland Berger Transport Consulting, Kinetix Wireless (Canada), Akquinet (Poland), BOC Gases
MOBi 101-500 Our systems are used by many high profile organisations and household names.
Mobile Asset Route Optimization
1-100
Optrak 1-100 Menzies Distribution, Reynolds Logisti
ORTEC Transport and Distribution
101-500 Tesco, Ahold, Hermes Logistics, Offergeld, Toll, De Rijke
Paragon Routing and Scheduling Optimizer
101-500 Airgas; McLane Company; CEVA; Exel Logistics; Toyota Material Handling; National Food Corporation; Red Ball Oxygen; Ryder
PlanOp 1-100 Australia Post, Purolator Courier, Sc
QMms - Quant Methods for Management Science
1-100
REACT 101-500 Our systems are used by many high profile organisations and household names.
Roadnet Anywhere 101-500 Otis Spunkmeyer, Goodness Greeness, Lion Plumbing, Oxygen One
Roadnet Transportation Suite 1001+ Anheuser-Busch, Office Depot, Sysco, Mohawk Industries, Apria Healthcare
Route Planning Suite n/a
StreetSync Basic 101-500 Walco International Inc, Arca Incorpo
StreetSync Desktop 101-500 Navteq, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Cintas, Duncan Telcom
TruckStops 1001+
TruckStops (UK) 1001+
WebSTARS 5.2 1-100 Nihon oil with 70 sites
Vehicle Routing Software SurveyTable 15
ProductWhat is the largest change in the industry over the last two years?
What do you expect to be the biggest change in the next two years?
Accellos One Optimize
Direct Route Drive toward reduced miles Return of driver shortages
DISC
DRTraCK Focus on reduced overall costs return to focus on driver shortages
IBM ILOG Transportation Analyst
JOpt.AAS please refer to JOpt.SDK please refer to JOpt.SDK
JOpt.SDK Companies are looking for solutions that can be integrated into their existing system landscape. Ideally this can be done by a programming interface that gives enough flexibility to adopt the solution to specific problem domains
Integration capabilities of third party optimization features will become more and more important to ISVs that are already offering branch specific software suites without their own optimization algorithms.
MOBi
Mobile Asset Route Optimization
Availability of ITS systems and associated rich real-time data that can be leveraged to improve and automate decision process in real-time. Emerging green initiatives have added another dimension to cost cutting and process/quality control benefits of route optimization software.
Ability to leverage the recently available real-time data to respond optimally and in real-time to changing demand, supply, and traffic/road conditions. Enhanced visibility up and down the supply chain enables greater consideration of vehicle positioning. Economic rebound stimulates companies to leverage enhanced visibility and control offered by ITS enabled route optimization to develop new demand/response routing business models.
Optrak Customers are looking for real-time management information and real-time reporting.
There will be a continued focus on exploiting real-time management and reporting to enable a more flexible and agile transport operation.
ORTEC Transport and Distribution
The industry is slowly moving from static to dynamic to execution and from decentral local optimization to a more centralized approach.
The biggest change will be a horizontal collaboration, inventory management and routing.
Paragon Routing and Scheduling Optimizer
Integration of routing and scheduling software with GPS vehicle tracking technology, allowing
The integration of resource allocation into the routing and scheduling process for a plan that takes account of driver, tractor and trailer availability. Advanced resource-managed planning of this kind compiles data abo
PlanOp
QMms - Quant Methods for Management Science
REACT
Roadnet Anywhere
More fleets are becoming incredibly sophisiticated -- from the very small to the large, all want to introduce more technology to make them more efficient and increase productivity.
Continued integration with web services, higher demands for real-time information as routes are being created and executed, enterprise visibility and alignment with larger corporate initiatives such as green iniatives.
Roadnet Transportation Suite
Convergence of technologies and openess of multiple systems to work together. This enables all business processes to be examined and understand how one part of the process affects the other - e.g. sales on distribution.
Telematics will become a must have for many fleets incorporating the best of productivity, fleet health, risk management and compliance.
Route Planning Suite
Integration of mobile solutions with real-time route planning.
The consolidation of the routing market and disappearance of smaller routing vendors.
StreetSync Basic
StreetSync Desktop
TruckStops More integration with web.
TruckStops (UK)
WebSTARS 5.2 on-time delivery, information sharing SaaS becomes more common
Vehicle Routing Software SurveyVendor Directory
Appian Logistics Software, Inc.10317 Greenbriar Place, Suite 100Oklahoma City, OK 73159 USAPhone: 866-288-0789Fax: 405-692-1698Email: [email protected]
Descartes Systems Group120 Randall DriveWaterloo, Ontario N2V 1C6 CanadaPhone: 519-746-8110Fax: 1-519-747-0082Email: [email protected]
DNA Evolutions - DistributedNatural Algorithms GmbHBei der Laug 56Ulm, Germany 89081Phone: 004973166885Email: [email protected]
FreshStart Logistics1700 7th Avenue, Suite 2100Seattle, WA 98101 USAPhone: 206-465-5767Fax: 206-357-8401Email: [email protected]
IBM1 New Orchard RoadArmonk, New York 10504 USAPhone: 914-499-1900www.ibm.com
Jeppesen, a Boeing Company55 Inverness Drive EastEnglewood, CO 80112-5498 USAPhone: 303-799-9090Email: [email protected]
MapmechanicsCanal Court, 155 High St.Brentford TW8 8JA UKPhone: +44 (0) 20 8568 7000Fax: +44 (0) 20 8568 7400Email: [email protected]
MicroAnalytics2009 14th St N, Suite 302Arlington, VA 22201 USAPhone: 703-841-0414Fax: 703-527-1693Email: [email protected]
MJC233 Wellington Business ParkCrowthorneBerkshire RG45 6LS UKPhone: +44 1344 760000Email: [email protected]/Frameset_products_distribution.htmwww.mjc2.com/Frameset_products_wireless.htmwww.mjc2.com/Frameset_products_realtime.htm
Optrak Distribution Software LtdOrland House, Mead LaneHertford SG13 7AT EnglandPhone: 01992517100Fax: 0207 117 3347Email: [email protected]
ORTECGroningenweg 6kGoudaZuid Holland2803PVThe NetherlandsPhone: +31 182 540 500Fax: +31 182 540 540E-mail: [email protected]/vrd
Paragon Software Systems, Inc.14001 N Dallas Parkway, Suite 1200Dallas, TX 75240 USAPhone: 972-934-6755Email: [email protected]
Prophesy Transportation Solutions, an Accellos Company204-C West Newberry RoadBloomfield, CT 06002 USAPhone: 800-776-6706Fax: 860-243-2619Email: [email protected]
QuantMethods9644 Oak Meadow Lane, Suite 100Pilot Point, TX 76258 USAPhone: 940-231-1949Email: [email protected]
RouteSolutions3740 Boyd Ave, Suite 127San Diego, CA 92111 USAPhone: 858-541-2738Fax: 800-293-2815Email: [email protected]
SAITECH, Inc.PO Box 431Holmdel, NJ 07733 USAPhone: 908-513-9815Fax: 732-444-5911Email: [email protected]
UPS Logistics Technolgies849 Fairmount Avenue, Suite 400
Baltimore, MD 21286 USAPhone: 410-847-1900Fax: 410-847-6246Email: [email protected]
Vehicle Routing Software Survey
On the Road to Connectivity
Creative integration of computer, communication and location technologies help a wide range of industries thrive in difficult times.
By Janice Partyka and Randolph Hall
Since our 2008 routing software survey, the world has suffered through a financial collapse unlike any since the 1920s. Sinking home values, overseas wars, terrorism, threats of global warming and turmoil in health care have capped a decade that many would prefer to forget. As we look forward, the global financial disaster has taught us one thing: simply moving money from account to account does not produce prosperity. Instead, our well-being depends on building economic activities that deliver goods and services to real people, when and where they need them.
Routing software companies are offering creative ways to integrate computer, communication and location technologies with algorithms and software, helping a wide range of industries thrive in a period of recovery. These technologies enable routing software companies to provide sophisticated connectivity and productivity tools to an increasingly mobile workforce and widely distributed customers.
Technological Foundations
When this series of routing articles began more than a decade ago, cell phones were for the rich, map databases were still being developed and GPS-enabled navigation was beyond the average consumer. Routing software worked well, but it wasn't flexible and relied on an imperfect platform, making it difficult for the drivers to access information on the road, and sometimes creating a mismatch between the route that drivers were directed to follow and what they knew to be the best course.
According to Cyndi Brandt of UPS Logistics Technologies, "new data sources have recently become available, including a more complete commercial roads database, and true historical traffic data based on real travel times." Chris Jones of Descartes Systems Group also notes an "explosion of map data attributes and capabilities." In the next year or two, we will have predictive travel speeds for road segments down to 15-minute intervals. "Currently, drivers say
the software doesn't know everything that they know about the routes. It is sometimes true now, but won't be that way in the future," says Jones.
Likewise, we are now seeing stronger connectivity between routing software's traditional functions — that of assigning stops to drivers and placing them in an optimal sequence — with on-the-road navigation. A computer-generated printout listing turn-by-turn directions is becoming more of an anachronism these days, when so many drivers can receive voice commands and dynamic map displays from their phones or navigation devices. As Jones of Descartes notes, "Customers and prospects are really looking for combined solutions" that both route and navigate. "The big growth market is in the portable market," he continues. "You see fleets that would have never gotten GPS technology now using it with a mobile phone."
According to Julian Stephens of MJC2, "Smart phones are changing the industry in a big way because they allow real-time data capture, which in turn enables real-time re-optimization of the operation. This is of particular interest to us because our dynamic scheduling algorithms can make use of these data to increase operational efficiency of mobile workforces." With this type of on-the-road connectivity, MJC2 and other routing software companies are investing in their real-time routing features and algorithms.
Software as a Service
According to Greg Wieitholter of Route Solutions, "Desktop-based routing is going away." Instead, "people want Web-based solutions, so all parts of the organization can have visibility." This is now often accomplished through the Software as a Service (SaaS) model, whereby the software vendor generates solutions and manages data from their own servers. Alternatively, MJC2, for instance, has found that "many customers prefer to host the software themselves as this gives them more control and flexibility."
SaaS is changing the financial model of some software companies. As Chris Jones of Descartes notes, "SaaS is the way the industry has headed. It means that customers 'pay as they go.' It reduces the initial payment of the customer and removes a barrier to entry." UPS has a SaaS offering aimed at smaller fleets, which treat the software costs like utility charges rather than an up-front capitalization.
For the software companies themselves, their cash flows are changing from the initial large balloon payment and lower maintenance fees that come from purchase of licenses to more continuous income flows. For some, the switch is a difficult financial transition that requires cash reserves. However, many routing companies have found ongoing support financially challenging under the license model.
The Business of Routing
Many of the routing companies predict that consolidation in the industry is likely to accelerate and that companies "run by mathematicians" will be unsuccessful. Customers are looking for stability and distribution system expertise more than the latest algorithms. Nevertheless, one of
the challenges that all of these companies will face is the ability to process data to re-optimize routes in real-time. With map data getting richer and real-time traffic adding road segment data in small time intervals, the processing requirements will grow substantially. The underlying architecture of these offerings and how the processing is distributed will be a critical factor in how well each product fares.
Expansion into New Industries
Routing software is being used in an increasingly diverse set of industries, both in traditional truck pick-up and delivery as well as in mobile services, such as repair crews. Among Descarte's customers, "Sleepy's Mattress Stores" uses routing software to schedule deliveries on the spot at point-of-sale, within one-hour time windows. At Appian Logistics Software, it is being used to synchronize trucks and plumbers so that icemakers can be installed soon after a refrigerator is rolled in the door. Route Solutions' customers are using routing software to schedule multitudes of merchandisers and installers, who travel among retail outlets to install product displays and signage.
One clear trend is that the companies that use routing software increasingly want to offer services that set them apart from their competition, and these services demand both faster solution times and improved communication — frequently generating new solutions on the spot. However, given the tough economy, cost remains an important driver. While desirable to route the same drivers to the same customers each and every day, that level of consistency can be inefficient. As Hugh Gigante of Appian notes, "If we tell a customer that it costs them $100 a day to keep the same drivers servicing the same customers, most fleets will decide it isn't worth the cost." Instead, routes can be continuously re-optimized so that every vehicle is used to its max. "Defining features now are anything that reduces windshield time, saves gas and decreases wear and tear on trucks," concludes Gigante. And trucks need to be full.
Basic Software Features
The routing software surveyed in this article provide a common set of basic capabilities:
geocoding addresses, i.e., locating the latitude and longitude by matching the address against data contained in a digital map database;
determining the best paths through street networks between pairs of geocoded points;
solving vehicle routing problems, entailing an assignment of stops to routes and terminals, sequencing stops and routing vehicles between pairs of stops; and
displaying the results in both graphical and tabular forms in such a way that dispatchers can guide the solution process and communicate results to drivers, loaders and other personnel.
Applications differ somewhat according to their target market, special features and integration capabilities, as discussed in the following section.
This Year's Survey
Sixteen software vendors (12 North American and four from Europe) participated in this year's survey, representing 22 products. Our questionnaire was divided into sections covering platform, algorithmic capabilities, interfaces and features, applications, system integration and background information. All responses are self-reported and unverified.
Platform. Windows remains the dominant platform for routing software and is available for nearly all software packages, with only one company offering a Mac version of their software, and another three in Linux and Unix. Fourteen products are available in SaaS, two of which are only available in SaaS. From a hardware perspective, vendors generally recommend a high-end PC operating in the 3 GHz range, combined with 1 to 4 Gb of memory and up to 100 Gb in hard disk space (much less if SaaS is used). These figures have not changed much in the last four years, again showing that powerful routing software has become easier to run on one's desktop computer. In SaaS applications, computing requirements are even smaller than in the past.
Algorithmic capabilities. The algorithms underlying routing products are generally proprietary, though typically involve a combination of integer programming methods and heuristics. QuantMethods and Jeppesen were more specific, respectively stating that linear programming/branch-and-bound and column generation were used. FreshStart Logistics, new to this year's survey, indicated that their algorithms are based on artificial intelligence and expert system approaches, rather than traditional mathematical programming. DNA Evolutions' response of "construction and improvement" is likely representative of the general class of heuristic methods used by most routing vendors.
Vendors generally claim unlimited problem size for their software, but from a practical perspective, computation time, memory size and disk space bound product performance, so it is important to test software on actual problems. In this regard, most vendors claim computation times in the one-to-five-minute range for an average-sized problem, described as the time to solve a problem with 50 routes, 1,000 stops and two-hour hard-time windows. (Keep in mind that computation times are provided by the vendors and have not been verified.) These times are similar to two years ago.
Fast computation times are particularly important in real-time applications, such as when deliveries are scheduled while the customer is on the phone or when stops are inserted and scheduled while vehicles are in the field. Researchers in vehicle routing are well aware that route-length approximations can be very effective at producing good solutions in a short amount
of time. This year, vendors were tight lipped about use of approximations.
Node routing is the capability to assign and sequence discrete stops, and arc routing is the capability to assign and sequence street segments. The former is needed most often, and occurs when the driver visits 100 or fewer locations per day. We believe it is available on all products. Arc routing is more specialized and occurs when vehicles visit every (or most) address on block segments, as in meter reading, mail delivery and garbage pickup. Most of the vendors claim they can do both of these, along with real-time routing, daily routing and route planning. However, a single routing package is unlikely to be adept at all of these functions, and it is important to select a vendor that has experience in the planned application.
More than half of the products offer some capability for real-time routing, which could come in the form of real-time re-routing of vehicles or real-time stop scheduling. Six vendors (Appian, Descartes, FreshStart Logistics, MJC2, SAITECH and UPS Logistics) have the ability to incorporate real-time traffic, which is now more widely available in major cities. This can enable a fleet to reschedule in response to customer requirements, vehicle delays or traffic conditions.
Most vendors claim the ability to solve routing problems with soft time windows. However, when asked for specifics, some simply indicate that they represent a range of time or maximum allowed delay rather than a true soft window approach. On the other hand, IBM ILOG permits early and late penalties, DNA Evolution windows are "fuzzy by default" and MJC2 uses "configurable rules."
Interfaces and features. As a starting point, basic features offered by most include an ability to display routes and stops on maps and edit these routes with the "drag-and-drop" feature (i.e., click on a stop and move it to whichever route you desire). This enables the dispatcher to modify the algorithm-produced routes and is needed in practice to satisfy customer constraints. To make these features work, products need digital maps, such as the commercial products from NAVTEQ (based in the United States) and Tele Atlas (based in Europe). Maps, which are not inexpensive, are often sold separately and are chosen by customers according to their requirements.
Integration. Real-time communication with drivers, as well as tracking their locations, has become particularly important, and most products offer these features. This usually is provided with vehicle-mounted devices or mobile phones. Interfaces with other software systems — such as order-entry and inventory management — is also important for retailers and distributors. Other important features include forecasts for delivery requirements, generation of load manifests and load planning.
Applications. Whereas vendors generally claim that their products are designed to serve a broad range of applications, most specialize in an industry sector. Specialization is largely driven by
interface requirements — both in terms of presenting information in a manner that is useful to the target user and in terms of interfacing with business software systems and hardware devices. Police, taxi and emergency vehicle dispatch, for instance, each demand special requirements that differ from the traditional market of private fleets. They fall in the realm of niche markets, even though in theory they are just variations of vehicle routing.
Vendors that are more experienced in an industry will be better prepared to consult on software installation and more likely to have relevant features, leading to a higher likelihood of success. The optimization code might also be different to account for the particular network structure, for instance the hub-and-spoke design of less-than-truckload (LTL) networks.
In our survey, most of the respondents have specialized in private truck fleets, serving such markets as food and beverage (e.g., Anheuser Busch, Coca Cola and Gold Medal Bakery). Jeppesen's PlanOp is being used by for-hire fleets, such as Australia Post and Purolator Courier.
Routing installations tend to require a large degree of customization, as reflected in software prices, which often runs in the tens of thousands of dollars. As an alternative, SaaS provides routing services for a monthly fee, perhaps as low as $99 per month. Beyond these software costs, some level of consulting is likely needed to ensure full integration into a fleet's information systems, typically priced in the neighborhood of $125 per hour. In terms of pure size, many companies now claim more than 1,000 installations each.
General information. The accompanying directory provides contact information and product names for the vendors. Pricing is available for some vendors (in many cases, prices are negotiable and depend on fleet size). Expect to pay $10,000 or more for the software alone. Higher-priced products generally offer more customized service, a larger array of features and interface capabilities, and specialized experience in a particular industry. Price structures do vary, so be sure to compare the full installed cost before making a choice, including license fees, installation and maintenance costs, hardware and digital maps.
Selecting a Product
Before purchasing a product, fleet managers should first assess the degree to which routing solutions and data must be integrated across multiple sites and decide whether they would like adopt the SaaS model or host their own software. It also important to ask questions such as: How big of a problem will be solved, measured in vehicles, stops and terminals? How frequently will the solution be updated, and how quickly must the software generate a solution? Can stops be scheduled on the spot, or will they be generated in batches? Who will use the software, how is the information best presented to the user, and are the users distributed among many locations? Who will install and maintain the software? With which software systems must the routing
system interact? Vendors should demonstrate that they are experienced serving other fleets with similar requirements, and they should provide references so that you can verify claims.
Janice Partyka ([email protected]) is principal of JGP Services, a marketing consulting practice that focuses on mobile technologies and applications. Randolph Hall ([email protected]) is vice provost for Research Advancement at the University of Southern California.