How to Create the Perfect Delivery Route

Creating Delivery Routes can be a real hustle. But it shouldn’t be.

At Kosmo we take care of this for you. No worries.

But, if you still want to learn the basics, you can follow along.

Delivering products or services to customers in a timely and efficient manner is crucial for any business.

An optimized delivery route can help streamline operations, save you money, and enhance customer satisfaction.

What options do I have?

There are several ways of creating a Delivery Route. But it doesn't mean that they will all work the same.

1. Manually

You can create routes manually. Although this may seem like a simple task, it is not. And results will also prove this. We will develop this later.

But how can I do this? You can look at a map and group stops together based on zip codes. You can also put them in a free tool like Google Maps and rearrange stops from there until you get your desired order.

2. Using existing Online Route Planners

Online Route Planners take care of Route Optimization and its speed. They use algorithms to create fast routes in the least possible time.

Sounds perfect right? Well...it's not.

For starters, it limits the amount of stops you can add per route, which is detrimental for delivery businesses. Plus, you often need to print the routes or send them to your drivers, meaning you can’t change or adapt them on the go.

3. Using Delivery Route Planner Apps

The last option is possibly the best one. Delivery Route Planner Apps are much more sophisticated and upgraded than Route Planning Apps.

They allow for more stops. Offer more route customization. And have the ability to modify routes in real-time.

Additionally, some apps offer advanced features like real-time tracking and delivery status updates.

Now, you are probably wondering which app can gather all these features and integrate into your system right?

Although there are several options in the market, we introduce Kosmo, a delivery route planner app that gathers all these characteristics to make your business thrive.

Amongst other things, Kosmo Delivery can optimize deliveries and save 20% in delivery costs. You can start your free trial here

Le’s get over each option.

How to create a Delivery Route Manually

To further visualize how delivery routes can be planned manually, we have taken Google Maps as an example tool for this since it is free and very user friendly.

Let's explore the steps involved in creating a delivery route manually:

Export Addresses

Begin by exporting the delivery addresses from your eCommerce platform, such as Shopify, into a spreadsheet.

This step ensures that you have a clear list of all the locations you need to deliver to.

Map Analysis

Take a closer look at the locations on a map to gain a visual understanding of their proximity to one another.

Identify clusters of stops that are geographically close, as these can be grouped together to minimize travel distance. This is called multi-stop route planning. And although the concept itself can look simple, it actually has many things to consider.

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Grouping Stops:

Group the stops based on their proximity and determine an optimal sequence that minimizes travel time and maximizes efficiency.

Consider ending the route at a stop that brings you closer to your starting point or a central hub.

You can do this by first adding the stops through the + Add destination and then clicking sorting them in your preferred order by pressing on the stop and moving it up or down.

Traffic Considerations:

If you are familiar with the delivery area, take into account any well-known traffic patterns or heavily congested streets. Avoiding rush hour or high-traffic areas can help optimize your route and reduce potential delays.

What are the Pros and Cons?

Pros of creating a Delivery Route Manually:

• Cost-Effective: Manual route planning does not require the use of expensive route optimization software or tools.
• Flexibility and Adaptability: You can easily make changes on the go, adjusting the route to accommodate unexpected situations, road closures, or last-minute customer requests.
• Local Knowledge Utilization: Manual route planning enables you to leverage your knowledge of the delivery area. You can take advantage of shortcuts, traffic patterns, and local insights.
• Simplified Implementation: Getting started with manual route planning requires minimal setup or training.

Cons of creating a Delivery Route Manually:

Time-Consuming: Manual route planning can be significantly time-consuming, especially as the number of stops and delivery volume increases. The process of analyzing maps, grouping stops, and sequencing routes manually can be tedious and may not scale efficiently.

Lack of Precision: It may not always yield the most optimal routes, leading to inefficiencies and longer travel times.

Limited Scalability: Managing a large number of stops, multiple drivers, and time windows without automation can become overwhelming and may result in suboptimal routes.

Incomplete Consideration of Factors: Manual planning often overlooks crucial factors such as real-time traffic conditions, historical data, and dynamic variables.

Regardless of its clear advantages, it can present significant challenges when trying to find the fastest route with multiple stops in Google Maps.

Creating Delivery Routes Using Existing Route Planners

Online route planners offer effective optimization in the order of stops for faster deliveries, but they come with significant  limitations.

Let's explore the features and considerations of SpeedyRoute, an online route planner, and introduce Kosmo as an alternative solution for creating fast and efficient delivery routes.

SpeedyRoute: Optimizing Routes for Small Businesses

SpeedyRoute is a user-friendly online route planner that caters to delivery drivers and small businesses with limited delivery services. Here's an overview of its features:

• Adding Stops: On the SpeedyRoute website, you can input the starting point for your driver and add all the necessary stops along the route.
• The free version allows up to 10 stops per day, with a maximum of 3 usages.
• For more than ten stops, you can opt for SpeedyRoute's paid services.
• Pricing Options: SpeedyRoute offers different pricing tiers based on the number of drivers and stops required. These include:

• $39 per month: Optimal routes for 1 driver with 100 stops per route.
• $69 per month: Routes for up to 5 drivers with a total of 500 stops.
• $99 per month: Routes for up to 10 drivers with an unlimited number of stops.

Limitations of SpeedyRoute and the Need for a Mobile App

While SpeedyRoute provides an improvement over manual route planning, it has a notable drawback: it lacks a dedicated mobile app. This means that routes must be sent to drivers via email or printed out.

The absence of a mobile app can limit the ease of use, particularly when drivers rely on GPS navigation tools like Google Maps to locate their stops.

Sometimes, it is worth considering investing in a high quality paid route planner app to enhance your deliveries. 

What are the benefits of investing in a quality paid route planner app?

• Saves time
• Improves delivery efficiency
• Reduces fuel costs
• Enhances customer satisfaction

Using Advanced Delivery Route Planner Apps:

Kosmo Delivery is a leading route optimization app that specializes in optimizing delivery routes with just two clicks and it allows you to use 3rd party couriers while others do not.

It uses advanced algorithms to calculate the most efficient routes, taking into account various factors such as:

• Traffic conditions
• Delivery windows
• Vehicle capacity

Experience the power of Kosmo Delivery and unlock a new level of efficiency for your delivery operations. Try it now!

How will Kosmo help you with route optimization?

Kosmo will help you propel your business through excellent route optimization results. As such, mastering route optimization in logistics is key to making your delivery business thrive.

Follow along to see how you can make this possible

1. Select all the orders available

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2. Click on “Optimize”

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3. You will find the routes optimized

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some commonly asked questions regarding online route planners and the process of optimizing delivery routes:

What is an online route planner?

An online route planner is a web-based tool that helps businesses and drivers optimize their delivery routes. It takes a list of stops and calculates the most efficient sequence to minimize travel time, reduce fuel costs, and increase overall productivity.

Why should I use an online route planner?

By utilizing an online route planner, you can save time and resources by automatically generating optimized routes.

It eliminates the guesswork involved in manual route planning, leading to faster deliveries, improved efficiency, and enhanced customer satisfaction.

What are the limitations of online route planners?

Online route planners may have limitations such as a maximum number of stops allowed per route, lack of advanced features like real-time traffic updates, and the absence of a dedicated mobile app for seamless navigation.

It's important to choose a route planner that meets your specific business needs. That is why we recommend Kosmo.

Can online route planners handle large delivery volumes?

It depends on the specific route planner. Some online route planners are designed for small businesses with a limited number of stops, while others offer scalable solutions to handle larger delivery volumes.

It's advisable to check the capabilities and pricing options of the chosen route planner and prioritize advanced Delivery Route Planners, such as Kosmo.

How does route optimization improve efficiency?

Route optimization algorithms consider factors such as traffic patterns, distance, and delivery time windows to create the most efficient delivery sequence. 

By eliminating unnecessary backtracking and minimizing travel time, businesses can complete more deliveries in less time, reducing costs and increasing productivity.