Vehicle Routing and Scheduling Optimisation Software

The vehicle routing and scheduling optimisation software with time-windows(VRPTW) performs a complex set of functions for routing a fleet of vehicles where each vehicle starts from the same depot, traverses a route with multiple drops and returns to the depot. The software minimises the total distance travelled by each vehicle, optimises the use of available capacity on a vehicle, allocates time for each delivery, allows for rest breaks of drivers and for a return to the depot.  It also minimises the number of vehicles which are required. The VRPTW software aims to maximise the use of vehicle assets and minimise the number of vehicles for the scheduled deliveries each day.

The software has a graphical user interface which is intuitive and easy to use. You can enter data manully or read data from a file of contacts with postcodes in the UK.  It allows you to enter data for each field but will also allow you to ignore or relax certain constraints such as  delivery time-windows. The software can process data for up to 10 vehicles.  The output is a list of the order in which each delivery has to be made, computed routes, delivery time-windows and scheduled driver-breaks.

The software uses the addresses of the delivery points/ pick-up points. It uses postcodes in the UK to specify the location of each delivery or pick-up point. It uses vector map data of the road or street network to find the shortest routes by a chosen selection of road categories such as Motorways, A, B, C and D roads only.

Vehicle capacity has to be specified in terms of volume for light loads or volume and weight for heavy loads. The allowed axel weight for each vehicle is used to prevent overloading.  

Time-windows for delivery or pick-up have to be entered or your can enter a fixed time-window such as 20 minutes for all deliveries or pickups. For example, if you do not set time windows, you will get the shortest travel distance for each leg and for the total distance travelled by a vehicle. You can in insert time-windows along the minimised driving distances to achieve both time windows and minimised travel distance.

The VRPTW software allows you to relax selected constraints and see what effects they have on the output. For example, if the time-windows are relaxed significantly, the total distance travelled will typically be reduced significantly. So you can benefit from running the software without tight time-windows, minimising the total distance travelled and then entering the time-windows but maintaining the shortest route. The VRPTW software lets you relax selected constraints and see what effects thet have on the output and your costs.

The VRPTW software can be used beneficially without using selected constraints. You can use the VRPTW software to optimise home visits by social workers, service engineers and others who do not have capacity constraints.  In such cases, you can reduce total driving distance and driving time for travel and schedule visits with time-windows. For example, many home service engineers for gas boilers give a time-window for a visit such as 11.00- 12 hours.  As some people have to take time off work to be at home for the visit, a time-window early or late in the date if often preferred. Quality of service improves significantly by giving a time-window and repeat business is more likely if the service engineer turns up during the time-window.  Many service engineers give only a date for the visit which can occur any time between 8.00 - 17.30 hours.  This often means someone has to take annual leave just to wait at home for the service engineer.

The VRPTW is available for 32- or 64-bit Linux and Microsoft Windows XP, Vista or 7 environments