Not a window cleaner? Where this guide says round, you'll see route. It works the same way. You can change the word in Settings, then Scheduling.
What you'll need
- A start point for each person, chosen from the address search
- Properties with map pins
Before you start
The optimiser plans from each person's start point and each property's map pin. Someone with no start point isn't given any work, and a visit with no map pin stays where it is.
Start and end points
- Open Team, then the person. Under Start point, search for the address and choose it. The day starts and ends here.
- If their day ends somewhere else, set an End point. Leave it empty and the day ends where it started. End where the day starts clears it.
- For one day only, use Start somewhere else on a date or End somewhere else on a date. Cleaners can do this themselves in the app, from My timesheet.
Usual start points are set on the web only. Your own are also on your account page.
Run the optimiser
- On Schedule, choose Optimise a week.
- Choose the week: this week, next week, or in 2 or 3 weeks. Days already gone are left out.
- Tick the people to plan. Everyone who runs a round is listed, and owners and managers with Include in planning on.
- Choose the rules. Keep visits on their day keeps each visit's date. Keep cleaner assignments keeps who does it. Time windows and visits moved by hand or by a rain delay are always kept. Round visits keep their day unless the owner lets the optimiser move them.
- Choose Calculate routes.
What happens next
Optimiser results shows the miles and drive time saved, by day, and a list of what changes. Nothing changes until you choose Apply new routes. Discard results throws it away.
When you apply, the moved visits are locked, so the nightly schedule leaves them alone. Each cleaner's phone gets the new order at its next sync. Customers aren't told unless you choose to tell them by text or email, under Tell customers whose day changed. Only customers whose day changes are told, once each. Optimisation history lists past runs.
If something goes wrong
- “… has no start point, so the optimiser leaves their visits with them as they are and won't plan them.”: choose Set a start point and add one on their Team page.
- “N visits have no map pin, so stay where they are.”: open each property, edit it and choose its address from the search.
- “N visits didn't fit anyone's day or skills.”: they stay where they are. Plan them by hand, or give someone more hours.
- “The schedule has changed since this proposal. Run the optimiser again.”: something moved after you calculated. Run it again.
- “Your business has used today's 5 route-planning runs”: this week's plan used the simpler planner. Try again tomorrow for the best routes.
- “You've run the optimiser a lot in the last hour.”: wait a while and try again.
Who can do this
The owner, and managers with Can plan the schedule, rounds and forms. Only the owner can let the optimiser move round visits to other days. Cleaners can set a start or end place for one day for themselves.
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