Organizations can implement fully dynamic routing (without boundaries) to gain maximum efficiency. This type of routing will produce immediate operational savings.

Implementing fully dynamic routing can be disruptive to the rhythm of an organization. Daily dynamic routes will create significant daily routing changes for drivers, making each new workday something that could be very different. Every organization will need to decide how much daily disruption makes sense for its drivers and their organization.

Boundaries allow your route planner to manage and control daily disruption to meet your organization's tolerance levels. Boundary files allow your organization to confine routes to geographic boundaries drawn on the map. The Appian algorithm will look for orders within each boundary and build routes that are confined to these. An organization can run the same driver and vehicles in the same areas every day, with little or no variations to their routes.

In DirectRoute, users draw boundaries on a map. These drawings can be polygons, circles, or other shapes. When routes are created with the route-building wizard and a boundary file is selected, the orders that fall inside the boundary shapes, that order is given a boundary code. Corresponding trucks in the truck file have the same list of boundary codes (SpEQ code) ensuring the matching orders are loaded on the appropriate truck.

When orders fall in an area where boundaries overlap, the system applies multiple boundary codes to the orders, which gives the routing algorithm the flexibility to load the order on any route with one matching boundary code. This allows the algorithm flexibility on route selection when volume flexes in an overlapping boundary area.

Another way to manage boundary files is to use the boundaries tab in the left-side menu. Users can upload up to 20 distinct boundary files per branch. Within this tab, you can upload, edit, and delete boundary files. The boundary file format is proprietary, and Daily Planner boundary files can only be created in DirectRoute. The .drw file can then be uploaded into Daily Planner.

Selecting an existing boundary file in the list of files provides you with more details about the geographic areas of the polygons that make up that boundary file and the orders within the polygons. A Boundary File can be uploaded as part of the Route Building Wizard.

NOTE: For additional information about creating boundary drawing in DirectRoute, see the DirectRoute User Guide.