OR/MS Today, February 2010

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 patton@lionhrtpub.com. 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: csr@lionhrtpub.com.



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