Route Optimisation

2.1 User Case

I own a small courier company and I have access to a number of drivers to deliver a number of parcels and packages within a specified time. What I need to be able to calculate is, based on each drivers home location, my depot, where they pick the parcels up and the final destinations, how can I best optimist each of the drivers routes?

I need to ensure that there time is used efficiently and the route taken to deliver is the best route available based on all factors considered

2.2 Utilising the extension

If you wish to see a finished working solution then please open up the supplied work book found in the Demo container - Route Optimisation.twbx

For the purposes of creating from scratch against your own set of data please carry on with the below.

You will need have 3 source sheets populated -

• Start Location

• Pick Up Location

• Final Destinations (delivery of orders)

For the Start Location ensure it is one row which is the start of address of the driver by way of Latitude and Longitude.

New tableau workbook

Connect to your excel data source created as above.

Then go to a new sheet and bring the 3 objects as follows –

You now need to change the Latitude and Longitude pills so they are BOTH Discrete and Dimension.

Next click on the new dashboard tab and using ‘Floating’ bring in the source sheet to the dashboard.

Now minimise the sheet in the dashboard to as small as possible so it is hardly visible.

Recreate the same for the other two source sheets.

Next switch to ‘Tiled’ and select ‘Extension’ and bring this into the dashboard so it fills the entire space. Click on ‘My extensions’ and select the ‘Eqolines.trex’ file.

Then click ‘ok’ to allow extension and this will bring you into the welcome page.

Once you have obtained your your key(s) (one key if you are using the paid for version and two if you are using the free version) you can enter them in the relevant boxes to proceed.

You will then be presented with the following screen –

Click on the ‘Route Optimisation’ container.

Page 1 of 7 will then require a connection to the first source sheet created (Start) then press save and continue.

Page 2 of 7 requires the Average pickup duration, in other words the time taken to load all the orders onto the required mode of transport.

If the place to pick up the orders is different from the drivers starting house then click the button that says 'Pick up orders from different location' and map accordingly (again as per the start can only be 1 row)

Page 3 of 7 is the mapping of the source sheet containing all the order details. You also need to determine an Average drop off time (eg: Allowing the driver 5 mins per order to park up and drop off) and also the total time you are allowing from start to finish (from pick up to final delivery)

Page of 4 of 7 you have the choice of selecting which map tile background to use for you dashboard.

Page 5 of 7 is where you can change the fonts and colours. The defaults are fine, but you may wish to change these settings the more you use the extension. Save & Continue.

Page 6 of 7 gives you the ability to switch toolbar settings on and off but at this stage it's best to keep the default settings. Save & Continue.

Now you are on the final Page 7 of 7 and ready to load the dashboard - 'Generate Route Optimization'

Once the dashboard has been loaded you will be presented with the following screen -

The icons in top left control the zoom in / out functionality. Beneath them is box which counts how many orders are reachable / unreachable based on all the parameters you have submitted.

The numbers shown in small circles represent the stages of the journey where 1 = the start destination 2 = pick up location 3 onwards is the order drop offs.

In the top right is the icon to open up the parameters.

The mode of transports available are SGV (Estate car /Van), HGV (Vehicles over 7.5 tonne) or Bicycle (push bike)

You can adjust the number of vehicles up to any number available in your fleet. Increasing the number of vehicles allows more orders to be fulfilled without adjusting the time.

The Average pickup duration required is the time allocated to pick up all the orders at the warehouse (in mins).

The Average delivery duration required is the time allocated for the driver to drop the order off at each location (in mins).

The total time window for deliveries is the time you allowing your driver(s) to complete all the orders

Rush hour - takes into consideration rush hour traffic therefore when switched on expect journey times to be shortened.

The Route Planner and Order details export out the data in .json and .csv format respectively.

The two arrows at the bottom of the dashboard open up upon clicking to show detail on the route(s) chosen and if two or more vehicles have been selected then expected two or more journeys to be shown.