Runzheimer International’s New Services Bring Tighter Cost Control to Mobile Employee Programs

GPS-based solution automates route planning and captures mileage, first end-to-end integration with ERP systems

Automated Route Planning—Before and After
The Route Optimization service proactively maps routes to ensure the shortest drive time for salespeople or appointment-based/route drivers.

Manual route planning typically involves printing copies of orders which are sorted into different piles based on sections of a city. Drivers are handed those orders and asked to organize the best route using printed maps and their knowledge of the city. The process takes hours of time and often results in an inefficient route that involves excess miles and more time.

With Route Optimization, order data is imported directly from an ERP system or Excel spreadsheet into the software. Each address is verified for accuracy and then clustered into optimal routes using advanced algorithms. Customer appointments are taken into consideration and managers can make manual changes. Once the final route is created, the routes, maps, loading instructions and more can be printed for distribution or uploaded into a variety of mobile devices.

In addition to reduced fuel consumption and fewer miles driven, Route Optimization increases the average number of orders per driver. With mobile device products, the service can immediately alert drivers to changes, which reduces mistakes, downtime and/or missed appointments.

Mileage Reporting—Before and After
The Mileage Capture service uses a GPS-enabled device to automatically track mileage and upload the data to an ERP system.

Today’s manual reporting process typically involves employee estimates based on daily, weekly or monthly written logs. Employees may or may not remember to track miles using an odometer or making a note of their GPS device estimate. They also may be using a printed map and estimate miles using the “miles per inch” legend.

Mileage Capture ensures mileage is accurately and consistently captured. It operates wirelessly through “smart” phones or PDAs and provides real-time information to operations/dispatch managers. The service is also available through a connected device that can plug into a car or vehicle, which can then be uploaded to an internal system. Both options support data integration with an ERP, expense system or time management system and help companies stay in compliance with IRS requirements.

For more information about Route Optimization and Mileage Capture or any of our other workforce mobility solutions, visit us at www.runzheimer.com