RapidisLogistics Planner (RLP)

Vehicle Routing Problem(VRP) version for distribution and

service technicians

Route planning and fleet optimization

Optimization and planning for organizations with multiple tasks at multiple locations:

• Distribution• Service technicians• Home care

Logistics is both complicated and costly to operate, and restrictions and constraints will indeed complicate the planning.

At Rapidis we aim to make our tools for planning and optimization able to handle a wide variety of requirements making the tools useful across industries.

We call it: Rapidis Logistics Planner• Highly scalable multicore

planning• Highly configurable

Benefits, who and how

Benefits:

• Travel distance and carbon footprint is reduced

• Travel time and number of vehicles is reduced

• All plans meet restrictions and constraints

• Faster planning - complete plans in minutes

• 10 – 30 % cost reductions are common

• Highly configurable

• Highly scalable multicore planning

How to get it:

• Planning as a service (REST API)

• Subscription service with little entry costs

• Integrates with costumer systemsWho should get it:

• Transport- and distribution companies

• Organizations with many service technicians

• Online supermarkets

• Municipalities and private firms doing home care

• Organizations doing waste collection

Simple vs Advanced Planning

Simple Planning:

• 1 resource at the time

• Tasks are locked to resources

• Planning within predefined districts

• Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP)

• Reductions in travel time and distance are generally 5 – 7 %

Advanced Planning:

• Tasks not locked to resources

• All resources/cars can perform all tasks if they meet qualifications etc.

• Best overall transport plan

• Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP)

• Reductions in travel time and distance are generally 10 – 30 %

How the plan evolves

A complete and cost optimized transport plan

• OD cost matrix – travel time from all-to-all locations

• A preliminary plan is done and the resulting costs are calculated

• Costs are minimized by swapping tasks between resources

• When costs for the overall plan stops decreasing the plan is optimized and ready

Cost minimizing for the best plan

• Drive time for resources• Task time• Start costs for additional

resources• Wait time for the resources

The total costs for the overall transport plan can consist of the cost elements listed below. Each cost element can be calibrated making the plan fit most scenarios. Logistics Planner minimizes the total costs for the overall plan – that is the ”best plan”

• Each cost element can be scaled to fit specific scenarios. Drive time is often scaled higher than task time, which makes Logistics Planner focus on reducing drive time

• Resources can be individually scaled faster/slower on drive time and/or task time

RLP is controlled with parameters

Tasks can be specified with:• 1 or multiple time windows where the task can/must be

performed• Duration • Qualifications required to perform the task

Resources/vehicle can be specified with:• Capacities• Qualifications• Breaks required• Max work time and possible working hours

Logistics Planner has proven capabilities to:

• Minimize operational costs (number of vehicles, travel time and travel distance)

• Respect all constraints and restrictions

On the following pages we will introduce some of the tools and parameters making it possible to design the actual planning to meet specific needs.

Multiple time windows on tasks

• A time window has a start time and an end time• Tasks can have zero, one or multiple time windows• Tasks can be allowed only to begin in the time window and complete

after

A time window is the period time in which a task must be completed.

A task can have zero, one or multiple time windows. Using multiple time windows can improve optimization when planning inspection tasks.

Refill depots

• Depots for refilling can be defined by their location

• Duration for refilling can be defined• Each resource can either be allowed or

disallowed to refill• Refilling will be at the nearest depot

In some scenarios refilling of the resources is necessary and Logistics Planner has tools to include this in the planning.

The tools can also be used for the unloading of waste trucks.

Loads and Capacity

Vehicle capacities vs loads for each order

Each vehicle can have 1 or 2 capacities attachedEvery order/task can require 1 or 2 capacities

Examples:• 35 m³• 2.000 kg• 35 m³ and 2.000 kg• 200 units specified by the user

Qualifications and resource groups

A task can require a resource/vehicle with certain qualifications and/or a vehicle that belongs to a specific resource group.

A resource/vehicle can have 1 or more qualifications and it can be a member of a specific resource group.

Resource groups can be used to make sure that a certain task in performed by a preferred resource – this could be a delivery where the receiver prefers a “known face” – something that can be hard to describe as a qualification.

Individually prioritized tasks

In many planning scenarios the number of tasks that serve as input will exceed the number of tasks that actually can be performed given the resources available.

Tasks can be prioritized making sure that they will be planned before tasks that are not prioritized; maybe because they are not urgent and can be performed the next day or by external resources.

Start and end locations for resources

Delivery trucks often start and end their working day at the depot.

Service technicians may begin their working day at home and perhaps finish at the location of the last task.

Logistics Planner handles a wide variety of scenarios related to resource locations.

• A resource can start and end routes at individual locations• Drive time to the first task can be excluded from work time and costs• Drive time from last task to depot/end location can also be excluded

Full-hour scheduling

Online supermarkets offer deliveries in predefined time slots.

To meet this specific planning scenario we have introduced “full-hour scheduling” that ensures that every time slot is planned as close to the full hour as possible.

New features on request

Many features in Rapidis Logistics Planner are developed to meet requirements from specific costumers.

All new features has been and will be added to the core Rapidis Logistics Planner.

Rapidis:

• Founded 2003

• 11 employees

• ESRI Business Partner

• We develop software and tools for simulation, analysis and planning in transport and logistics

• Consultancy in the same business areas

About Rapidis

History of Rapidis Logistics Planner:

• First version in 2007• VRP version• Postal version• PD version (DRT/paratransit) launched in 2013 – Please ask for

information

• In 2014 available as an extension for ArcGIS• In 2014 available as a cloud service

(REST)

Leif Dahl Petersen, MSc Man. DirectorRapidis Logistics ApS., Partner

Selected references

• Falck Teknik, planning +100.000 visits for service technicians• In cooperation with our parter SimaTech

• Dansk Kabel TV, 35 technicians doing scheduled installation together with acute service tasks• In cooperation with our partner Pro-Sat

• Nemlig.com, online supermarket offering delivery in 1 hour time slots• In cooperation with our partner Informi GIS

• IDDesign, chain of furniture shops offering delivery with 35 trucks + 35 subcontracted trucks• In cooperation with our partner PCSYS

• Fynbus, regional bus authority planning +500.000 trips (Demand Responsive Transport - DRT) • In cooperation with our partner Data Power

• Roskilde Brand, large municipality fire department performing paratransit (DRT)• In cooperation with our partner SSD – Secure Software DevelopmentPlease ask for detailed information about Logistics Planner for pickup

and delivery with specific tools for courier services and Demand Responsive Transport for passengers.

Business model – your next step

Partner networkRLP is sold in a partner network.

To become a partner you are probably a software company already selling solutions like Transport Management Systems, ERP or systems for Mobile Workforce Management.

Rapidis Logistics Planner – documentation and test accessIf you like what you have seen so far – perhaps it is time to take a look at the full documentation.If you like to try it out, we can provide you with an access to the service.Please contactLeif Dahl Petersen, ldp@rapidis.com, +45 5310 0029