8 Best Route Optimization Software Free & Paid in 2024

Summary: From arranging to executing, and dispatching a delivery, planning a delivery route can be a daunting experience for any business owner. However, with the right route optimization software, business organizations can make way for a smooth and efficient delivery flow for their executives.

Key Outcome:

• Business organizations and delivery partners can save time and money by using route optimization software that will allow them to add multiple stops in one go.
• This software includes GPS tracking, real-time traffic updates, and route optimization features that make them stand out.
• While some route optimization software might be free, for some you need to opt for a subscription.

Juggling between different tasks throughout the day can be tiring and overwhelming for anyone. However, proper planning is important for achieving efficiency, especially in processes like sales, delivery, and field management.

While there is no way you can get rid of planning, with robust route optimization software, you can easily reduce the manual work involved and maximise your success in 2024.

Apart from staying competitive, route optimization software will also help you develop to your full potential by allowing you to plan your days in no time and without additional stress.

What is Route Optimization Software?

The route optimization software helps plan different sequences of stops so delivery personnel can easily follow and improvise on their overall driving efficiency and provide better customer service. The software can make routes more efficient for an entire fleet based on the goals of a business organization.

This, in turn, enables the dispatchers to streamline their work of manual planning. Well, even before the route optimization software existed, dispatchers used to plan and create routes using pens, paper, maps, whiteboards, and spreadsheets.

Creating a route manually can be time-consuming, and highly inefficient. This is where route planning software will come into play by enabling the businesses to plan and optimize their routes easily thereby reducing the risk for delivery failure.

8 Best Route Optimization Software for Route Planning and Deliveries

We have curated an extensive guide covering the 8 best route optimization software. The software that we have included in our guide will not only help with better management of the fleets, but advanced features like route optimization, real-time traffic updates, and GPS tracking will allow you to easily control and monitor the movement of the fleets, including the drivers.

So, let’s look at some of the best route optimization software that you need for your business in 2024.

1. Google Maps

Google Maps is a popular route optimization software that can easily allow users to plan at least 10 stops on one journey. It is well-equipped with real-time traffic updates, and it can also help the user to redirect to a faster route with its automatic rerouting feature.

It is an excellent tool for planning a personnel route, but Google Maps cannot help with specific solutions to help businesses automate their delivery logistics easily.

Features of Google Maps

• Street Views: Explore the nearest landmarks and natural wonders and explore the nearby restaurants easily.
• Real-Time Traffic Updates: Easily check the traffic in real-time and plan to reach your destination on time.
• Live Traffic Cameras: Using the live traffic cameras, users can easily view the current traffic situation for specific areas highlighted in red.
• Location Sharing: Keep your friends and family up-to-date about your location by sharing your live location.
• Set Route Options: Opt for routes according to your choice with set route option feature and learn how to avoid frequent tolls easily.

2. Circuit Route Planner

Circuit Route Planner has a basic, user-friendly interface which enables users to optimize their routes for individuals and teams. It allows users to solve problems easily and effortlessly while meeting the desired customer service standards.

With a free version you can add up to 10 stops, and with a paid version, you can add up to 500 stops with the added advantage of planning routes for multiple drivers.

Features of Circuit Route Planner

• Delivery Tracking- Seamlessly monitor the movement of all the scheduled deliveries to avoid failure.
• Dispatch Management- Improve business efficiency by importing bulk orders and allowing last-minute delivery adjustments.
• Driver Management- Easily monitor your driver’s behaviour online and keep track of their activities.
• Live Driver Tracking- Check your driver’s activity in real-time and find out whether they are working or sitting idle.
• Route Optimization- With real-time traffic updates, ensure that the drivers can optimize the routes properly without causing a delay to the scheduled deliveries.
• Scheduling- Scheduling deliveries within a given time frame will help you deliver all the orders quickly, leaving customers with a smile.

3. MapQuest

When looking for the best free route optimization software, MapQuest can be a great option. It offers an easy-to-follow route planning system for no added cost.

Compared to its counterparts, MapQuest helps with the proper route optimization for drivers, offering them the option to choose between the shortest distance and the quickest route free from traffic. MapQuest is a popular choice among adventure enthusiasts, especially hikers and vacationers.

Features of MapQuest

• Voice-Guided Navigation for Better Route Management: The voice-guided narration will help you to better understand the routes, and this will help to avoid confusion.
• POI Search Filter: Using this filter, you can easily look for places of interest you plan to visit without wasting any time.
• Real-Time Traffic Updates: With real-time traffic updates, you can save valuable time as MapQuest will take you on routes with less traffic.
• Speedometer for Collecting the Current Speed: Gain valuable insights into your speed and deliver all your orders easily and quickly.

4. Route4Me

Route4me is an excellent solution for large business organizations with complex roadblocks. It offers add-ons, including curbside delivery and a predictive weather option. All you have to do is copy and paste or upload your delivery list and see how the route is effectively optimized within 10 seconds.

Additionally, users have also experienced their driving time is reduced by 35% on average; this means that business organizations can easily save their fuel costs.

Features of Route4me

• GPS Tracking and Collection of Driver’s Data: Keep checking your driver’s movement and easily monitor their behaviour in real-time.
• Seamless Route Monitoring: Check the routes your driver is taking and update them about the traffic condition on those routes.
• Hassle-free Optimization in 60 Seconds: Save time as Route4me will help you to easily optimize the routes within a few seconds.
• Add-ons: With add ons like search and filter options, you can customize the app according to your need.

5. Apple Maps

If you are using an Apple device, then Apple Maps could be a great fit for you. They have a simple and interactive interface design that will be a perfect option even for a novice who does not know how to use it.

To make it more appealing, Apple Maps offers its users a photographic and sleek look that enables them to see nearby locations easily. Even if you are away on a trip with your friends and family, to make your journey smoother, Apple Maps will send real-time directions directly to your Apple device.

Features of Apple Maps

• Weather Warnings on Routes: Gain real-time weather updates and receive emergency alerts around the weather.
• Siri Control: Siri-monitored navigation will help you reach your destination easily and make it easy for you to understand the basic directions.
• Traffic Overlay: Any route congested with traffic will be highlighted in red, whereas the routes with less to no traffic will be shown in green.
• Shareable ETA: Keep your customers posted about the status of their deliveries by sharing your location and estimated delivery time.

6. Maps.me

Whether you’re travelling from an area with network issues or planning to save your mobile data, Maps.me will not disappoint you.

Maps.me enables users to easily download unlimited maps, search for new locations without any problems, and you can easily use their navigation system for travelling by car, bicycle, public transport, or even while walking.

Features of Maps.me

• Offline Search: With the offline feature, you can easily navigate your way through, whether you are facing poor network or issues related to Wi-Fi connectivity.
• Finding and Sharing Locations: Search and easily share the locations where you are planning to go.
• Traffic Density: Monitor the traffic status in real-time and avoid taking congested routes.
• Offline Maps: Download the maps and reach your destination quickly with the offline maps feature.

7. Tookan

Tookan has been helping business organizations streamline various workflow operations, including dispatch management. Another factor that makes Tookan an excellent route optimization software is that it helps improve communication between managers and delivery agents.

Users can easily track their real-time orders, and it also offers seamless third-party integrations with various apps and software’s.

Features of Tookan

• Route Optimization: Seamlessly navigate to multiple locations in no time and ensure on-time delivery.
• Real-time Tracking: Monitor your driver’s behaviour in real-time and keep them updated about the ongoing traffic situation in the area they are travelling in.
• Agent Wallet: Keep a record of all the transactions done by the agent.
• Proof of Delivery: Delivery agents can easily scan the barcodes and add notes and images.

8. RouteXL

RouteXL is a simple route optimization software for small companies and enterprises to simplify their work operations. The software enables the users to add up to at least 20 stops using a spreadsheet.

Once you have added all the destinations, RouteXL will sort out all the addresses and offer you the fastest and most efficient route.

Features of RouteXL

• Automatic Sorting of Addresses: Sort thousands of addresses in no time using the advanced automatic sorting address feature.
• Route Optimization: Monitor the traffic status and update your drivers about the current traffic scenarios in real-time.
• Efficient Distribution of Tasks: Distribute the tasks easily and equally among all the delivery agents.
• GPS Tracker: Track the movement of your driver in real-time and monitor their behaviour to avoid delivery failures.

Why Use Route Optimization Software?

From identifying cost-effective routes to monitoring the behaviour of the drivers in real-time and keeping them posted about the present traffic conditions, route optimization software is a vital part of any business.

It ensures that all the deliveries are made on time thereby ensuring that the customer is satisfied with their service. Apart from timely delivery, route optimization software will also help you monitor the driver’s behaviour, thereby ensuring that they are safe and not indulging in any wrong practices. A good and robust route optimization software can help you in the following ways-

• Better and Improved Safety

The route optimization software is designed to reduce the overall time of vehicles on the road. Less time on roads will improve safety.

• Improved Productivity

Drivers taking unnecessary breaks and poor time management skills can cost the business some serious money. A well-designed route management software can help you to address this issue effectively by using GPS tracking that allows managers to track and monitor drivers’ actions. With the real-time tracking feature, managers can easily take necessary actions within a given timeframe.

• Helps in Savings

With route optimization software, you can save money as the software will help you identify cost-effective routes. Further, with more planned routes, you are more likely to save on fuel costs as well.

• Boosts Drivers’ Morale 

Route optimization software can help drivers to avoid unnecessary risks. The software will play a key role in helping drivers improve their driving conditions, making them feel more confident on the road.

Suggested Read: Benefits of Driving Route Planning Software in Transport Management

Top Route Optimization Software Features to Consider Before Buying

If you are planning to invest in route optimization software and are feeling confused, don’t worry because we have curated a helpful guide highlighting the essential features you need to look out for.

1. Advance Reporting Abilities

A well-designed route optimization software offers extensive reporting tools that should offer real-time information about the shipments and deliveries. Some key reporting features have been listed below-

• Route History 
• Order Tracking
• Customer Feedback 
• Get real-time updates on your shipment
• Hassle-free route optimization.

2. Real-Time Driver and Tracking Updates

A reliable route optimization software will give you exact and real-time updates about your driver at any given time. The software should be able to tell you when the driver arrives at the destination and when he returns home.

To add to this, the route optimization software should be able to tell you about your driver’s overall performance so that they can improve their skills. 

3. Advanced Geo-Mapping Options

When planning and mapping new routes, you should not settle for anything less but the best. After all, you must ensure that all the deliveries are completed on time and without hassles.

This means that you should use more advanced level mapping methods. Well, having routing software with advanced mapping abilities will help you in the following ways- 

• Deliveries will be made on time, so there will be little room for delays.
• With the right software, you can keep an easy check on your driver and vehicle. This will, in turn, improve accuracy.
• The mapping feature will ensure smooth and easy navigation and help you reach your destination faster.

4. Seamless Route Optimization

One of the most important and primary features you should look out for while investing in route optimization software is its ability to optimize routes automatically. Automatic route optimization uses advanced algorithms to help calculate the most efficient route between the starting point and the destination.

These algorithms can generate routes to help reduce travel time while meeting customer needs. With seamless route optimization capabilities, businesses can benefit in the following ways-

• Overall, labour costs will be reduced
• Better customer satisfaction
• A huge amount of money will be saved on fuel

5. Proof of Delivery

As a business organization, when you’re shipping goods, there will always be a chance that the package might not reach its destination. In case that happens, there is a possibility that you may end up losing a lot of money and be left with frustrated consumers.

However, what if you have proof that the package was delivered to the client? In such situations, route optimization software can be your saviour.

Most route software offers the feature of digital signatures that the recipients use to acknowledge receiving the package they were expecting. With proof of delivery, route optimization software can help you in the following ways to improve customer service. 

• Helps in reducing customer complaints
• Prevent the risk of fraud
• It helps with better time management

How to Choose Route Optimization Software?

Apart from having a basic understanding of the features, there are certain factors that you need to consider while looking for good and robust route optimization software. We have listed some essential factors that will help you with your purchase. 

• Better and Quick Optimization of Routes

When looking for good route optimization software, choose a software solution that can easily process optimal routes within a few seconds. This will help with the faster delivery of packages and improve overall customer satisfaction. 

• Real-Time Traffic and Mapping Updates

Search for route planning software that offers real-time and up-to-date data, as this will help save delivery time and reduce the burden of updating delivery information. 

• Autosave Feature

Various errors, such as technical glitches, power failures, natural disasters, or cyber-attacks, can hamper deliveries. So, ensure the route planning software can save last-minute updates and secure all your vital data. 

• Geocoding

Do thorough research from your end about the route planner software and ensure that it has a good geocoder tool that will help you convert bulk addresses into precise geographical data. 

• Import and Export of Addresses

While investing in route management software, make sure that it can upload bulk consumer data easily in various formats like .csv, .pdf, etc. 

Conclusion

Optimising routes can play a significant role in improving the overall efficiency of transportation and logistics. With technological advancements, there are an end number of route optimisation software, both free and paid, designed for businesses to streamline their workflows easily.

Irrespective of the software you choose, adhering to a comprehensive route optimisation software can help you streamline your work operations, reducing operational costs and improving customer satisfaction.

FAQs