The SolBox Route Optimisation integration allows EasyVend vendors to automatically export delivery orders to SolBox for route optimisation, driver assignment, and vehicle loading. This feature is especially useful for vendors managing multiple delivery rounds, helping optimise routes, reduce travel time, and balance vehicle capacity.
Pre-Setup-Requirements Syncing Orders from EasyVend to SolBox Optimisation Modes Troubleshooting Dropped Orders Best Practice & Tips
Overview
SolBox uses the orders sent from EasyVend to automatically calculate the most efficient delivery sequence based on factors such as distance, driver hours, vehicle capacity, and delivery time windows. Once optimised in SolBox, routes and delivery status updates can be synced back to EasyVend.
Pre-Setup Requirements
Before running any SolBox optimisation, check the following settings:
- Driver / Vehicle Shifts: Set driver or vehicle shift times to the actual working hours (typically 6 hours per day).
- Vehicle Capacities: Set realistic vehicle weight limits (for example, 4,500–7,000 kg).
- Product Weights: Ensure product weights in EasyVend are accurate so total order weights do not exceed vehicle capacity.
- Round & Vehicle Names: EasyVend Round Names must match Vehicle Names in SolBox.
- Service Time: Align service times between both systems (e.g., EasyVend = 5 mins, SolBox = 10 mins).
- Addresses: Check all customer addresses are valid and complete. Missing or invalid addresses will prevent syncing
Syncing Orders from EasyVend to SolBox
- Ensure orders are set to Ordered status in EasyVend.
- From EasyVend, use the Send to SolBox option to upload orders.
- Monitor the upload progress.
- Review any sync errors. Common causes include:
- Missing or incomplete addresses.
- Zero quantity or cancelled orders.
- Special characters or formatting issues in customer names or addresses.
Optimisation Modes
SolBox supports two optimisation types depending on how you want routes to be planned.
Within Round Optimisation
Within Round Optimisation keeps customer orders within their assigned EasyVend rounds. This is the recommended and most stable option for daily vendor delivery runs.
How to run Within Round Optimisation:
- In SolBox, go to Routing and Optimisation Wizard.
- Select Optimise Within Round.
- Review each manifest one by one.
- Assign the driver and vehicle for each manifest.
- Click Calculate to run optimisation.
- Review results and check for any dropped orders.
- Use the Allocation Wizard to reassign any unallocated orders.
Cross Round Optimisation
Cross Round Optimisation allows SolBox to automatically move orders between rounds or vehicles to improve overall route efficiency. This mode is best suited to balancing workloads or managing large, multi-round delivery runs.
How to run Cross Round Optimisation:
- In SolBox, go to Routing and Select Optimisation Wizard.
- Select Optimise Cross Round.
- Tick Start from Depot (recommended).
- Click Calculate.
- Review the manifests created.
- Check for any dropped or unallocated orders.
- Use drag-and-drop or Allocation Wizard to assign manually if needed.
- Re-check driver shift, vehicle capacity, and distance limits.
Troubleshooting Dropped Orders
Orders may drop during optimisation if:
- The total weight exceeds the vehicle limit.
- The delivery is too far from the depot (KM limit exceeded).
- The delivery falls outside the driver’s shift or time window.
To fix dropped orders:
- Open the optimisation log in SolBox and check the reason code.
- Adjust vehicle capacity, driver hours, or distance parameters.
- Reassign dropped orders manually using the Allocation Wizard.
- Save and re-run the calculation.
Best Practices & Tips
- Start with smaller sets of orders when testing Cross Round optimisation.
- Keep vehicle names consistent between systems to prevent dropped orders.
- Orders must include valid customer addresses and delivery times to optimise successfully.
- Validate data quality (addresses, weights, driver schedules) regularly.
- Use SolBox logs to understand reasons for failed or unallocated orders.
- For water vendors, maintain accurate container weights so route capacity calculations remain correct.