Oct/Nov 2006

A system called Frequency Scheduler for planning staff movements over an extended period has been developed by MapMechanics. It takes account of factors such as anticipated staff non-availability, variable call time windows and differing call cycles.

The variable cycle feature is particularly unusual, allowing users to take account of instances where some delivery points might need visits more frequently than others.

The product exploits the capabilities of three of MapMechanics' other key products. Two of them - OptiSite, the network planning system, and GeoConcept, the geographic information system - work together to allocate staff optimally to territories containing the required call points. This is a one-off task. The third - TruckStops, the routing and scheduling system - then plan journeys on an optimised basis, using a simple, friendly interface.

The first user, leading field marketing agency FDS, says it has already brought significant improvements in the speed and convenience of allocating calls to its staff.

Behind the processing is a genetic algorithm developed by MapMechanics. This is a special optimisation technique which in effect learns from the experience of repeated iterations of the task, progressively refining the end result.