Route Optimization + IFS

Route Optimization Software for IFS

IFS schedules field service appointments. But delivery routing is a different problem -- higher stop density, stricter time windows, capacity constraints. Locate2u provides the delivery-specific route optimization that IFS lacks.

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IFS Schedules Service Calls. Locate2u Optimizes Delivery Routes.

IFS is known for its field service management capabilities -- scheduling technicians for service appointments based on skills, availability, and territory. But field service scheduling and delivery route optimization solve fundamentally different problems.

A field service technician visits 5-8 locations per day with 1-2 hour service windows. A delivery driver visits 30-80 locations with 15-minute time windows and a vehicle that must not exceed its weight capacity at any point during the route. IFS's scheduling engine handles the first scenario well but is not designed for the second. Locate2u adds the delivery-specific route optimization that sequences high-density stop lists for minimum drive time while tracking capacity constraints at every point in the route.

Field Service vs. Delivery Optimization IFS: Service Scheduling Typical Day: 6 Jobs 1 2 3 4 5 5-8 stops per day 1-2 hour service windows Skill matching priority No vehicle load tracking Low stop density Scheduling problem Locate2u: Route Optimization Typical Day: 45 Stops 30-80 stops per day 15-60 minute time windows Distance minimization priority Weight + volume tracking High stop density Routing problem
The Problem

Why IFS Service Scheduling Cannot Optimize Delivery Routes

Different Scale, Different Algorithm

Scheduling 6 service calls across a city is computationally simple -- there are only 720 possible sequences. Optimizing 45 delivery stops involves over 10^56 possible sequences. Delivery route optimization requires a fundamentally different algorithm that can handle this combinatorial complexity while still returning results in under 60 seconds.

Capacity Constraints Not in Service Scheduling

Service technicians carry tools, not cargo. Delivery drivers carry goods that consume vehicle weight and volume capacity at every stop. A delivery route optimizer must track how much capacity remains after each delivery and ensure the truck never exceeds limits. IFS service scheduling does not model this constraint type.

Time Windows Are Tighter in Delivery

Service appointments typically have 2-4 hour windows. Delivery time windows are often 30-60 minutes. Optimizing 45 stops where each has a tight time window requires an engine that can simultaneously satisfy dozens of overlapping constraints while minimizing total travel -- a problem IFS scheduling was not built to solve.

Drive Time Is the Primary Cost

In field service, the technician's on-site labor is the primary cost. In delivery, drive time between stops is the primary cost. Delivery optimization must minimize travel distance above all else, while service scheduling prioritizes skill match and availability. Different cost functions require different optimization approaches.

How It Works

From IFS Order to Optimized Delivery Route

1. Import Delivery Orders from IFS

Locate2u pulls delivery orders from IFS Cloud via REST APIs. Customer addresses, delivery time windows, item weights, and special handling requirements are imported automatically without manual export.

2. Optimize High-Density Delivery Routes

The AI engine sequences 30-80+ stops per vehicle for minimum drive time. It enforces tight time windows, tracks vehicle capacity at every stop, and accounts for traffic patterns -- handling the complexity that service scheduling cannot.

3. Execute Routes and Sync to IFS

Drivers follow optimized routes on the mobile app with turn-by-turn navigation. Delivery confirmations, timestamps, and proof of delivery sync back to IFS order records automatically.

Feature Highlights

Delivery-Specific Route Optimization for IFS Users

AI-Powered Optimization

Handles the combinatorial complexity of 30-80+ stop routes that service scheduling cannot. Returns optimized sequences in under 60 seconds regardless of stop count.

Tight Time Window Enforcement

Optimizes around 30-60 minute delivery windows that are far tighter than service appointment slots. Every stop is sequenced to arrive within its window while minimizing total fleet drive time.

Capacity Constraints

Tracks vehicle weight and volume at every point in the route, not just at departure. Ensures no vehicle exceeds limits even on mixed delivery-and-pickup runs where load changes at each stop.

Real-Time Re-Routing

When new deliveries arrive mid-day or stops are cancelled, routes re-optimize instantly. The high stop density of delivery routes makes re-sequencing especially impactful -- a single insertion can affect 20+ subsequent stops.

Multi-Vehicle Planning

Optimizes across your delivery fleet simultaneously. Assigns orders to vehicles based on capacity and route efficiency, not just territory -- which is how IFS typically assigns service calls.

Drag-and-Drop Adjustments

Fine-tune optimized routes by dragging stops between drivers or reordering the sequence. Capacity gauges and time window indicators update in real time so dispatchers can see the impact of every change.

Delivery Route Optimization Results for IFS Users

33%

Reduction in total delivery fleet driving time

24%

Fuel cost savings from optimized sequencing

98%

On-time delivery rate with tight window constraints

+12

Additional stops per driver per day

FAQ

Route Optimization for IFS -- Common Questions

IFS has field service scheduling that assigns technicians to service calls based on skills, availability, and location. However, this is fundamentally different from delivery route optimization. Delivery routing involves higher stop density (30-80 stops vs 5-8 service calls), stricter time windows, vehicle load capacity constraints, and the need for real-time re-sequencing. IFS's scheduling engine is not designed for these delivery-specific challenges.
IFS field service scheduling matches technicians to jobs based on skill requirements, availability, and territory. It optimizes for skill match and schedule fit. Delivery route optimization sequences 30-80 physical stops per vehicle to minimize total driving distance and time, while enforcing time windows for each stop and tracking vehicle weight and volume capacity at every point in the route. The constraint types and scale are fundamentally different.
Locate2u connects to IFS via REST APIs to pull delivery orders, shipping data, and customer addresses from IFS Cloud or IFS Applications. Orders are imported into the optimization engine which sequences them into efficient routes. Delivery confirmations, timestamps, and proof of delivery sync back to IFS automatically after route completion.
Yes. IFS continues to handle field service scheduling for technician dispatch, while Locate2u handles delivery route optimization for goods delivery operations. The two systems serve different operational needs -- service appointment scheduling vs. multi-stop delivery sequencing -- and can run in parallel, each optimizing its own domain.
IFS users who add Locate2u for delivery route optimization typically see 25-35% reductions in delivery fleet mileage, 20-30% fuel cost savings, and 98%+ on-time delivery rates. Planning time drops from hours to minutes because stop sequencing is fully automated. These savings are separate from and additional to any efficiencies gained through IFS field service scheduling.