While larger transportation providers have automated their transportation fleet with newer technologies, many smaller operators wonder if it makes economic sense to give up on older, DOS-based systems or manual routing and scheduling methods that seem to work "just fine."

Despite the initial start-up costs and training, adopting newer, automated technologies makes good business sense. Without automation, operators will face a point at which they can't grow any more with the current system. Newer technologies allow operators to increase service while reducing operating expenses, with a return on investment that more than justifies the change to a Windows-based, automated system.

It wasn't long ago when routing and scheduling vehicles amounted to no more than sticking pins into a map. While most schedulers don't resort to this old-fashioned method, many still do rely on manual methods for dispatching vehicles, determining schedules and keeping track of routes.

Until recently, triangulation was the preferred method for automating the routing and scheduling of vehicles. However, rather than relying on actual data about the street network, triangulation calculates a straight-line distance between two points (Point A and Point B) and then adds a "fudge factor" to estimate the time it takes to travel between these two points. This approach is unreliable at best and to compensate, schedulers end up having to resort to manual methods anyway.

For technology to be a wise investment, it needs to be extremely reliable, easy to use and able to help operators run their fleet meaner and leaner. With new technologies on the market -- geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS), advancements in logistics heuristics, and wireless communications -- routing, scheduling and tracking vehicles can take on a level of accuracy and reliability never seen before.

No one wants to be the early adopter, trying out new technology before it is affordable and practical. Fortunately for providers, the time has come for advanced routing and scheduling technology along with new wireless communications. It is now affordable, easy to manage and specifically designed for fixed and demand-response transportation needs.

No longer is transportation management a frustrating exercise. Problems such as broken down vehicles, last-minute trip requests and road construction do not have to throw off an entire day's schedule. New advanced software can put operators in pole position - able to proactively manage the vehicle fleet, keep to a tight schedule and stay one step ahead of the next transportation challenge. Working smarter, not harder is the main benefit. But, with the ability to increase trip capacity without a need for additional vehicles and other operating expenses, it just makes good business sense.

RouteMatch Software is a proven leader in transportation and logistics technology and services, with specific expertise in demand-response and paratransit systems. Founded in 1999, the company is headquartered in Atlanta, GA, and its software is currently in use at more than 145 sites in 34 states across the United States. Additional information about RouteMatch Software products is available at www.routematch.com.

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Automated Scheduling and Routing Just Makes Good Business Sense

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