Assisted/Autonomous Dispatch: Beans

Assisted/Autonomous Dispatch, powered by Beans.ai, is an advanced optimization feature that takes the guesswork out of driver and route assignments. The Operations App connects to the Beans.ai advanced dispatching system using your fleet’s real-time information to provide driver and/or route recommendations.

When using Beans, all of the selected drivers' assigned work (on demand and routed) are considered when the best driver recommendations are calculated.

To use the Beans Systems - Advanced Optimization please reach out to Technical Support by calling (602) 265-0195 (press option 3) or creating a support ticket.

Set Up

Configuration

You must have the Route Optimization permission enabled. See Users (Classic Operations App).

  1. Contact Technical Support to obtain credentials.

  2. Go to Tools > Route Optimization in the top menu.

  3. Optional: For On Demand RO Services and/or X Route RO Services select “Use Assisted Dispatch Service”.

  4. For Autonomous/Assisted Dispatch select “Beans Systems - Advanced Optimization” and click the Edit button.

     

  5. Configure the On Demand RO Service Config, Select Drivers and/or Select Routes in the X Route tab, and click OK. Valid credentials must be entered for advanced RO Service Configs.

  6. Click Apply or OK in the Global Route Optimization Config form to save.

Quick Tip: This will enable the Advanced Optimization section in the main left menu in the Classic Operations App.

Enable Drivers

For a driver to be considered in the Assisted Dispatch process, they need to be enabled. There are two ways to enable drivers.

  1. Operations App: From the driver record, go to the RO Services tab and check the Enable Driver box to allow the Assisted Dispatch driver recommendations to consider the driver.

  2. Classic Operations App: From the On Demand RO Service Config window. Click the Select Drivers button to select drivers for the service.

    1. Check the box next to the fleet to select all drivers within that fleet, or

    2. Expand the fleets to select specific drivers

Set Up Allowed Vehicle Classes and Vehicle Types

You can include or restrict vehicle classes and vehicle types by order type from the "Recommended Drivers" list.

In the Operations App, go to the order type form then navigate to the RO Services tab and select which vehicle classes you want to be considered. See Order Types.

 

On Demand RO Service Config

Field Name

Description

Field Name

Description

Route Optimization Service URL

Route Optimization Service URL obtained by contacting Technical Support. This URL should not be changed.

Delegated Account

Account used for route optimization. Provided by CXT and should not be changed.

API Key

API key for route optimization. Provided by CXT and should not be changed.

Route Sequence Priority

How Route Optimization determines the priority level when sorting the stops. This setting is defaulted by CXT and is designed to work with our software. This setting cannot be changed.

On Demand

Field Name

Description

Field Name

Description

Autonomous Options

When enabled, on-demand jobs can be set to find the best driver and dispatch, or just find the best driver every 3-60 minutes..

  • Dispatch - When selected, all approved and unassigned on-demand jobs that are ready within the next hour are automatically sent for a best driver recommendation, then dispatch to the top driver result.

  • Recommendation - When selected, all approved and unassigned on-demand jobs that are ready within the next hour are automatically sent for a best driver recommendation.

  • Include Orders Ready Within - How soon orders are available to be considered for Autonomous processing based on when they will be ready.

Service Time Per Pickup

The number of minutes a driver is typically at a stop before completing it.

Pickup Grace Period

The number of minutes an order's Pickup ETA calculation can go past the Pickup To time in an effort to get the best recommendation results from Assisted Dispatch. Grace Periods will not change time window values on orders.

Service Time Per Delivery

The number of minutes a driver is typically at a stop before completing it.

Delivery Grace Period

The number of minutes an order's Delivery ETA calculation can go past the Deliver To time in an effort to get the best recommendation results from Assisted Dispatch. Grace Periods will not change time window values on orders.

Max Radius

The number of miles that the driver needs to be within in order to be considered for best driver suggestions. This is based upon the driver's current location and the pickup location on the on demand order. Max field value is 999.99 miles.

Allow Optimization w/Recommendation

Set whether or not a driver's actively assigned work will be optimized when being assessed for best driver recommendations. This setting will allow updates to the driver's ETAs and sequence numbers, when applicable.

  • Disabled

  • Enabled

Select Drivers

Select the drivers to be considered when using assisted dispatch.

X Route

Field Name

Description

Field Name

Description

Service Time Per Stop

The number of minutes a driver is at a stop before competing it.

Grace Time Per Stop

The number of minutes a driver can be late. This does not include grace time to be early.

Select Routes

Select the routes to be considered when using assisted dispatch.

Field Name

Description

Field Name

Description

Enforce Capabilities When Optimizing

Selected option whether or not to enforce capabilities when recommending drivers.

  • Ignore

  • Enforce

Enforce Critical Dates When Optimizing

Selected option whether or not to enforce critical dates when giving best driver recommendations. Critical dates are stored in Human Resources that can refer to items such as drivers license, insurance, or immigration expirations

  • Ignore

  • Enforce

Optimize/Recommendation Type

Selected type of recommendation.

  • Time

  • Distance

Traffic Speed

Selected average traffic speed level for the area to be considered when calculating best driver calculations. Value options are from 1 (normal traffic levels), to 2 (gridlock traffic levels).

Reduce Routes

Attempt level. The higher the number, or attempt level, the less the number of recommended routes will be returned .

  • 0 (Mild Attempt)

  • 1

  • 2

  • 3

  • 4 (Aggressive Attempt)

Max Number of Stops

The maximum number of stops a driver can have in order to be included in the recommendation request. The default value of 0 means that the maximum number of stops is unlimited.

Max Proximity to New Stop

The maximum distance, in miles, the new stop can be from any currently assigned orders or stops linked to the driver or route. The default value of 0 means that the maximum distance is unlimited.

GPS Update Before Recommendation

When enabled, a GPS update will be triggered for all active assisted dispatch drivers before calculating the best driver recommendations. This can increase the processing time of your recommendations.

Ignore Sequence

When enabled, order sequences will not be updated when assigning a new Order to a recommended driver. Newly assigned orders will be placed last at the bottom of the manifest.

Time Windows

When enabled, time windows for orders will be respected when calculating the best driver recommendations.

Include All Open Stops

When enabled, incomplete work from previous dates will be included in optimization calculations.

How to Request Assisted Dispatch

Manually On an On Demand Order

Hold the Ctrl key and click the gray box to the far left of the orders you would like to select.

On a Route Stop

Autonomous Dispatching

When Autonomous Options is enabled, you can select between “Dispatch”, “Recommendation”, and “Disabled” on the On-Demand Dispatch board and view the Autonomous Dispatch column for the autonomous dispatch status.