Before you buy route optimization software, ask yourself the following questions.
Does it have GPS tracking? Route optimization software guarantees that every route you give your drivers is 100% accurate and optimized. But that won’t matter much if your drivers don’t actually follow the routes you give them. GPS tracking allows you to see where your drivers are and how fast they’re going in real-time.
Is it easy to use? Also, you won’t be able to see the benefits of route optimization software if your drivers can’t figure out how to use it. That’s why it’s so important for your route planner to be easy to use. The whole point is to make your drivers more efficient. If the software has a confusing interface, it’ll end up slowing your drivers down instead.
Is there a free trial? But how will you know if route optimization software is easy to use before you buy it? You need access to a free trial. If a company isn’t willing to let you try out their software for free, they’re not worth your time. Use a software provider that’s more confident in their product instead.
Is customer support responsive? A free trial also gives you a chance to test the company’s customer support. Even if you don’t run into an issue, give their support hotline a call. Did they answer, or did you have to leave a message? Send them an email as well. How long did it take them to respond?
Do you need to commit to a long-term contract? Even if everything goes well with the free trial, a month or two after you buy the software you may run into some issues. For example, it might start freezing up or crashing constantly. Don’t commit to a long-term contract that lasts for year or more.