Are you tired of your drivers showing up late and causing problems for customers? These days, customers don’t budge for improper road conditions, truckloads, and unknown routes. A high-quality delivery needs optimized routes. You need to invest in technological solutions to provide a flawless delivery experience for customers. You can sidestep your delivery issues by incorporating robust mapping software for route plans with features like route mapping and driver tracking.

Main benefits of using mapping software for route planning

Increases the customer satisfaction metric
Devises most effective routes
Improves fleet efficiency
Using software saves your time and boosts productivity
Route planning software reduces cost and reassesses fuel consumption
Reduces CO2 emissions and increases sustainability

To ensure a smooth and functional delivery experience, one has to opt for the best route planning software for the business. You need a great tool that relieves frustration and helps your drivers work effectively. Remember, the right software can simplify delivery management and driver oversight. Choose wisely by considering the below factors before taking a call.

Compatibility
Choose software compatible with your computer/mobile operating system. Make sure you can use other tools that encompass driver management.

Flexibility
Does your software provide multiple route choices? Can your drivers reroute or reallocate additional stops during last-minute changes? If your answer is yes, then go for it without a blink.

Ease of use
Your software must provide accurate and detailed analytics of on-ground operations. The software you choose needs to enable drivers to work with minimal supervision. Choose route planners that are user-friendly and convenient.

Cost
Keep an eye on the overhead costs, the total number of drivers, and your business needs, and decide on the pricing. Compare the market prices too.

Data points
Route planning software must consider various data points during delivery. Ensure that your software measures key factors like weather, traffic, and data history. Also, your software should be able to track real-time data.

Geocoding
Geocoding is a significant factor that helps you convert bulk addresses into accurate geographic coordinates. Software with geocoding features eradicates ambiguity and improves accessibility.

Top 3 free delivery route planner software
Here is a list of the top 3 free delivery route planner software to make your delivery more efficient.

Google Maps
It is free route planner software with traffic information, road closures, and diversions. You can get different types of map views and real-time traffic updates. Google Maps are ideal for a single driver. Google route planner gives you the fastest route from point A to B but does not optimize the route’s stop order. You get turn-by-turn instructions with a limitation of 10 stops. The hard truth is that you cannot rely on Google Maps for multi-stop routes.

Best use: Multipurpose tool best fit for occasional routing or running daily errands
Platform : Mobile and web compatible
Cost: Free
Pros: Compatibility, reliability, ease of use, and free of cost
Cons: Poor/no route optimization possibility, limited stops, unaware of customer information

RouteXL
If you want to plan a trip with multiple destinations, RouteXL is a popular route planner software. When you input a series of endpoints, RouteXL optimizes the route automatically. In a single run, you get quick directions. RouteXL offers geocoding, GPS tracking, route sharing, and QR code scanning facility. The main drawback is that the interface is challenging to learn.

Best use: Apt for deliveries with twenty stops or less, small-scale businesses
Platform: Chrome, iOS, and Android
Cost: Free for twenty stops
Pros: Share and save option, automatic route optimization
Cons: Routes one vehicle at a time, not user-friendly

Speedy Route
Speedy Route is a free delivery planner software option for unlimited stops. The main highlight is the timeboxing feature and simple user interface. It calculates the quickest route and provides driving directions between the stops. Speedy Route helps in single and multiple delivery vehicles. The limitation is you can route up to 10 stops in the free version but up to 9,999 in paid versions.

Best use: For delivery drivers with multiple stops
Platform: Web-based
Cost: Free for ten stops, requires a paid subscription
Pros: Provides optimized routes for multiple vehicles.
Cons: You cannot send the route to a navigation app

You can also try the following route mapping software free of cost.

A glimpse at other free software solutions:

TruckRouter – Ideal for trucking purposes limited to North America. Free software limited to 5 stops.

Route4Me – Facilitates routing and logistics services.

MapQuest – Ideal for road trips and business options (free version limits stops up to 26)

Mapping software for route planning helps you discover the gap and refine your day-to-day operations. You can plan the stop sequences, chart out the convenient path, and avoid double delivery hassles to fulfill customer deliveries. The free planning software discussed offers limited functionality. If your business requires sophisticated options, you should opt for paid versions.