1. ESC MapPoint Features

2. Optimizing Routes This feature enables you to plot the most efficient route for each selected technician based upon the pending dispatches previously assigned to them. Routes are created based on proximity. A starting point is specified for each technician, either their home or your business address, and then the actual driving distance is calculated to each dispatch location. Once ESC calculates the shortest distance between the dispatches they are then arranged in order and assigned a promised time. The promised time is calculated based on the driving time from the previous location and the length of the previous call or that technician's starting time. To make your technician's life even easier, driving directions will be automatically inserted into the dispatch notes of each call.

3. Optimizing Technicians Routes Setup: In order to optimize a Technicians route the Technician must first properly be setup. Access the Enter Technicians Screen:

4. Technician Setup Select what the Technicians starting point will be: If Employee address is selected proceed to the additional information tab and fill in the proper information.

5. Employee Address Setup Employee Address

6. Company Address Setup If the Company address is selected then you need to proceed to the System Setup screen and fill in the Company Address: Fill in the areas highlighted in red

7. Optimizing Routes Start by Enabling your Map within the dispatch Board. To create an optimal route you must first assign dispatches to the technicians to be optimized. Once that has been accomplished click the MapPoint icon on the Electronic Dispatch Board (EDB) toolbar and select Optimize Routes. Pease note that for the dispatches to be optimized, they must be in a pending status.

8. Optimizing Routes Place a check mark next to the technicians to be optimized (you can select any tech, not just those displayed on the Dispatch Board you are currently viewing), select the Date to be optimized (only one day at a time) and set an End Point (we recommend using the Company Address or Technician Home settings for faster route calculation). Then click either the Optimize button or the Optimize/Print button (which will also print the dispatches). The Select All button will allow you to easily select all of your technicians and the Cancel button will return you to the dispatch screen without optimizing the route.

9. Optimizing Routes Note the directions this adds to the dispatch ticket. If the technician's route is optimized again and the order of the dispatches changes (due to dispatches being added or removed), ESC will replace the previous directions with the correct ones.

10. Optimize Dispatch Into Route This feature allows you to quickly and easily find the technician closest to your new incoming call, which helps cut down on expensive travel time and unnecessary trips. It also allows you to see the calls the technician already has scheduled for the day requested, and allows you to determine at which point you would like the call to be placed during the day. You can even use the technician's home address or your own company address as a location for route optimization. This process begins in the dispatch entry screen with a brand new dispatch

11. Optimize Dispatch Into Route Start by Clicking on the Activities Button then Optimize Dispatch Into Route:

12. Optimize Dispatch Into Route Selecting this option will display the Optimize Dispatch into Route screen, as shown below.

13. Optimize Dispatch Into Route In order to optimize the route, first select the date range in which you plan to do the work. When you select Find, this will populate the map with any dispatches promised for that date range.

14. Optimize Dispatch Into Route Next, select the dispatch that is closest to the dispatch you are optimizing, or a dispatch that has the closest available technician. I chose Dispatch 50049 because it’s distance is the shortest. The dispatch that is selected will determine the technician who will be assigned to this dispatch. Once chosen, the list below will indicate all of the dispatches that the technician currently has scheduled.

15. Optimize Dispatch Into Route Once the dispatch is selected, the system will provide a Promise Date and Time for the dispatch based on the time promised on the dispatch the technician is leaving from, the estimated time on that dispatch, and the travel time to the next dispatch. In addition, the map will display the route and indicate driving directions from the chosen dispatch to the current dispatch. You may also choose to have the system place the driving directions in the Dispatch Notes area of the current dispatch by placing a checkmark in the Import Directions option. Choose the dispatch that the technician will LEAVE FROM to go to the current dispatch. Note the times scheduled for the existing dispatches, as well as the estimated time, to indicate when the technician may be available for the new dispatch.