Also, the program lets you enter an average speed for four kinds of streets, from freeways to local roads. You can base these values on the driving history of your own fleet. But surprisingly, the program doesn't let you vary the value by time of day. This may cause you to miss delivery windows or optimal choices. The program should add the ability to accommodate this.

The package is priced at $9,000, with an additional $2,000 per year for technical support and periodic map updates. You'll need to consider hardware requirements, too. While some may consider this expensive, it may not be when analyzed on an ROI basis. Your mileage per delivery almost certainly will shrink. The manufacturer estimates this reduction will range from 5% to 15%.

The tasks performed by ArcLogistics Route are computationally intensive, and it needs some powerful hardware (Pentium II at 266 MHz or better, and a minimum of 64 Mbytes of RAM). You'll also need plenty of hard-drive space to keep the street data. The larger your service area, the more choices the program has to make, the more space you need, and the slower the program runs. A large area with a dense population could require 1 Gbyte of hard-disk capacity. Also plan on using at least a 17-inch monitor and a high screen resolution to reduce scrolling requirements.

The interface is intuitive and functional. The main screen has four windows. A browserlike navigation window called Tree View sits vertically on the left. On the right side are the Map View; the Time View, which shows the service and travel times for each vehicle; and the detail List View. The interface is true to the look and feel of Windows programs.

Plenty Of Help
The manual is simple and easy to follow, with lots of illustrations. It contains a tutorial that does a good job introducing the program and the routing process at the level of a nonexpert. Online help is extensive.

If you have an existing order-entry system, you can import orders into ArcLogistics Route. Importable formats include Access, D-Base, and Excel. ArcLogistics also contains its own order-entry system.

ArcLogistics Route is an excellent product that can provide real savings and process improvement to businesses that view transportation as a requirement, not a mission. I like Environmental Systems' strategy of making mapping products more available and usable to businesspeople who don't have the interest or skills demanded by traditional mapping software.

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