The territory planning component within Descartes Route Planner On-demand creates free-form territories or zones based on geographical area. It is designed for customers who have orders in similar geographic areas from day to day or week to week but do not have a static customer base. On a day-to-day basis, the orders and the associated customers are dynamic; however, the area and the vehicles and drivers assigned to the area are static. Planning territories and then using them within the daily route will ensure that orders going to customers within the territory will always be serviced by the vehicle and/or driver assigned.

Loading Territories

If territories do not already exist, a fixed route group must be created.

To create a fixed route group:

1. From the main menu, select Planning > Fixed Routes & Territories.

2. Click the icon to create a new fixed route group.
   
   
   

3. Enter the Group Name that will be displayed throughout the application.

4. Enter an optional Description.

5. The Presentation Order field allows users to set a custom sorting order for displaying fixed route groups within the user interface, such as tables and dropdown lists. When the same presentation order is set for multiple groups, the sort will first look at the presentation order set value and then by name.

6. Select the Delivery Company to have the respective route template/drivers/vehicles configured for that Delivery Company available for the Fixed Route Group profile.

7. Click the checkbox to make the fixed route group the Default one.

8. Click the Create button.

To load territories:

1. From the main menu, select Planning > Fixed Routes & Territories. A list of available fixed route groups is displayed.
   
   
   

2. Click the icon for the respective fixed territory group entry to open.

3. The Fixed Route Group page will load with the Territories tab active to display configured territory and related areas.
   
   

Deleting a Fixed Territory Group

To delete a fixed territory group:

1. From the Planning > Fixed Routes & Territories page, check the box next to the group you want to delete.

2. Check the box to verify your information is correct and click the Delete button. This will deactivate the fixed route group in the event it is needed to be reactivated.

To reactivate a fixed territory group:

1. From the Planning > Fixed Routes page, expand the Inactive fixed route groups section.
   
   
   

2. Check the box next to the group you want to reactivate.

3. Check the box to verify your information is correct and click the Undelete Fixedroute group button.

Loading All Customers

Loading all customers into the fixed territory planning session is an option; however, this function can be time-consuming based on the size of the existing customer base. Having the customers loaded may potentially help determine where the territory's boundaries should be created.

To load all customers in the session:

1. Right-click anywhere on the map and click Load All Customers. The following message is displayed.
   
   
   

2. Click the OK button to load all the customers or the Cancel button to cancel the operation.

In version 24.10, the Load all customers option is no longer displayed when a territory is selected.

Creating Territories

Creating territories will require drawing the area on the map that will define the boundaries of the territory.

To create a territory:

1. Right-click anywhere on the map and select Add a Territory from the context menu. The Edit icon will appear below the map zoom buttons.
   
   
   
   The Edit icon remains displayed until you complete the drawing or two minutes of inactivity pass.

2. Use one of the following shape-drawing tools to draw your territory. Choose the tool based on the shape of the area you wish to define.

   • Polygon Tool: You can create custom-shaped boundaries by clicking multiple points on the map. This tool is ideal for irregularly shaped areas.
     
     
     

   • Square Tool: Creates a square-shaped territory with equal-length sides, starting from your initial click.
     
     
     

   • Circle Tool: Generates a circular territory, with the radius defined by dragging outward from your initial click.
     
     
     

3. Hold the Shift key and press the left mouse button to start drawing. Drag to outline the desired area, then release to complete the drawing.

4. Once finished, the system will automatically assign a default name (e.g., "territory_#") and display the territory in the Territories tab with associated details, such as the number of areas and vehicles.

To rename the territory:

1. Select the newly created territory in the Territories tab. The territory will appear highlighted in pink, and its name will be editable in blue.

2. Right-click on the name and choose Rename Territory from the context menu.

3. Enter the desired name and click Save.

Combining Territories

To combine two or more territories,

1. On the Territories pane, select multiple territories by holding the Shift key and right-clicking. The selected territories will be highlighted in the Territories pane and the Map (in pink).
   
   
   

2. Click OK to merge the selected territories effectively.
   
   

Assigning Vehicles to Territories

Territories can have dedicated vehicles assigned to them. Once a territory is added, the vehicle tab and related options are made available.

To drag a vehicle onto a territory name:

1. Click the VEHICLES tab.

2. Highlight a vehicle by clicking on the respective line item. While holding down the left mouse button, drag the vehicle onto the territory name on the TERRITORIES tab.

To add a vehicle to a territory name:

1. On the TERRITORIES tab, right-click on a territory and select Add Vehicle.
   
   
   

2. Check the box next to the vehicle(s) you want to add to the territory.

3. Click the Add Vehicle button.

To assign a territory to a vehicle:

1. Right-click on a vehicle that hasn't been assigned to a territory from the VEHICLES tab and select Assign.
   
   
   

2. Select a territory name from the dropdown list.

3. Click the Assign Territory button.

To unassign a vehicle from a territory, right-click on a vehicle with a territory name assigned from the VEHICLES tab and select Un-Assign.

Assigning Depots to Territories

Territories can have different depots assigned to them. Once a territory is added, the depot tab and related options are made available. The depot to territory assignment is a one-to-one relationship.

To drag a depot onto a territory:

1. Click the DEPOTS tab.

2. Highlight a depot by clicking on the respective line item. While holding down the left mouse button, drag the depot onto the territory on the map or onto the territory name on the TERRITORIES tab.

To add a depot to a territory:

1. On the TERRITORIES tab, right-click on a territory and select Add Depot.
   
   
   

2. Select a depot from the dropdown list and click the Add Depot button.

To assign a territory to a depot:

1. Right-click on a depot that hasn't been assigned to a territory from the DEPOTS tab and select Assign.
   
   
   

2. Select a territory name from the dropdown list.

3. Click the Assign Territory button.

To unassign a depot from a territory, right-click on a depot with a territory assigned from the DEPOTS tab and select Unassign.

Assigning Route Templates to Territories

Territories can have different route templates assigned to them. Once a territory is added, the route template tab and related options are made available. The route template to territory assignment is a one-to-one relationship.

To drag a route template onto a territory:

1. Click the ROUTE TEMPLATE tab.

2. Highlight a route template by clicking on the respective line item. While holding down the left mouse button, drag the route template onto the territory on the map or onto the territory name on the TERRITORIES tab.

To add a route template to a territory:

1. On the TERRITORIES tab, right-click on a territory and select Add Route Template.
   
   
   

2. Select a route template from the dropdown list and click the Add Route Template button.

To assign a territory to a route template:

1. Right-click on a route template that hasn't been assigned to a territory from the ROUTE TEMPLATE tab and select Assign.
   
   
   

2. Select a territory name from the dropdown list.

3. Click the Assign Territory button.

To unassign a route template from a territory, right-click on a route template that has a territory assigned from the ROUTE TEMPLATE tab and select Un-Assign.

Once the territories have been created and configured, select the Home option to exit the Planning Fixed Routes page.

Other Territory Commands

• Remove Territory: Deletes the selected territory from the system

• Add An Area: Allows users to extend a territory to a different area

• Edit An Area: Allows to edit an existing territory's area.

• Remove An Area: Allows users to remove an area from a territory

• Rename Territory: Changes the name of the territory

Note: For territories to function in conjunction with optimization, the correct vehicles must be assigned to their respective territory. Additionally, the depots and route templates that have been assigned in the territory planning can be applied dynamically in the daily routing.

Migrating Territories to Map View

Once the territories have been created and vehicles, depots and/or route templates have been assigned. The territories can be loaded on the Map View page to be applied in the dynamic daily route planning session.

To view available territories in Map View:

1. From the Map View page, right-click anywhere on the map and choose Show Territories. The territories will load the overlay, showing which orders fall within the different territories.

2. If multiple territory groups exist and are active, the Show Territories window will appear with a dropdown list of respective territories to select.

3. Select the appropriate territory from the list, then click the Confirm button.

Applying Territory Depots and Route Templates

When planning territories, depots and route templates may have been assigned to specific territories. Once in dynamic dispatching mode, the user can apply these assignments to the orders that fall within a defined territory. The ability to apply territory depots and route templates is functionality that must be configured by a Descartes representative.

To apply territory depots:

1. From the Map View page, right-click anywhere on the map.

2. Select Apply Territory Depots from the generated context menu.
   
   
   

3. Enable the Change existing depot assignments to apply the assigned depot to the territories.

4. Enable the Change existing depot assignments for location type depots to apply the assigned depot to the territories for only the location type depots.

5. Select the territory name from the dropdown list.

6. Click the Confirm button.

To apply territory route templates:

1. From the Map View page, right-click anywhere on the map.

2. Select Apply Territory Route Template from the right-click menu.
   
   
   

3. Select the territory name from the dropdown list.

4. Click the Confirm button.

When "Apply Route Template Territory Assignments" and/or "Apply Depot Territory Assignment" options are enabled from the Configuration: Parameters (Section): Dispatch page, the related context menu options (Apply Territory Depots, Apply Territory Route Templates) will not be visible from the Map View page in the following scenarios:

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