← Back to blog

Route planning

How to optimize a multi-stop route without losing control of deliveries

A practical guide to validating addresses, organizing stops, optimizing the sequence and executing deliveries more clearly in the Genne app.

By Time Genne

Planning a route with multiple stops is more than putting addresses on a map. The quality of the result depends on three decisions: which destinations actually belong in the day, whether the addresses are correct and in what order they are worth visiting.

In the Genne app, this work can stay in one workflow: you add addresses, organize stops, optimize the route and move on to execution with a map, navigation and status for each stop. The aim is to reduce improvisation without taking operational control away from the driver.

1. Start with the right list

Before optimizing, confirm which deliveries will be made during that shift. Remove cancellations, identify priorities and check for stops with an agreed time.

This review avoids a common mistake: calculating an efficient sequence for a list that was wrong from the start. Optimization helps order the destinations provided; it does not decide which commercial or operational commitments should be kept.

2. Review addresses before leaving

An incorrect number, missing neighborhood or ambiguous city can put the point in the wrong place. Pay particular attention to:

  • number and additional details;
  • city and state;
  • recipient name or landmark;
  • access notes;
  • contact phone number, where applicable.

Google Maps documentation explains that text addresses must be converted into coordinates before calculation and can produce ambiguities. It also recommends place IDs when available because they offer greater routing accuracy. In practice, this reinforces a simple rule: if the point shown on the map does not match the actual destination, correct it before optimizing.

3. Organize stops to make checking easier

Even when the app can calculate a better order, it is worth keeping the list readable. Mentally group nearby areas, highlight timed appointments and check whether any delivery requires a return to the starting point.

This step does not replace calculation. It helps you quickly recognize when the result conflicts with a real-world constraint — for example, a store that closes early or a residential complex with a receiving window.

4. Optimize the sequence

With the list validated, use optimization to review stop order. According to official Google Maps documentation, waypoint optimization primarily considers travel time and also factors such as distance and number of turns.

This differs from simply following the order in which addresses were entered. The optimized sequence can reduce unnecessary backtracking, but it should be checked before departure.

Make one final review:

  1. Does the first stop make sense for the current time?
  2. Has a priority delivery been placed too late?
  3. Do the start and end of the route fit your operation?
  4. Are there tolls, vehicle restrictions or local conditions requiring adjustment?

If there is a constraint the calculation does not know about, adjust the plan before starting.

5. Execute and update each stop

After starting, follow the route on the map and keep stop statuses updated. This helps distinguish what is pending, completed or needs another attempt.

On arrival, check the recipient and record the delivery outcome. If something changes — a cancellation, corrected address or inaccessible location — reassess the rest of the route rather than continuing to follow a sequence that has lost its context.

A two-minute checklist

Before tapping “start,” confirm:

  • all deliveries for the shift are on the list;
  • points appear in the correct location on the map;
  • priorities and times have been considered;
  • the optimized sequence has been reviewed;
  • important notes and contacts are accessible;
  • the phone is charged and navigation is ready.

A good route is not just the shortest line on the map. It is a feasible sequence with reliable addresses and enough information to complete each stop.

Genne brings planning and execution together for multi-stop routes. Explore the workflow and download the app to try on your next route.

Sources