Routes
How to plan a route with multiple stops without wasting time
A practical guide to organizing addresses, reviewing stops and setting out with a more efficient daily route.
Planning a route with multiple deliveries seems simple: put the addresses on the map and start driving. In practice, an incomplete address, a duplicate stop or a poor sequence can create unnecessary return trips and delay the whole day.
The good news is that you do not have to decide everything by eye. With a route planner, you can gather the stops, check the data and find a more efficient order before leaving.
What is a multi-stop route?
It is a route consisting of a starting point, a final destination and one or more intermediate stops. These stops can represent deliveries, collections or other visits.
Google Maps Platform documentation explains that waypoints can be configured as actual stops, such as a collection or delivery. Their order can also be optimized when there are multiple locations along the route.
Why does stop order matter?
The shortest straight-line distance does not always produce the fastest journey. Road directions, return trips, turns and route conditions change the result.
According to Google's official documentation, stop optimization primarily considers travel time, as well as factors such as distance and the number of turns. This helps explain why a calculated sequence may differ from the order in which addresses were added.
There is no savings percentage that applies to every operation. The result depends on the city, time of day, address quality and constraints of each delivery.
How to plan your route in 5 steps
1. Gather all addresses
Before building the journey, centralize the locations you need to visit. Avoid switching between conversations, notes and spreadsheets while driving.
Include information that helps locate the correct point:
- street, number and additional details;
- neighborhood and city;
- recipient's name;
- a landmark, when needed;
- notes about timing or access.
2. Check the data before calculating
An incorrect address compromises the entire plan. Look for missing numbers, incorrect cities, duplicate stops and locations listed only by establishment name.
When in doubt, confirm before leaving. Resolving an inconsistency while stopped is usually safer and faster than trying to fix it in traffic.
3. Set the start and end of the route
Specify where you will leave from and where you intend to finish. For those who need to return to the same point, such as a distribution center, the start and end can be the same. For those finishing work in another area, the final destination should reflect that reality.
This decision changes the suggested sequence of stops.
4. Generate and review the order
In Genne's route planner, add the day's points and view the journey on the map. After generating the route, perform a quick check.
Check that:
- all deliveries are included;
- the first and last points are correct;
- no stop is clearly outside the area;
- agreed times remain feasible;
- no operational constraint has been overlooked.
Optimization supports your decision, but does not automatically know the full context of your operation. A delivery with an appointment may need to remain in a specific position.
5. Save the plan and set out with clarity
With the sequence reviewed, you reduce improvised decisions throughout the day. During execution, focus on driving and make changes only when parked in a safe place.
If a new stop arises, assess its impact on the rest of the journey before adding it.
Checklist before starting
- Do all addresses have a number and city?
- Are there repeated stops?
- Are the origin and final destination correct?
- Is there a delivery with an appointment?
- Does any point require prior contact?
- Does the sequence make sense for the operation?
- Is the phone charged and connected?
Good planning starts with good data
The planner organizes the journey, but the quality of the result starts with the data entered. Complete addresses, recorded constraints and a few minutes of review make the route more predictable.
Genne helps put points on the map and organize the journey. You remain in control to validate priorities and adapt the route to the day's reality.