The problem
Planning the delivery run by eye on a map takes time every day, and a badly ordered run means flowers in the van longer. If a florist plans 20 runs a month at 15 minutes each, that's 300 minutes, 5 hours a month, and much more on Valentine's Day.
What the AI does
Spoke Route Planner, formerly Circuit, is a route planning app for drivers. Its pricing page lists route optimization, built-in navigation, spreadsheet import, adding stops by voice or camera and arrival time windows. The free plan allows up to 10 stops per route with unlimited routes; Lite, $9.99 (about $9£7€8A$13C$13) a month, removes the stop limit and can be canceled at any time through the app store. Enter the day's addresses, add time windows for funerals and offices, and drive the order it gives. For Valentine's Day or Mother's Day, take Lite for that month only.
A worked example
A florist in Cheltenham with a shop and one part-time assistant makes about 20 delivery runs a month of up to 10 stops each, and around 40 drops on Valentine's Day.
Before
About 15 minutes planning each run on a map: 20 x 15 = 300 minutes, 5 hours a month
After
About 3 minutes entering stops and checking the order: 20 x 3 = 60 minutes, 1 hour a month
What it's worth
About 4 hours a month saved (240 minutes), worth around $106£80€95A$154C$150 if your time is worth $27£20€24A$38C$38 an hour. The free plan covers runs of up to 10 stops; a peak month with longer runs needs Lite at $9.99 (about $9£7€8A$13C$13). Driving time saved isn't counted.
How to set it up
- Install the app and plan tomorrow's run on the free plan alongside your usual method.
- Import addresses from your order list rather than typing them, and check each postcode.
- Add time windows for funerals, weddings and offices with set delivery times.
- Before peak days, subscribe to Lite for that month and cancel afterwards.
- After a month, compare how long runs take with the month before.
What goes wrong
- A suggested order doesn't know a funeral must arrive before 10am unless you add the time window.
- Prices are in US dollars on the vendor's page and billed through the app store, so the sterling price may differ slightly.
- The free plan stops at 10 stops per route; split a bigger day into two routes or take Lite.
- Delivery promises to customers must be ones you can keep; the app plans the run but doesn't change your cut-off times.