Today, route optimization is no longer just a technological “bonus”. It’s a strategic lever to reduce costs, improve service quality, limit mileage, and meet increasingly complex operational requirements.
But with so many solutions on the market, it’s hard to find your way: promising features, similar messaging, bold claims about AI or automation…
So how do you make the right choice?
Rather than comparing feature lists, it’s more relevant to ask the right questions, the ones that reveal whether a solution can truly address your business challenges, both today and in the future.
Here are the 9 essential questions to ask before investing in route optimization software.
1. Does the software have the features you need?
Route optimization isn’t just about generating itineraries or shaving off a few kilometers.
Good software must meet the operational requirements of your business while remaining easy to use for planners or dispatchers. But beware: the truly essential features differ for a carrier, a B2B distributor, a retailer, or a municipality. Before comparing tools, start by establishing a clear list of must-have features for your business.
Here are some commonly expected features:
Automatic route optimization: One-click generation of optimal routes based on your constraints (time, capacity, zones, time windows, etc.).
Multi-objective planning: Optimize duration, distances, operating costs, and CO₂ emissions simultaneously.
Customer or order prioritization: Integrate business priorities without compromising overall efficiency.
Multi-vehicle management: Plan for different vehicle types (vans, trucks, electric vehicles, etc.).
Traffic data integration: Include predictive and/or real-time traffic data to refine estimates and adjust routes.
Key takeaway: Every business has its own priorities. Before comparing solutions, identify the features truly essential to your operations. And above all: don’t rely solely on product sheets. Key features should already be available, tested, and fully operational.
💡 Kardinal is a route optimization software that offers all the standard features mentioned, along with more advanced options to adapt to your specific needs. Contact us for more personalized information.
2. Does the solution offer the right planning modes?
Every organization has its own working methods. Some plan day by day, others several days in advance, or even in real time. Good software should adapt to your way of working, not the other way around.
Before choosing a solution, ask yourself these questions:
Advanced planning: Can you generate routes several days ahead, taking forecasted volumes into account?
Real-time re-planning: Does the solution allow you to adjust routes during the day in case of unexpected events such as delays, cancellations, or new orders?
Recurring planning: For regular operations, can the software propose optimized schedules over a week or a month?
Assisted manual planning: Can you still keep control when needed? Does the tool offer suggestions while leaving freedom of choice to the user?
Key takeaway: A good route optimization software should be able to match your operational timing, whether it’s reactive, planned in advance, or a mix of both.
💡 Kardinal offers a dynamic optimization solution that works continuously, even once routes are launched. It adapts to both advanced planning and last-minute adjustments, while allowing users to take back control and make manual changes if needed.
3. Does the software meet all your business constraints?
Every logistics sector has its own rules, constraints, and specific requirements. Whether it’s time restrictions, vehicle characteristics, safety regulations, or customer conditions, your software must be able to handle all your operational constraints without compromise.
Route optimization often faces very specific constraints, which can vary greatly between industries — and even between companies in the same field. These particularities can make standard optimization tools especially difficult to use.
Here are some common examples of specific constraints:
Limited site capacity: In waste collection or cross-docking, some sites can only receive a limited number of vehicles at the same time.
Loading/unloading rules: For example, the LIFO (Last In, First Out) principle in pallet transport, which requires a strict unloading order.
Revenue balancing: In subcontracting, it is important to fairly distribute routes among subcontractors to ensure their economic viability.
Special clearances: Some sensitive sites (nuclear plants, prisons, etc.) require specific driver qualifications, which are rarely considered in standard solutions.
These constraints can also involve strict time windows, vehicle types (weight, volume, range), driver skills, or specific local rules such as low-emission zones or weather conditions.
To manage these constraints effectively, it is often necessary to create dedicated reference datasets, such as linking driver certifications to the requirements of specific delivery sites. This finer modeling makes the optimization problem more complex and can render standard tools unsuitable.
Key takeaway: A route optimization software should never impose standard rules that do not match your business. It must adapt to accurately reflect your operational constraints, without forcing you to redesign your processes.
💡This is exactly where Kardinal stands out. Our solution is designed to model and manage complex, highly specific business constraints. Our team of engineers continuously improves the algorithms to integrate new constraints and deliver optimization that is truly adapted to your operations.
Kardinal has conducted a benchmark of eight major API providers, analyzing 64 constraints and features representative of real-world use cases across various sectors, including parcel delivery, fresh products, waste management, and freight.
4. Can the software be easily integrated with your business tools?
A route optimization solution should not operate in isolation. To be truly effective, it must integrate seamlessly with your existing IT ecosystem: ERP, WMS, CRM, order management systems, GPS, and more.
Before choosing a solution, make sure it offers:
Robust connectors or APIs that allow automated data exchange in real time or batch mode.
Compatibility with your current systems to avoid duplicate entries and transmission errors.
The ability to adapt data flows to your specific processes.
Smooth synchronization so that your route, order, and inventory data are always up to date.
Also, check the provider’s technology partners, especially Transport Management Systems (TMS), as they can make for a smoother, long-term integration.
Key takeaway: Successful integration speeds up adoption, streamlines your processes, and maximizes ROI.
💡Kardinal connects easily via API or through integrations with recognized TMS and DMS partners. We work with many industry players, including Hub One, Acteos, Akanea, MyTroopers, Urbantz, and Everest. Discover all our partners and integration solutions.
5. Does the provider understand your industry?
Choosing a route optimization solution also means choosing a partner who understands the specificities and challenges of your sector. Strong industry knowledge ensures that the solution will meet your real needs, take your unique constraints into account, and provide you with relevant support.
Before committing, look into:
The provider’s client references in your sector: parcel delivery, food distribution, urban logistics, hazardous materials transport, field service, etc.
The use cases and success stories they can share, proving their ability to address your specific challenges.
The industry expertise of their teams, which should go well beyond technical skills.
A provider with a deep understanding of your industry will also be better equipped to support your evolving needs and anticipate market trends.
Key takeaway: An industry-savvy provider offers you a tailored solution and a long-term, value-adding partnership.
💡 Kardinal works with clients across a wide range of sectors: parcel delivery, e-commerce, technician visits, waste and bulk transport, urban courier services, and more. This diversity fuels our expertise and enables us to continuously adapt our algorithms to the specific needs of each business. See some of our client stories.
6. Is the interface intuitive and user-friendly?
A route optimization software can be very powerful, but if it’s complicated or lacks ergonomics, it may slow down adoption by your teams. A clear, intuitive, and pleasant interface makes planners’ and dispatchers’ work easier, reduces errors, and speeds up onboarding.
Before choosing, check that:
The interface is easy to understand, even for non-expert users.
Key features are quickly accessible without complicated navigation.
The software is compatible with various devices (computer, tablet, smartphone) for flexible use in the field or office.
Support and training tools are included, such as tutorials, interactive guides, or online assistance.
A good user experience is not just about design; it also includes speed, smoothness, and consistency of the application.
Key takeaway: An ergonomic interface is a crucial factor to maximize your teams’ efficiency and engagement.
💡 Kardinal is designed to provide an optimal user experience, with a clear, modern interface accessible to both planners and drivers. Our tools adapt to all screen sizes and include collaborative features to ease communication between teams.
Continuous route optimization solution
7. Is the support up to the mark?
Adopting route optimization software is a strategic project that requires quality support from deployment through daily use.
Before choosing, make sure the provider offers:
Responsive and accessible support that quickly answers your questions and resolves issues.
Tailored training for your teams to ensure effective software onboarding.
Personalized follow-up with dedicated contacts who understand your business challenges.
Regular updates and continuous product evolution to stay at the forefront of innovation.
Key takeaway: Good support maximizes ROI and ensures the success of your project.
💡 At Kardinal, we pride ourselves on supporting our clients throughout their journey. Our support team is available, trained, and committed to helping you get the most out of our solution. We also offer customized training and ongoing follow-up to adapt your usage as your needs evolve.
8. Is the software backed by a strong team?
Behind every good software is a skilled and committed technical team. This is especially true for route optimization software, which involves complex algorithms, critical data flows, and highly specific business use cases.
Before choosing a provider, ask yourself:
Is the technical team internal or fully outsourced?
Does the provider have developers and engineers specialized in optimization?
Does the team work closely with clients to evolve the product based on real-world feedback?
Is there a genuine commitment to progress the solution, with regular updates, quick fixes, and a clear roadmap?
Is the software available in the language of your operational teams? If not, can the provider commit to a rapid translation?
Key takeaway: A strong, visible, and accessible technical team that speaks your language—literally and figuratively—is the best guarantee of a performant software today and tomorrow.
💡 At Kardinal, our technical team is 100% in-house, based in France, and composed of experts in algorithms, data science, and product development. We work closely with our clients to evolve our solution in line with business needs, with frequent deployments and continuous improvement cycles.
9. Does the software allow you to monitor and simulate your operations?
Optimization goes beyond day-to-day route planning. A good software should also enable you to manage your operations daily and simulate scenarios to anticipate the future.
Ask yourself these questions:
Does the software provide clear performance indicators to track your routes, costs, load rates, CO₂ emissions, and more?
Can you easily visualize discrepancies between planning and reality on the ground (cancellations, delays, replanning, etc.)?
Do you have the ability to test different scenarios: adding a depot, changing your fleet, increasing volumes, new time windows, etc.?
Are these simulations reliable, actionable, and easy to perform to inform your strategic decisions?
Key takeaway: A good optimization software helps you make the right long-term decisions while also adjusting your operations on a daily basis.
💡 At Kardinal, our management tools enable continuous tracking of your key performance indicators, identifying gaps, and analyzing plan performance. Our simulation features help you make informed decisions before any organizational changes.
In summary
Choosing a route optimization solution is not just about ticking functional boxes. It’s about selecting a partner who can adapt to your operational realities, your business constraints, and your strategic goals. Too many tools promise impressive results but struggle to keep up when it comes to thinking outside the box.
Take the time to ask the right questions and challenge vendors on their technology, support, and ability to deliver over the long term.
The answers will quickly reveal the difference between a standardized solution and an approach truly tailored to your needs.
The right tool is the one that adapts to you, not the other way around.
💡Want to learn more about our route optimization solution?
Contact-us for a demo and discover how Kardinal can support your organizational transformation.