Beyond Basic Routing: Creative Ways Companies Are Using Strategic Planner

While most companies think of territory planning as an annual or bi-annual task, forward-thinking businesses are discovering that Strategic Planner opens up entirely new possibilities for workforce management, seasonal planning, and sales operations. Here are some innovative approaches we’ve seen customers implement:

The Four-Route Foundation Strategy

One beverage distributor revolutionized their entire operation by building around four distinct route types rather than traditional geographic divisions:

• Delivery routes (constrained by truck availability
• Pre-sale convenience store team
• On-premise sales (bars/restaurants)
• Off-premise sales (liquor stores)

The key insight? They use a 48-hour pre-sale window that maintains perfect alignment between sales visits and delivery schedules. This ensures customers are properly prepared and inventory flows seamlessly.

Smart Filtering for Complex Operations

Beyond basic geography, sophisticated users are leveraging Strategic Planner’s filtering capabilities to solve unique business challenges:

• Volume thresholds (targeting >500 case accounts for efficiency)
• Account type optimization (prioritizing mass merchant locations for easier drops)
• Time-sensitive routing (sales node numbers within specific windows)

The Shadow Routes Revolution

Some companies are implementing “shadow routes” – specialized 3-day blitzes where dedicated teams hit specific customers for enhanced service. Think 7-Eleven merchandising displays or holiday promotional support. These temporary routes run parallel to regular operations without disrupting core delivery schedules.

Seasonal Route Intelligence

Rather than scrambling each season, smart operators plan multiple route scenarios in advance:

• Summer routes (+1 truck for increased volume)
• Winter routes (-1 truck for efficiency)
• Holiday modifications (separate Thursday/Friday routes for Thanksgiving/Christmas weeks)

Real Data vs. Hypothetical Planning

The most successful implementations move beyond theoretical route planning. Instead of using dummy data, they feed actual customer orders and historical patterns into Strategic Planner. This enables:

• More frequent rerouting opportunities
• Accurate route performance vs. hypothetical scenarios
• Monthly plan-vs-actual analysis revealing real savings opportunities

Session Comparison: The Game Changer

One of Strategic Planner’s most underutilized features is session comparison. Companies use this to layer different operations – ensuring Wednesday pre-sales perfectly align with Friday deliveries, or verifying that merchandising teams complement rather than conflict with delivery schedules.

Weekly Maintenance Routing

While some operations run major reroutes quarterly, others have found success with weekly maintenance routing. For smaller operations (15-30 routes), this allows rapid adaptation to new customers, account changes, and seasonal fluctuations while maintaining high service standards.

The bottom line? Strategic Planner isn’t just about finding the shortest routes – it’s about reimagining how your entire operation can work smarter, not harder.

Want to explore how Strategic Planner could transform your operations? Contact our team to discuss your specific use case.