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Babeldat and logistics

Manual Route Planning in Logistics: Drag, Schedule and Assign Orders

By July 29, 2025August 1st, 2025No Comments

What Do We Mean by Manual Route Planning?

Manual route planning is the process where you decide which orders go into which route. You do this, for example, via an overview screen where you can drag and drop orders into a route. No automated algorithm – just clear and intuitive planning based on your own knowledge and experience.

Why Is This So Important?

Not every company works with advanced TMS or planning algorithms. And let’s be honest: sometimes the best planner is simply the one with experience at the office. Manual planning then becomes:

  • Flexible
  • Easy to learn
  • Visually intuitive
  • Quick to adjust

Consider:

“That truck always goes to Antwerp, so we can add these three customers.”
“This order just came in and can just about fit into route 4.”

With manual planning in Babeldat, you stay in control, without complex tools or expensive implementations.

How Does Manual Planning Work in Babeldat?

Babeldat provides an intuitive planning interface where you can:

  • See all open orders (with filters for customer, region, dock time, etc.)
  • View route lines (with fixed or temporary vehicles)
  • Simply drag orders to the desired route
  • Assign route number, driver, vehicle type or delivery date
  • Get real-time insight into loading meters, stops or ADR requirements

All of this happens without a dedicated planning tool, directly within the Babeldat platform.

What If You Do Use a Planning System?

No problem! Babeldat is also fully compatible with external planning software such as:

  • PTV Route Optimizer / Smartour
  • Ortec
  • Transsmart / nShift
  • Mapotempo
  • Trimble
  • Custom TMS via API or EDIFACT/CSV

In that case:

  1. Babeldat sends orders fully prepared and validated to the planning system
  2. The planning system calculates optimal routes (based on time, distance, ADR, etc.)
  3. Babeldat receives the route data and links it to picklists, SSCC labels and dock planning
  4. Your team processes everything based on that planning

You can choose freely: plan within Babeldat or use external planning software for optimization – it always works seamlessly together.

Real-Life Example

A carrier has 20 orders for tomorrow. The planner:

  • Views all orders in Babeldat with destination, volume and expiry dates
  • Drags the orders to 3 different routes
  • Enters license plate and driver for route 1
  • Checks “ADR present” for one order
  • Clicks save → Babeldat automatically generates shipping labels and documents
  • Optionally → Exports route to PTV for optimization

Everything flows in one system – no double work or disconnects.

What Are the Benefits?

For Companies Without Planning Software:

  • No expensive software needed
  • Plan quickly without training
  • Full control
  • Visual insight per route
  • Ideal for fixed routes or daily planning

For Companies With Planning Software:

  • Orders are correct and complete before reaching the planner
  • Fewer errors and exceptions
  • Faster turnaround
  • Less manual effort in planning
  • Seamless feedback to warehouse and transport

Sometimes, manual planning is the fastest and smartest choice. And sometimes you want to combine it with optimization software.

Babeldat supports both: drag orders manually into routes or link them to your favorite planning software – no double work, no hassle.

Your knowledge, our software, maximum results.