Product updates

Copy, view, and share proof of delivery information

When there is a problem with a delivery, dispatchers and admins often have to find proof of delivery and forward that to the concerned client or customer.

You can now easily find and copy all the POD information from a specific stop in one click.

How to copy and share POD info 

• Click on the stop 
• Below the POD info click the Copy details button
• This will copy all the POD info for that stop to your clipboard
• Paste this info wherever you need to transfer it

View the POD info your recipient sees

• Click on the stop
• Below the POD info click the Copy link button
• This will copy a link to your clipboard
• Open this link in your browser
• This link will display the same information the recipient sees when they click their tracking link

Make last-minute edits to optimized routes

Dispatchers who need to make last-minute changes to optimized routes can now easily make and roll back changes.

To minimize disruption to the driver, it is also possible to choose how those changes will impact the existing route order.

A dispatcher or admin can now:

• Add or make changes to existing stops on an optimized route
• Preview or Discard these changes
• Choose to reorder only the edited stops, or reorder all the stops in the route
• In one click discard, all changes since changes were last saved

This is the first of three components that together will allow dispatchers and admins to edit live routes in the near future.

Edit the address of an existing stop

In the past, adding the wrong address to a stop meant deleting it and adding it again with the correct address. A driver can now edit the address of an existing stop if it is incorrect, saving them time and effort.

This feature is currently only available on the Android app version of Circuit Route Planner.

How to edit the address of an existing stop

• Select the stop with the incorrect address
• Click the Change address button
• Select the correct address from the search bar
• The text updated will appear in green text to confirm the change has been made 
• Addresses can be edited when adding stops or even while out driving a route

Create and manage multiple depots

Companies with more than one depot location can now create multiple depots. 

A dispatcher or admin can now:

• Filter their view to display activity from all depots, or one specific depot
• Create routes for and assign drivers to any depot

How to create multiple depots

• Go to Settings > Depots and click Create depot
• Name your depot and complete the route setup for that specific depot
• Click the Team members button or go to Settings > Team members to assign drivers to depots
• Once your depots have been created, you can view all depots or individual depots by using the drop-down menu in the top left-hand corner of the screen

How to delete a depot

• Go to Settings > Depots and click on a depot to edit it
• Select the option to delete the depot, and this will permanently delete the depot
• When a depot is deleted, any routes or drivers assigned to that depot will revert to unassigned 

Routes and active drivers are shown on the calendar

Searching for individual drivers and routes on specific days can be time-consuming if you plan routes daily or have a large driver team.

Now you can clearly see which days of the month have routes on them, and which days have active drivers.

The calendar on the main overview page now shows:

• Days with no activity on them are a default pale grey color
• Days with routes planned on them are now dark grey
• Days with active drivers on them are marked with a green dot

Set dynamic or fixed delivery windows for customer notifications

The most important information for a customer is when a package is due to be delivered. Not being able to set or communicate timely delivery windows accurately can cause customer service issues.

Our new Dynamic and Fixed delivery window options allow you to customize delivery windows and easily communicate delivery ETAs to your customers.

How to set a delivery window

• Go to your account Settings and select Customer Updates
• Under Customer Updates, you will see Delivery Time Window

Setting a fixed time window

Set a fixed time window for customer updates, regardless of the stop ETA.

For example, set a fixed time window of 9 am-5 pm for all deliveries, and this will not change regardless of the route progress.

Setting a dynamic time window

Set a minimum and maximum dynamic time window for customer updates which changes in real-time depending on the progress of the route.

For example, set a dynamic time window with a minimum value of 30 minutes and a maximum value of 2 hours for a stop with an ETA of noon. 

Your dynamic time window will show customers a minimum delivery time of 11.30 am-12.30 pm, potentially increasing to a maximum delivery time of 10 am - 2 pm, depending on route progress.

Circuit’s customer notifications provide a tracking link that displays real-time delivery windows so customers can always access the most accurate ETA.

Copy incomplete stops to a new route

Drivers often finish their day with unassigned, unattempted, or failed stops. To make sure these stops are completed on the next try, dispatchers need to reassign them to new routes. 

Manually completing this process can be time-consuming and confusing. We’ve developed our Copy Stops feature to quickly handle this process.

How to use the Copy Stops feature

• Select 'copy stops' from the 3 vertical dots menu on an existing route
• Click the 'copy stops from previous routes' button when creating a new route
• Choose the route you wish to copy stops from and to on the Copy Stops page
• Choose the stops you wish to copy from the displayed list
• Clicking the Copy Stops button will create a new route based on these stops
• Add to and edit stops in this newly created route as usual

Easy to read stop details

There is a lot of information associated with each stop on a route. It may be necessary for the driver to know the type of stop, the timing, where the package is in the vehicle, and many other details.

Drivers may have difficulty reading and using the app if all this information is displayed at once.

Stop details are now easier to read and edit

• As soon as a driver clicks 'start route,' a stop details sheet appears with clear and uncluttered information about their first stop
• Google Maps for that location opens automatically if they click the address details
• The Notes field can now be edited instantly by clicking on it
• Edit the stop by clicking the 'edit stop' text below the stop details
• When a stop is marked as delivered, the stop details sheet automatically moves on to the next one
• Swipe left or right on the stop details sheet to see the previous/the next stop, mark stops as failed/delivered, and see info and proof of delivery.
• You can access the main stops list by clicking the X in the top right corner of the stop details sheet
• Click the arrow in the bottom right of the main stops list to make the current stop on the route the focus of the list.
• On the main stops list swipe left to mark a stop as delivered or swipe right to navigate to that stop

Search entire driver team for individual stop data

Previously, you could only search for stops individually, this made tracking down and resolving customer service issues potentially tricky and time consuming.

We've now released our new search function, available across all plan types on the web app. This allows you to search your entire driver team and all stops quickly and easily using any information associated with a stop, for example: 

• Order number
• Address
• Zip code
• Recipient names
• Notes 

How to use Search

Click the search icon in the top right hand corner of the main dashboard, or press S on your keyboard to open the search function.

Type in your search query. Where possible we suggest using the order number as this is unique to each stop, and as such will provide you with more targeted search results.

Search results are displayed with a relevancy bias, beginning with the most likely stops to match your search query.

Click on a stop from the search results and you will be taken to the stop details where you can find information such as delivery status, and attempted location.

Enhanced map features for busy teams

Large numbers of overlapping routes and stops previously caused the map view to become cluttered, and hard to read. 

Our updated map provides a clearer image when managing multiple routes, and creates unique URLs for sharing map views.

Map design changes include:

• Completed stop markers now appear in a more muted color than incomplete stop markers.
• As a route is completed, each stage is marked with a bold outline and muted color.
• Hover over a route with the cursor, and it becomes a bold color
• When a route is clicked on and selected, it becomes a bold color
• Active routes are shown on top of finished and unfinished routes

How to use the map view

From the main web app dashboard click the View button. Manually zoom in to your desired location, and this will become your default view.

Click on a route to select it. The selected route automatically turns opaque and becomes the focus of the map. All other routes and stops become transparent for ease of viewing.

Click on a stop on the map or in the Overview sidebar. The map is automatically reoriented to zoom into that stop location. The Overview sidebar highlights that stop within the list. 

Exit a stop or route and the map will return to your default view.

Share a unique map view URL 

You can now share a deep link to a unique map view (when you have a route or stop selected) by copying and pasting the current search bar URL.

Example

1. Select Stop 4 on Dan's route
2. The map view displays: overview with stop 4 highlighted; stop details tab; map zoomed in on Stop 4
3. Copy and share the unique map view URL from the search bar
4. Clicking this link takes any team member to the exact map view in Step 2

Edit incorrect addresses before sending routes to drivers

Incorrect addresses provided by customers or accidentally uploaded to routes can create unreachable stops. These look wrong when plotted on the map.

The previous solution was to delete incorrect stops and re-add them correctly. It’s now possible to edit and correct the address of an existing stop.

How to edit an existing stop address

• Click on a stop, and you'll see an 'edit address' option at the top of the stop details tab.
• Enter or search for the correct address
• After selecting the correct address, the notification 'address updated' will appear.
• The rest of the stop details will remain the same.
• The map will now show the new address of the stop.
• Click ‘apply changes,’ and your route will be optimized.
• Your route is now ready to be sent to a driver.

Changing stop information without re-optimizing a route

Previously, editing additional stop details would mark the stop as ‘changed,’ requiring re-optimizing the route.

You can now edit the following information for a stop without re-optimizing.

• Notes
• Stop Setup
• Recipient Information
• Order Information

User-friendly navigation design

Hard-to-navigate apps provide a poor user experience. 

Our new navigation design is intuitive to use.

Circuit's logo changes to a blue pin icon when you click away from the main dashboard. You can return to the main dashboard by clicking the blue pin icon on any page.

All pages now display your account details in the top right corner.

Package ID helps drivers find packages faster

Having trouble finding the right package in their delivery vehicle can cost drivers valuable time. During a route, time spent looking for packages can add up and make their day longer than necessary. 

We’ve introduced a simple Package ID feature to help make finding packages fast and more efficient.

How Package ID works

• Each stop is automatically assigned a unique Package ID number
• Once assigned to a stop, a Package ID number will not change
• Package IDs can then be marked on the corresponding packages in the vehicle to make them easier to find
• Regardless of how many times the route order is reoptimized, the Package ID will remain the same

Identify a stop as a pickup or delivery

A driver who does not know that a stop is a pickup could waste valuable time looking for a package to deliver. Dispatchers may also not leave enough room in the vehicle if they don't realize a stop is a pickup.

Drivers and dispatchers can now mark stops as pickups or deliveries. 

How to mark a stop as a pickup or delivery

• When creating a route from a spreadsheet, write pickup or delivery in the 'Type' column. 
• When manually adding stops to a route, you can select a stop and, under Stop Setup, select delivery or pickup.
• A pickup stop will be highlighted on the stop details list and on the map marker as an up arrow.

Simple management of unreachable or skipped stops

Some routes contain unreachable stops. For example, by mistake, a driver's route in Lisbon, Portugal, may include an address in Lisbon, Florida, making that stop unreachable.

If a stop cannot be reached by the end of that delivery day, it will be marked as skipped.

As a result, drivers must figure out how to correct these stop types and incorporate them back into their routes. On-the-go management of unreachable and skipped stops saves time and allows routes to be optimized more easily.

How to manage an unreachable stop

• A route with an unreachable stop will display the error message 'can't create route' when it is optimized
• The unreachable stop will appear at the top of the route list with the message ‘this stop cannot be accessed’
• This stop can then be edited and successfully added to the route

How to manage skipped stops

• A route with stops that cannot be reached before the set end time for that day will trigger the notification 'X stops cannot be reached on time' when optimized
• You can then choose to ‘Include’ or ‘Dismiss’ these skipped stops
• ‘Include’ skipped stops gives you the option to add the skipped stops into the existing route and keep the original route order, or restart route, which will reoptimize all stops into a new order

More options for providing proof of delivery

Insufficient proof of delivery (or attempted delivery) can cause delivery drivers problems. Delivering alcohol, for example, requires a signature as proof that the recipient is over 18. Photographic evidence of delivery can be needed to prove that a package has been delivered to the customer's designated 'safe place.'

Proof of delivery options

Drivers can now select from the following options:

• Delivered to recipient 
• Delivered to third party
• Left in mailbox
• Left in safe place
• Other

Each of the above options allows you to:

• Get a signature
• Take multiple photos
• Enter the recipient’s name (where applicable)
• Write a note for the recipient
• Write a note for internal use

As soon as a driver adds proof of delivery, it is immediately available for dispatchers to view in the stop details tab.

Map visibility improved with dynamic stop markers

The status of a delivery stop is an essential attribute for drivers and dispatchers.

A dynamic stop marker on the map means you don't have to scroll the stop list to find important information.

Check the status of your stop at a glance

We've created dynamic stop markers that show if a stop is:

• A pickup
• A priority delivery
• A successful or failed delivery
• An error unable to be added to a route
• A new stop added since the route was last optimized
• An existing stop edited since the route was last optimized
• A deleted stop that will be removed when the route is re-optimized

Edit stops on existing routes

Dispatchers may need to deal with last-minute changes that can impact their routes. If the delivery vehicle has been loaded and a stop needs to be added, creating a new route to accommodate this change can cause problems for the driver.

This problem can be solved by editing stops on existing routes with minimal disruption.

How to edit stops on existing routes

• Stops can be edited after a route has been created and before it is sent to a driver.
• In the overview sidebar, you can ‘Add or find stops’
• Make the changes you need to the stop, and then click ‘Done.’
• The overview sidebar will display a summary of the changes. 

You now have the option to:

Apply changes - If you choose to ‘Apply changes,’ the edited stops will be added to your existing route with the least disruption possible.

or

Create new routes - If you choose to ‘Create new routes,’ your route will reoptimize, and a new route will be created.

Export monthly metrics for all routes and all drivers

You can now export a CSV file that will show you how many stops a driver has made in a day, how far they have traveled, and how long it’s taken them. It's now much quicker to work out how much to pay them or how much fuel to reimburse them for.

Select “Analytics” from the Settings menu, choose the month, and download.

We plan to include more data in this report soon, such as the percentage of failed stops and attempts outside the time window, and make it possible to view the info in Circuit for Teams. Watch this space.

View a driver’s location when a delivery is made

Not all deliveries are made to the correct location.

It occasionally happens that a package ends up at the wrong address. Sometimes it’s the drivers' mistake, sometimes it’s the data at fault, but it can be messy to resolve either way.

We have made it easier. Now, you can see where the driver was when the delivery was marked as completed, giving you the information you need to locate the misdelivered package and solve the problem more quickly. The drivers' location is saved when they hit the delivered/failed button at each stop.

You can view this in both the stop details and the map.

Change a route without changing the order of stops

Drivers often have to make changes to a route once it’s been optimized and the van has been loaded, but if a stop is added or removed, the change means the way the vehicle was loaded no longer makes sense.

Now, if the detail of a stop such as the time window or priority is changed, a stop is added or removed, the driver gets the option to:

• Fit changed stops into route - changed stops are reordered into the route.
• Reorder remaining stops - the route progress is kept; only remaining stops are reordered.
• Restart route - route progress is lost, all stops reordered.
• Or skip, and carry on with their day with minimum hassle.

Print formatted manifests or export a CSV

There are times when mobile network coverage is poor, or battery-powered devices fail, and drivers may need a printed manifest as backup for their route mapping app.

Every plan type now provides the option to print a manifest or export your route data as a CSV file.

Both options include this information:

• Route Date
• Route Name
• Stop ETA
• Stop number
• Address
• Driver
• Package Count
• Recipient

How to print a manifest

• Next to a route name there are 3 horizontal dots
• Click these dots and menu options will appear
• Select print manifest and a print preview will appear
• Select print

In addition to providing all the essential stop information, the printed manifest is formatted to make it easy to read.

How to export route data

• Next to a route name there are 3 horizontal dots
• Click these dots and menu options will appear
• Select export data
• Your data will automatically download as a CSV file

Improved route management

Finding a specific stop on a particular day can be challenging in a pool of drivers and routes. We have updated our design to make finding and focusing on particular routes and stops easier.

In the overview sidebar:

• Routes are now grouped by status so you can easily see which routes have not started, have started, or are finished. 
  
• When looking at an overview of all routes, you can now search all stops on all routes. By clicking a specific route, the search function will only search stops within that selected route.
  
• Stops that cannot be added to a route are highlighted so they can be corrected.

On the map view:

• At the top of the map page, there is an overview button. Toggle between existing routes and dates, or add new routes using this feature.

Specify how fast or slow a driver is compared to other drivers

Not all drivers can deliver the same number of packages in a day.

Now it’s possible to specify how fast/slow a driver is compared to other drivers, which is then reflected in the optimized routes created.

Reflect driver experience and efficiency when optimizing your route

From today stops allocated and ETAs in a plan take into account the experience or efficiency of the driver.

Not all drivers can complete their routes at the same speed. They might take more or less time to drive between stops, or to complete the delivery, they might be a new driver, a temporary driver, or driving in a new area.

Customize the speed at which a driver both drives and carries out a delivery

You can override the default setting of average to slower or faster to reflect the speed of driving from stop to stop and completing deliveries compared to other drivers.

The setting can be changed at driver level by selecting "override route default" in the membership tab settings or at driver route level by changing the Driving & Delivery Speed settings depending on whether you want to apply the speed setting to all routes for that driver or a specific route.

Share real-time route data

Sometimes it can be useful for drivers to share their live location and route information with a 3rd party. We’ve made this possible on Circuit Route Planner with our new shareable read-only route links.

How to share a read-only route link

• Within a route under the route name you will see the option to ‘share your live progress’
• Click the blue Share button
• A pop up of share options will appear
• You can copy the link and share it
• Choose Nearby Share to send the route via bluetooth to a nearby device
• Share the route using your phone apps such as Whatsapp, email, SMS

When receiving a read-only route link

• Click the link and you will be taken to the route view
• You will be able to view the route progress in real time here
• It is possible to view read-only information, such as the location of the driver, the status of the delivery, and much more

Additional delivery data for drivers

It can be time-consuming and difficult for drivers to check additional delivery details with their dispatcher. They need that information at their fingertips for fast and efficient delivery.

This extra information is now visible in the driver app:

Recipient

• Name
• Email
• Phone
• External ID

Package 

• Count
• Products

Seller

• Name
• Website
• Order ID

Dispatchers can include this information when uploading routes or by clicking a stop. They can manually add/edit it.

Drivers can see this information in the stop details list. Tap 'see more' to see all the data.

Automatically scan any address with Apple's iOS 15

Recently, Apple’s exciting Live Text feature got released together with iOS 15. The new feature lets you use your phone’s camera app to scan any text.You've asked us for this a lot, so we’re happy that we’re among the first iOS apps to bring you this new functionality.

iPhone users on iOS 15 can now use Live Text inside Circuit Route Planner in three easy steps 👇

1. Click the camera icon in the search bar
2. Point your camera at your manifest or package
3. The address will automatically be added to Circuit Route Planner!

Then just add the rest of your packages in the same way 🙌

Customize customer messages to reduce the chance of missed deliveries, and more

We've recently made some significant upgrades to help you further reduce the chances of missed deliveries by keeping your customers up-to-date on what's happening with their packages.

If you're on the Recipient plan or above, with this update you can:

• Easily customize customer messages
• Choose to send SMS, email, or both
• Add personalization
• Choose to send messages in any language

After a driver starts their route, your customer will get a message with general delivery info. This includes an estimated delivery time and a link to our live tracking site so that they can track its progress. 🙌

Easier team member management

You will find a more simple look and feel that makes managing drivers with Circuit easier and faster to use as team members are now added and edited in a separate part of the Teams workspace.

You can easily add new team members individually, or add many couriers in a row. Give it a try by checking the ‘Add member’ box to include more than one new driver at a time.

Editing existing members

Editing your existing team members is now easier, too.

Go to the three dots on the right of the team member's name for more info and to pull up their profile. You can change their name, display name, and role. Plus override their route defaults. When you select ‘Use defaults’, you can fix this so that your driver follows your set start and end locations.

If you uncheck this option, then you have the choice to customize your drivers' start and end locations individually. You can just pick another location and time and then save it. From now on, your driver is going to get routes that are tailored to them.

More control over driver setup

We've improved Circuit for Teams with some big new features you've been requesting: You have more control over driver setup. Now you can:

• Choose your distance and time from Miles to Kilometres, or 12 hour to 24 hour clock.
• Control your driver app settings to manage what map type, navigation app, and vehicle they have to use.
• Turn customer notifications on or off for Recipient Plan customers.

Teams can now change team name

To make sure your customers get the best experience, we've made a small but significant change to Team Profiles. Now you can easily edit your team name when you log in to your settings.

This change shows in your navigation bar and in your customer notifications (both email, and SMS).

Try it out by going to Settings → Team Profile

Improved address formatting for delivery drivers

Every day at Circuit we show delivery drivers millions of addresses. We get this information from Google Maps as well as from dispatchers using Circuit for Teams.

In our mission to make delivery as seamless as possible, we are improving how we format addresses. This means showing more important information upfront (like store names and postcodes) and making better use of valuable screen space.

This saves drivers time for every delivery they make, as they don’t have to check a manifest or search for the address in a different app.

Important information like the postcode, which many drivers use to find their way around, isn’t there. This is because most of the address is crammed into the second line which will be cut off on small screen sizes.

Everything drivers need to see is right there, no more, no less. As part of this change, we’re also changing how we save addresses in Circuit. This won’t be visible to drivers but will work silently to improve the accuracy of navigation with apps like Waze, Google Maps & Apple Maps.