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Routing/Scheduling Work Orders close togother

This article outlines three effective ways to optimize job scheduling in ServiceBox using geographic strategies: pre-set AM/PM service areas, dynamic postal code clustering, and technician groups by region.

Introduction

ServiceBox offers several ways to optimize job scheduling based on geographic location and employee assignments. This article outlines three effective methods that companies commonly use to streamline their scheduling process.

Method 1: Pre-Designated AM/PM Service Areas

Some companies divide their service areas by time slots, assigning specific regions of the city for AM or PM service over a set period (such as a two-week or 10-day cycle).

How to use this method:

  • Set Up Pre-Designated Areas: Assign specific communities or neighborhoods to morning or afternoon slots for each day in the cycle. This creates a rotating schedule where technicians service certain areas consistently during specified times.

  • Populate the Scheduler: Use the ServiceBox Scheduler to fill in job appointments according to the designated areas and time slots. When there are open slots, additional jobs nearby can be added to fill gaps.

  • Optimize with Postal Code Search: Use the postal code search feature to find extra jobs within a specific distance from scheduled appointments. This allows companies to make the most of available openings in the schedule.

Example:
If Northeast Calgary is scheduled for Monday AM, any job requests in that area can be placed in that morning slot, and nearby calls from the postal code search can be added to fill the technician’s day.

Method 2: Dynamic Scheduling Based on Postal Code Clustering

This method is ideal if you don’t use predefined service areas and want to optimize scheduling dynamically.

How to use this method:

  • Schedule Work Orders: Start by scheduling work orders across your service area without predefined zones.

  • Cluster by Postal Code: Use the postal code search feature with the smallest distance setting your team is comfortable with.

  • Drag and Drop to Optimize: Review the Scheduler in Week or Month view to identify dense postal code clusters. Drag and drop work orders to consolidate jobs by area and assign them to dispatchers or technicians accordingly.

Reassignment Options:

  • Use Normal mode to drag jobs directly to a technician.

  • Use Dispatcher mode to view which technicians are already scheduled nearby and reassign accordingly.

Example:
If three jobs in the T3N postal code appear for Thursday, you can group them and assign them to one technician, reducing travel time.

Method 3: Using Groups to Organize Technicians by Area

If technicians are assigned to consistent service zones, using Groups can simplify scheduling.

How to use this method:

  • Set Up Groups: Create geographic-based groups (e.g., Downtown, Northwest, South End) and assign technicians accordingly.

  • Filter by Group in Scheduler: In either Normal or Dispatcher mode, filter by group to view only relevant technicians.

  • Assign Work Orders by Group: Quickly assign work orders to techs covering that region without clutter from irrelevant users.

Example:
If only Northwest techs are needed for a day, selecting the “Northwest” group narrows down the list, helping dispatchers quickly assign the right jobs.

Conclusion

Each of these methods—pre-scheduled areas, postal clustering, or technician groups—offers a different way to improve scheduling efficiency. Choose the approach that aligns best with your business model to get the most from your ServiceBox Scheduler.


Need Help?
If you're having trouble configuring your Scheduler or need help optimizing routes, contact our support team at support@jobboxsoft.com.