---
title: "How to optimize and schedule routes"
description: "Upload your orders, schedule them, and let Routific optimize your routes"
url: https://help.routific.com/en/articles/7-how-to-optimize-and-schedule-routes
collection: "Route planning"
updated: 2026-11-04
language: en
---

# How to optimize and schedule routes

Upload your orders, schedule them, and let Routific optimize your routes

### Watch: Scheduling routes with route templates

Once you've [added your orders](https://help.routific.com/en/articles/6-how-to-add-orders.md), it's time to turn them into optimized routes.

> **Info:** Setting up for the first time? Create a route template before you schedule. Set your shift start and end times (for example, 9 am to 5 pm), save the template, then click Schedule.

## Review order details and fix errors

Scroll through your orders on the left and check the details. We'll highlight problem addresses so you can fix them.

![Orders screen shows a list of unscheduled orders beside a map of Canada and the United States, with several address warnings marked Review. Visible: Orders, Search orders, Status, Created date, Add orders, STATUS.](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/OxAwIrGIl28uNXAAfvUg5EHfHK2gyZMg1ZBfruAXPCHuXgPYISNjxTTG0zi3uOm61PTZMimgVzA.png)

Click **Review** to see the address options Routific found. Pick the correct one, or [pin the correct location](https://help.routific.com/en/articles/34-can-t-find-your-address.md#heading-2-pin-the-location-on-the-map) on the map, then click **Save changes**.

![The Orders screen shows the Edit Lonsdale Apartment Location dialog, with a map, an empty required address field, and three suggested address matches. Visible: Orders, Edit Lonsdale Apartment, Location, Required, Canada, United States.](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/Keamu0nQs0IWWX2WxxoSmmesJkfgrfCnedey8VXdwHxGP7fDNKovez9KCS3jB7o4rdUKbu9Tt6d.png)

## Choose how to create routes

To the right of your orders, you'll see two options: reuse routes from a past date, or let Routific create routes for you.

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/rIrGD6hGnkT7ppz7odbw6Vl03IgI3SmEWeXyI0iuLT8FJTLUexBAset8nPAD5phCai4yTj9IGfj.png)

### Reuse a past date

To use the same route structure as a previous day, pick that date from the calendar and click **Reuse routes**.

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/OkubZhIJr5eyOEH2lkPMaufoOCTZzFmqQRAwvfDDJwVbDqi6c08SQkOawONOI74YHgOAdk5qhPC.png)

Those routes are added empty, ready for orders. Drivers who were assigned on that date stay assigned to the same routes. You can assign drivers now or later. Learn more about [reusing a day's route setup](https://help.routific.com/en/articles/67-reuse-a-days-route-setup.md).

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/BuBv89yHEdNptTrs7taq2LCQBiHTVnJJicKZFuBGNkYOOuRlkyVyUlYDcnHvnjkC82cv8OWBqsa.png)

### Automatically create routes

Routific decides how many routes you need based on your orders and the route templates you've selected. No routes appear in the routes section until you schedule.

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/dcJm3ktvjYzsHHfe4A3fnEUjwqsg2DeeMEt6TaIUH0prh8iExUW5XH8SgaEdumr3eCq3vB2qAZq.png)

## Check your route templates

Your selected [**route templates**](https://help.routific.com/en/articles/9-what-are-route-templates.md) are in the bottom right. Each one sets shift times, start and end locations, capacity, and, if you want, a fixed number of routes. Set them up once and reuse them every day.

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/05eVvc5tDerAitUZaF6tUeGHGe0agiirf7yTxTvdY7Z2hIhpwSX1O5zXgnKZzirdeXODMVh2Vba.png)

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/DXH0UeDUzt3SqKcZwulO5mQZHurG6PCaCEpUGuy9Vq7275MPChMQ7WbmLJEf2KtvqmM03hUfqjz.png)

### Adjust your optimization preferences

In the top right, toggle your [**optimization preferences**](https://help.routific.com/en/articles/48-optimization-preferences.md) on or off, or click the **cog** to open the full settings. This is where you decide whether shift times, capacities, and time windows are strict or can bend a little.

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/J6zMbvsS31TnqQhJCLn6UWM3L6SgO01zqg4Pk8xTT5rXJGhWix4vsA9Jcj9PpFRZFomv4FWjnKD.png)

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/NqJpSQgE4jOJBFlJRhgMeugB7pF0oJ4dbEwEf5VLfl6wJc87Yq8hJR6WWVnAeDX5I2GLa19RXlU.png)

## Schedule your orders

Once everything looks good, click **Schedule**.

![The Schedule orders screen for Sun, Nov 15 shows a three-route table beside route optimization options and a Schedule to 3 routes button. Visible: Schedule orders, Sun, Nov 15, Routes, Add route, Route name, Status.](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/4u7jpzxIa9KKMKw32Q5Pox86MVE1qPdAxFHwSZ6cKDThpLM5GHPa7w7CmqhayamccnvpFdcdRXp.png)

In a few seconds, your routes are optimized and a message in the bottom right tells you how many orders were scheduled. Your routes now show on the map and the timeline.

## Some orders didn't get scheduled?

Leftover orders stay in your unscheduled list. Usually it's because they don't fit within the limits you've set:

-   **Not enough time:** the shift ends before the driver can reach them. Extend the shift in your route template, or add a route.
    
-   **Not enough room:** routes are at capacity. Raise the capacity, or add a route.
    
-   **Time windows can't be met:** check the order's [time window](https://help.routific.com/en/articles/62-what-are-time-windows.md), or let deliveries run a little late in your optimization preferences.
    
-   **Address problems:** fix any orders still marked **Review**.
    

Then click **Schedule** again.

Next: [make changes to your routes](https://help.routific.com/en/articles/20-how-to-make-changes-to-your-routes.md).