How to use MyWay Route Planner
Route modes, stop parameters, optimization modes, etc.
MyWay Route Planner is a very straightforward planner that will help you to build your routes in seconds. After downloading the app from Apple AppStore or Google Play Market, you need to open it, and the first thing you see is the app's main screen.
Build and Edit Routes
All you need to do is add your first stop (and as many stops as you want), your Start Location, and End Location (optional). The route must have a Start Location, but the End Location is optional. To add a stop, you can either click the "Add Stop" button, check the screenshot above, or the magnifier button at the top left corner of the app.
There are multiple sources you can add addresses from, like basic "address search," "map," "places," "contacts," "list," "file," "from external link," "photo", and "dictation (audio input)." Check the screenshot below to see what the "Add Stop" process looks like.
If you don't see a photo icon in search input, it means your iPhone or iOS does not support photo input. If you don't see dictation input (microphone icon), you might want to turn on dictation in iOS settings - https://support.apple.com/en-au/guide/iphone/iph2c0651d2/ios
Route Parameters (Route Settings)
After you add all necessary stops at the bottom of the Main Screen, you can find route settings like Vehicle Type, Departure Time, Avoid options, Road Side, and Optimization Mode (Time/Distance). After you add all your stops and choose suitable parameters, you need to click the big blue button on the bottom right side, and the app will provide you with a few route options (similar to what Nav apps do).
All route parameters are very important and can dramatically change your route look, and we recommend taking some time to experiment with them. At the end, you will get a route that exactly looks how you want it set up for your specific needs.
Optimization Mode
One of the most important settings that can dramatically change route and its convenience is Optimization Mode. Optimization Mode has two options: by Time and by Distance. This setting is general and affects optimized routes provided by the app and routes in your order.
Optimization by Time is preferable in 90% of cases. Optimization by Time is how most Navigation Apps build your routes, and the route provided can be a little longer from a distance perspective but much more efficient from a fuel economy perspective and driver convenience. Route optimized by time usually has fewer cross-turns, fewer traffic lights, and fewer route changes.
Optimization by Distance is a use case that can shorten your route by sacrificing convenience and time. Route optimized by distance usually has more cross-turns, traffic lights, and route changes. In most of cases, this distance saved does not justify convenience sacrifice but can be helpful for those drivers who know places very well.
Avoid Options
Avoiding is the simple way to exclude some specific parts of the route, like highways, ferries, etc., from the final route. Note that those route elements, like highways, are sometimes required to complete a route, so it's not guaranteed that all chosen elements (like highways) will be excluded entirely.
Stop's Settings
Yeach stop has stop parameters like time windows, priority, notes, color, etc. To change stop settings, click on the stop added to the route.
Please remember that the "Optimization for Distance" setting can ignore stop settings like priority and time windows. The only option that supports time windows and priority setting is fully "Optimization for Time."
When you add stops, please pay attention to the warnings and errors MyWay is showing you. For example, if the app believes the stop is incorrect or placed in the wrong place (like another country), it will show you an orange exclamation mark next to the stop. If you get any errors, please check our article that explains what they mean and how to get them sorted.
MyWay Route Planner also supports multi-day routes. If you want to know how to build them, please check this article.
When you are done with all route parameters and all stops added, you need to click on a blue button with two arrows on the bottom right side of the screen. After you do that, the route will be sent to the route builder, and you will be presented with Optimization Options.
Optimization Options (Build and Optimize your route)
Optimization options like the "Current" card mean the stop order will stay as you added them (the app will not optimize the stop order), and the "Optimized" card means the stop order will be optimized.
Sometimes, an optimized route traveling time or distance can be more significant or take more time than the route without optimization. It happens because optimization considers all stop parameters. Parameters like "time windows," "priority," and "service time" will affect your route's overall time and distance. Don't worry. Our algorithm built the most efficient route possible, considering all these parameters. It just may look like it is less efficient as the Current order, as the Current order simply ignores all parameters. If you want more about this, please check our article that explains how the route optimization algorithm works.
MyWay will show you late arrivals and issues so you can make informed decisions about what to do with them.In some cases, like tight time windows or messed stop's priorities, there is a possibility that the algorithm can't find the best order that satisfies all parameters. Sometimes, the app can't even build your (Current) order as there are many issues with stops. In this case, the app will show you a warning and will suggest you modify some of those stops (or simply skip them). It will show you late arrivals and issues so you can make informed decision about what to do with your stops.
Our users also told us that some apps "build your route anyway" and show you those missed stops after the fact. It creates a feeling that everything is okay until it's not. We show you this so you can decide what to do before it's too late.
Confirm your Route
After you pick the route type (Current or Optimized), the app will ask you to click the "Let's go" button. and if you are finished with your route planning, you can do that, or you can continue adding stops and changing stop parameters and having some routes built for you as a reference. After you press "Let's go," the app will recalculate all route time and parameters, taking the newest data into account (like time windows, traffic, etc.). You also can close the Le'ts go button or simply continue building your route afterwards. When you finish making changes, click the blue button with an arrow on the bottom right side.
If you build a route for the future, we recommend pressing the "Let's go" button exactly when you leave for your route so it will start your route exactly when you go for it.
Follow Route
Choose your preferred option and click the "Start Route" button, and the app will move you to "Route Mode," where you can Navigate to stops (Navigate button), close stops (Done button), and do many other things.
If you need to change a Navigation style (navigate by address/coordinates), click on the 3 dots button next to "Nav" button. The app will show you a modal window to change navigation mode and the final destination navigation app (Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, etc.)
The "Done" button lets you close a stop and activate the next one. In case of "proof of delivery turned on" in App Settings, it will open your Proof Of Delivery Screen. You can read more about Proof of Delivery here.
Click on a stop to see additional parameters and to add some notes, skip stops, etc.
Fitting Modes
MyWay has three major route representation modes:
Fit the whole route
Fit route from point A to B
Show destination
To activate the desired mode, click the button above the "current location button" (below map scale +- buttons). When you plan a route, only "Fit the whole route" can be turned on, but when you follow the route, the button will switch modes from one to another (check images below; modes are going to be activated from left to right)
Your Location
You can hide your current location to make it easy to work with the route. It's handy when you build and manage routes outside of your area. To hide your location, go to layers (top right button below the main menu) and uncheck the "My Location" checkbox. When you have "My location" on, "Fit the whole route" mode will include your location and all route stops. When "My Location" is off, only your stops in the fitting mode will be included.
When you follow your route and want' to "Update" it to actualize ETAs, if access to your location is ON, MyWay will take your location as an "intermediate starting" point. That will greatly improve ETA calculation and will actually build you a much more accurate route. However, this can cause issues when your location is in a different country or can't be accessed by public roads. We recommend checking Optimisation Settings to see how location can affect your routes.
Update and Actualize Route
If you see that you are running late or have changed your route, you can update all ETA's and stop order. You can do that by pressing the 3 dots menu button (in the route header) and picking "Update Route" option or do complete Reoptimization. Read more about those options.
Video Guide
If at this stage you have any questions, please drop us a line through online chat. In the MyWay app, go to the Main Menu (top right corner, three lines button) > Support section > Talk to Us.
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