Putting AI to Work: Stop Losing Time Between Appointments

When you have several estimates or service calls to make, it’s easy to visit them in the order they came in. But that order may send you back and forth across town.

The AI tip from this newsletter is simple: use a route planner to help organize your stops before you head out.

The fix: plan the order, not just the directions

For your next day with multiple appointments, enter the addresses into a route-planning tool and compare the suggested order with your original plan. Circuit and Route4Me were examples highlighted in the newsletter; check each tool’s current features and pricing against your needs.

Include appointment windows, expected time at each stop, and your starting and ending locations wherever the tool supports them. If your vehicle has size or access restrictions, make sure your chosen tool supports those requirements rather than assuming a standard route is suitable.

Try it with your next three estimates

Before leaving, compare the proposed route with the sequence you would normally drive. Check that it respects your commitments to customers, leaves enough time for each visit, and makes practical sense.

Review the route while safely parked. Don’t interact with a planner while driving.

The takeaway

A more thoughtful stop order can help reduce unnecessary driving and make your day easier to manage. Measure the difference in miles, travel time, and fuel for your own routes rather than assuming a fixed saving.