Geocoding is the process of converting locations - such as a street address, building, bus stop, landscape feature, or similar - into geographic coordinates so you can find them on a map. In vWork, we use latitude and longitude for geocoded addresses.

A geocoded step is a step in a job that has a geocoded address saved with it so it can be found on the map and navigated to. vWork needs at least one geocoded step for a job to show on the map. The article Geocoded addresses on the map explains more about geocoded addresses.

Route Optimization uses geocoded steps from the jobs included in the optimization to calculate the optimized route.

Note: The only exception to optimized jobs requiring at least one geocoded step is for Automated Breaks. This is explained in more detail below. 

Route Optimization is an optional vWork feature. To find out more, or add this to your vWork account, please contact support@vworkapp.com.  A member of the vWork Team will be in touch to discuss your requirements.

Alternatively, you can read all about it in the article What is Route Optimization?

In this article

You can have one, two, or, for automated breaks, no geocoded steps in the jobs you included an optimized route. This article explains how geocoded job steps are used in Route Optimization to schedule jobs.

• How many geocoded addresses can I have in a single job step?

• One geocoded address: delivery
• Two geocoded address jobs: pickup and delivery
• No geocoded addresses: an automated break

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How many geocoded addresses can I have in a single job step?

Route optimization can have none, one, or two geocoded addresses in a job. Each geocoded address must be assigned to a single step. You can’t have more than one geocoded address included in a single step. 

The number of geocoded steps you include in the job (zero, one, or two) depends upon the type of job you are doing.  We explain each of these job types in the following topics.

One geocoded address: delivery

These are jobs where the job is completed at a single location. They can have multiple steps but only one step should have a geocoded address.

For example, a driver has a delivery run where each delivery is to a single address. Each job is completed when the delivery is made to the job’s geocoded address. 

Two geocoded address jobs: pickup and delivery

These are jobs where the first part of the job is done at one geocoded address and the rest of the job is completed at a second geocoded address. These jobs must have two geocoded steps - one for each geocoded address - but can also have other steps that don't have geocoded addresses.

For example, a mobile technician needs to collect high-tech electrical goods from various retail stores and install these at residential and commercial addresses around the city.  Each job has two geocoded addresses: one where the goods are collected from, and the second where the goods are installed. Each job is completed when the installation is complete. 

No geocoded addresses: an automated break

An Automated Break job schedules a planned break for your workers within their optimized route; e.g., morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea. 

Automated Break jobs don’t use a geocoded address in any steps as it is not at what location a worker will take their break. It is more important to schedule a time window when the worker will take their break so that the break can be optimized between jobs.

Automated Breaks are the only jobs in Route Optimization that do not include a geocoded address in any job step.  To find out more about Automated Breaks and how to use them in Route Optimization please read the article: Schedule worker breaks in Route Optimization with Automated Breaks.