NextBillion.ai Monthly Product Bytes — December 2023

In our December 2023 product update, we introduced key enhancements to our product offerings.

From gaining insights into unassigned tasks to fine-tuning route planning and securing live tracking, these updates aim to streamline your operations.

Let’s dive into the specifics of how these improvements can benefit your daily workflows.

New Product Features

Manage unassigned tasks and speed up route planning with the latest Route Optimization API enhancements

We have introduced two crucial updates to our Route Optimization API, designed to give users even greater control and insights into task assignments and caching.

1. Reasons for unassigned tasks in route optimization

The route optimization response now includes a reason that sheds light on why certain tasks remain unassigned. This feature enables users to understand and address optimization challenges effectively.

You can:

Benefit from the optimization service, which captures various factors contributing to unassigned tasks. These factors include:

• Unmatched skills in the tasks.
• Insufficient vehicle capacity to accommodate the tasks.
• Time_window requirements of the tasks or the vehicles.
• Violation of the vehicle’s max_activity_waiting_time constraint.
• Violation of the vehicle’s max_tasks constraint.
• Violation of the vehicle’s max_travel_cost constraint.

Business benefits:

• Gain insights into the optimization process and learn why tasks go unassigned, enabling you to address optimization challenges effectively.
• Identify factors like unmatched skills, insufficient vehicle capacity and constraint violations, allowing for more precise resource allocation.

2. Caching matrix results for improved performance

We have implemented matrix result caching, enhancing the efficiency of our route optimization service. Caching matrix results and contributes to faster and more streamlined optimization processes.

Users can:

• Leverage the reason string to diagnose and resolve optimization challenges efficiently.
• Explore the benefits of matrix result caching for improved performance.
• Users can speed up the simulation of dry runs for a specific set of locations by quickly changing constraints like time_windows, capacity and skills to obtain quick and insightful results.

Business benefits:

• Optimize resource allocation by understanding and addressing specific challenges leading to unassigned tasks.
• Improve overall system performance and response time with matrix result caching.

Explore the details of these new features in NextBillion.ai Route Optimization API documentation.

Navigate smarter with enhanced flexibility in Routing APIs

The ‘avoid’ parameter available in our flexible versions of Directions API and Navigation API has been enhanced to avoid sharp turns and U-turns.

You can: 

• Customize routes based on specific avoidance criteria.
• Input multiple values separated by a pipe (|) to tailor route planning according to your preferences.

Business benefits:

• Customize routes to avoid ‘sharp_turn’ and ‘uturn’, optimizing navigation for specific vehicle types or preferences.
• Streamline operations by avoiding routes that may be less suitable for their vehicles, especially trucks, ultimately improving efficiency.

Refer to our Directions API and Navigation API documentation for detailed information.

Optimize routes for cost, time and distance with Clustering API’s new constraint

We have introduced a new maximum travel cost parameter to our Clustering API that helps users create clusters based on driving duration and driving distance. This parameter specifies the maximum travel cost that can be incurred when traveling to a job location within the cluster from its center.

Users can:

• Customize clusters based on preferred travel durations or distances, enhancing precision in job allocation.
• Leverage the flexibility of the ‘max_travel_cost’ parameter to refine clustering strategies according to specific business requirements.

Business Benefits:

• Customize clusters based on travel cost constraints, ensuring efficient resource allocation and cost-effectiveness.
• Align clustering parameters with business goals, improving precision in job assignments and optimizing delivery logistics.
• Fine-tune clustering strategies based on varying travel cost considerations, promoting an adaptable approach for enhanced operational efficiency.

Read the Clustering API documentation for more details.

Elevate data management and security in Live Tracking API with new features

We are pleased to announce enhancements to our Live Tracking API, focusing on improved user experience and security. The two key updates include pagination support for search results and the introduction of the webhook endpoint security token.

1. Pagination support for asset search results

Users can now benefit from enhanced efficiency in managing large datasets with the introduction of pagination support for search results. This empowers users to navigate and retrieve the information they need more seamlessly.

2. Webhook endpoint security token

To improve security in data transmission, we have implemented webhook endpoint security tokens. This additional layer of verification ensures the integrity of data exchanged between NextBillion and your webhook server.

Reach out to NextBillion.ai’s support to get your security token.

You can:

• Implement pagination to manage and retrieve search results efficiently.
• Enhance data security with the use of webhook endpoint security tokens.

Business benefits:

• With pagination support, improve data handling and streamline the management of extensive datasets.
• Add an extra layer of verification, safeguarding the integrity of transmitted data with the webhook endpoint security token.

Refer to Live Tracking API documentation for more details.

Other Important Updates

SAP integration with Route Optimization API

Integrating SAP with NextBillion.ai’s Route Optimization API significantly enhances field operations. This collaboration enables businesses to navigate a competitive market landscape by providing a technological edge for enhanced efficiency and customer experiences.

Key highlights:

• Operational excellence: For streamlined route planning and execution, seamlessly integrate SAP’s ERP capabilities with NextBillion.ai’s Route Optimization API.
• Real-time tracking and analytics: Use real-time insights to monitor fleets and extract actionable data for continuous operational improvement.
• Cost optimization: Reduce costs and improve overall operational efficiency by leveraging SAP and NextBillion.ai’s API collaboration.

Visit the technical documentation page to learn about the integration prerequisites and steps.

Technical notebooks — from data visualization to creating geofences

We released four technical notebooks this month that dive into the advanced functionalities of our routing and navigation solutions.

1. Creating styled clusters of points on a map

Explore the process of displaying a map with styled clusters that represent the number of vehicles. This notebook provides insights, including donut charts indicating the capacity of each vehicle.

2. Simple Distance Matrix API example

Uncover the potential of the NextBillion.ai Distance Matrix API through a detailed exploration of a simple distance matrix example. This technical notebook dives into both flexible and standard (fast) modes to calculate distances and estimated time of arrivals (ETAs) for various scenarios. The API provides a comprehensive matrix of ETAs and distances, offering valuable insights for multiple origin-destination pairings.

3. Exploring clustered point display and selection

This technical notebook introduces a practical tool: the ‘draw’ tool. Users can create geofences or boundaries on the map, and the application intelligently highlights clustered points within the boundary. This makes identifying and selecting specific locations within the targeted area easy.

4. Visualizing shared mobility bike data with NextBillion.ai Maps SDK and Deck.gl

This technical notebook guides developers in integrating NB.ai Maps SDK with Deck.gl for visualizing shared mobility bike data. It demonstrates the seamless incorporation of deck.gl content into interactive data visualizations using the NextBillion.ai Maps SDK.

In The Pipeline

Get ready for upcoming enhancements at NextBillion.ai!

Our optimization tester, Route Planner UI, will soon be accessible through the NextBillion.ai Cloud Console.

We will also roll out a host of trucking-focused features in our routing APIs.

Stay tuned for more efficient updates tailored to meet your specific business needs.