Dispatch Threshold
This section explains how the manual operations on work orders by the dispatcher are conceptualized by RTO. This concept is based on whether the work orders are within the dispatch threshold time window or outside.
Dispatch threshold is:
• The time duration within which the scheduled work orders are not further optimized or rescheduled by RTO
• This is formulated as Dispatch threshold time window = Current time + Dispatch Threshold field value
For example, if the current time is 8 AM and Dispatch Threshold field value is 120 minutes, the time window of 8 AM-10 AM is considered the current dispatch threshold time window. RTO does not reschedule the work orders that are within this time window.
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Work orders that have the drive time within the dispatch threshold time window are also not rescheduled or optimized. For example, if there is a work order that starts at 10.30 AM but has a drive time of 100 minutes, it is not rescheduled further.
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Scenarios for Manual Operations Within the Dispatch Threshold Time Window
As per business and operational needs, the dispatcher might need to perform manual scheduling activities within the dispatch threshold time window.
The following table lists various scenarios and analyses the impact of manual scheduling actions on RTO scheduling.
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Dispatcher Action
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Impact on RTO Scheduling
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The dispatcher schedules an event fully within the dispatch threshold time window.
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The technician route is not impacted.
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The dispatcher schedules an event outside the dispatch threshold time window.
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RTO updates the technician route to accommodate manual scheduling.
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The dispatcher schedules an event partially within the dispatch threshold time window.
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RTO marks the technician route as unoptimizable.
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The dispatcher reschedules an RTO-scheduled event that is currently within the dispatch threshold time window to a timeslot outside the dispatch threshold time window.
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RTO updates the technician route to accommodate manual scheduling. However, if the updated scheduling causes an overlap with a manually scheduled event, RTO marks the technician route as unoptimizable.
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The following are examples of the scenarios mentioned in the table:
Technician business hours are 8 AM-5 PM. The dispatch threshold is 2 hours. The current time is 8 AM.
• The dispatcher schedules a work order at the 7.30 AM-8.30 AM timeslot.
This manual scheduling is partially outside the technician's business hours and partially within the dispatch threshold time window. RTO does not recognize this schedule and updates the OptiMax Status field of the work order as OPT_ERROR. However, the technician route remains active. The manual scheduling continues to remain on the technician calendar, and RTO does not interfere with it.
• The dispatcher schedules a work order at the 8.30 AM-9.30 AM timeslot.
The manual scheduling is completely within the dispatch threshold time window. RTO does not recognize the manual scheduling and updates the OptiMax Status field of the work order as OPT_ERROR. However, the technician route for the day remains active. The manual scheduling continues to remain on the technician calendar, and RTO does not interfere with it.
• The dispatcher schedules a work order at the 9.30 AM-10.30 AM timeslot.
The scheduling is partially within the dispatch threshold time window. RTO recognizes the manual scheduling and marks the technician route as unoptimizable.
• The dispatcher schedules a non-work order event for the 8 AM-5 PM timeslot, to mark the technician's day off.
RTO recognizes this event, marks the technician route as unoptimizable, and reschedules the optimizable work orders in the technician route that are currently outside the dispatch threshold time window. Any manually scheduled events in the route and RTO-scheduled events in the dispatch threshold time window must be managed by the dispatcher.
• The dispatcher schedules a work order at the 3 PM-4 PM timeslot.
The manual scheduling is completely outside the dispatch threshold time window. RTO updates the technician route to accommodate manual scheduling.
• The dispatcher reschedules a work order that is scheduled by RTO at the 8.30 AM-9.30 AM timeslot to the 3 PM-5 PM timeslot.
RTO updates the technician route to accommodate the manual rescheduling. However, if there is a manually scheduled event in the technician route from 3 PM to 5 PM, RTO marks the technician route as unoptimizable.