DispatchExcelA

DispatchExcelA is a software tool designed to streamline the creation and management of dispatch schedules by integrating with Microsoft Excel. It provides an optimization-based workflow to convert orders, vehicle data, and constraints into actionable routes and timetables.

Its core capabilities include importing data from Excel templates, solving vehicle routing and workforce scheduling problems, and handling constraints such as time windows, vehicle capacity, driver hours, and service times. It supports multiple objectives (minimize total distance, travel time, or lateness) and can operate in batch mode or via an interactive Excel add-in, returning recommended routes, stop sequences, and performance reports back into Excel.

DispatchExcelA uses a modular architecture with components including an Excel data layer, a model builder, a solver interface, and a results exporter. The model builder generates optimization problems for MILP or constraint programming engines; the solver interface connects to external solvers; the results exporter writes outputs to sheets and generates dispatch notes and dashboards. It also supports scenario analysis for what-if planning.

History and availability: DispatchExcelA was first released in 2019 by Atlas Systems. It has seen multiple updates adding parallel processing, cloud deployment options, and API access for integration with external order systems. System requirements include Windows and Microsoft Excel with a valid license. Editions include Standard for core scheduling and Pro for advanced reporting and custom solver configurations.