StopHarborTime windows, explained for people who plan routes.
Windows are the most powerful constraint in route planning, and the easiest to overuse. Here is how they work and how to set ones your team can keep.
What a window is
A window is the span of time in which a worker may arrive at a stop: arrive after 9:00, arrive before 11:00. Either end can be open. A worker who arrives early waits for the window to open; a worker who would arrive after it closes is late, and a good planner tries to avoid that by changing the order or the assignment.
Service time is part of the window math
Arrival at the next stop depends on how long the worker spends at this one. Underestimating time on site is the number one reason window promises fail. Use realistic averages per job type, and longer values for first visits.
Hard and soft windows
- Hard: the customer must be home or the store only accepts vendors then. Use a window.
- Soft: the customer prefers mornings. Consider leaving it off and noting the preference.
- Wide windows like 8 to 12 or 12 to 5 are much easier to plan than one-hour windows.
Reading the result
Look for waits. A long wait means a worker arrives early and idles; consider a different order or a later leave time. Look for stops that did not fit; they usually point to a window that is too narrow for the area, or a day that is simply overbooked.
Promising windows customers trust
Quote windows that include drive-time variability for your area and hour. Keep a margin before the window closes. Re-plan when same-day jobs are added, and tell the customer early if their window moves.
Questions
What is a good window size?
Two to four hours works for most home services. Narrow windows reduce the number of stops a worker can do.
Should every stop have a window?
No. Only give windows to stops that truly need them; the rest fill around them.
Why did a stop not fit?
Usually the window is too narrow given its distance from other stops, the worker starts too late, or the day is overbooked.
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