# What is Better Route?

Better Route
Better Route is Bettermile's dynamic route optimisation engine for high-volume parcel delivery. It transforms a set of delivery and pick-up jobs into an ordered stop sequence that adapts in real time throughout the day. It guides drivers on their journey from the depot to the doorstep:

- Depot: sorting & loading support
- Last mile: real-time dynamic route optimization & navigation
- Last meter: parking, entrances, and handover locations


Better Route - Static versus Dynamic Route Optimisation
*A practical example: a driver is mid-route when three deliveries are marked as failed and a new pickup is added. Better Route recalculates in seconds: the failed stops are removed, the pickup is slotted in, and every downstream ETA updates automatically.*

## How it works

At its core is the Route Backend: it groups jobs into waypoints and optimises dynamically the sequence while respecting operational constraints. The result is a route that reflects reality, not just the plan from this morning.

- **Input**: job data reaches Better Route through the [Data Gateway Connector](/overview/data-gateway): type (delivery, collection, pickup), shipper and recipient address, and time windows, delivered continuously throughout the day.
- **Process**: Better Route solves the travelling salesman problem dynamically: it groups jobs into waypoints and optimizes the sequence while applying all constraints.
- **Output**: An optimised stop sequence with continuously updated ETAs, available through the Bettermile Driver App or your own application via the Better Route API.


## What it handles out of the box

- **Delivery time frames**: service frames per stop and driver-confirmed delivery times
- **Dynamic changes**: status updates, mid-route pickups, and last-minute assignments, sorted without breaking the structural order (unless the driver decides otherwise)
- **Delivery and priority zones**: can be configured individually to meet local conditions
- **Routing preferences**: left-turn avoidance and similar constraints
- **Turn-by-Turn navigation**: optimised for parcel delivery with parking and handover information at each stop
- **Vehicle types**: delivery vans and cargo bikes


## Choosing Your Path

Better Route offers two main integration paths:

| Best for | Path |
|  --- | --- |
| A ready-made driver experience with minimal build | [Bettermile Driver App](/products/route/resources/bettermile-driver-app-index) |
| Full control inside your own application | [Deep Integration](/products/route/resources/deep-integration-index) |


## What It’s For, and What it Works With

Better Route is built to maximize driver efficiency on the last mile and provide real-time operational transparency. While it powers dynamic routing on its own, you unlock your full optimization potential by combining it with other modules in the Bettermile suite.

| Product | Role in Better Route |
|  --- | --- |
| **Data Gateway** *(required)* | **Data Input**: Streams your delivery data (addresses, constraints, time windows) directly into Better Route. |
| **Better Places** | **Last-Meter Enrichment**: Supplies precise building entrance, parking, and handover coordinates via Data Gateway to enhance driver guidance at the stop. |
| **Better Planner** | **Pre-Delivery Optimization**: Feeds initial dispatching, load-balancing, and parcel-sorting sequences into Better Route prior to depot departure. |
| **Better Tracking** | **Downstream Output**: Ingests real-time ETA recalculations from Better Route to keep parcel recipients continuously updated. |


## Prerequisite

All integration options share one prerequisite: a working [Data Gateway Connector](/overview/data-gateway). The connector is what delivers your job data to Better Route: it is the foundation of every integration path.