12-15 Minute Read
- Turn New Features into Real Results
- Major Innovations in 2025
CoolConnect: CRS to Accounting API Integration (October 2025)
Route Optimization: Smarter Routing & Delivery Planning (July 2025)
Receiving Hours: Built Into the Route Optimization Workflow (August 2025) - Key Enhancements to the CR Driver App (2025)
Fewer Wasted Stops & Better Delivery Awareness
Faster Navigation & Easier Stop Management
Improved Accuracy for Billing, Inventory & Close-Out
More Reliable Hardware & Field Performance
Behind-the-Scenes Improvements That Add Up - Supporting Enhancements Added in 2025
EDI Processing for Large & Multi-Location Customers
RouteIce Sensor Integration
Click on any section of this table of contents to quickly navigate to that area of the blog post.
2025 Year in Review: Key Innovations from CRS
As 2025 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on a year of continued innovation focused on helping ice companies better leverage technology and industry-specific tools across their operations. Throughout the year, our team stayed focused on introducing new tools and features that ice businesses can actively take advantage of in their day-to-day operations.
Our goal for 2025 was clear: continue building on the operational advantages Cool Running Software provides to ice companies of every size. Whether it’s improving route efficiency, tightening communication with customers, or reducing manual work for drivers and office teams, every major update this year was designed to support the real workflows ice businesses rely on.
While our customers stayed busy running their operations, we focused on strengthening the system behind the scenes by adding tools that improve efficiency, accounting accuracy, and overall profitability without adding complexity. This Year in Review highlights the most impactful innovations we introduced in 2025 and how they are helping ice companies work smarter heading into 2026.
Turn New Features into Real Results
Every ice business uses Cool Running Software a little differently, depending on size, seasonality, and where they are in their growth. Some customers are already taking full advantage of the tools added in 2025, while others know there’s more they could be doing but want a clearer, more guided approach to implementation.
This Year in Review outlines what’s new. The next step is making sure those tools are actually working inside your operation.
Book a 1:1 Strategy Session
Work directly with our team to review how you’re using CRS today, identify opportunities to better implement new features, and build a practical setup that fits your business as you head into 2026.
Prepare for 2026: CRS Customer Live Q&A Webinar
Join a customer-only, open Q&A focused on real-world usage. Hear how other ice companies are implementing CRS features, ask questions specific to your operation, and walk away with ideas you can apply right away.
- 📅 January 6, 2026
- ⏰ 2:00 PM ET | 1:00 PM CT | 11:00 AM PT
- 💻 Live on Zoom (recording available to all registrants)
We’re giving you two easy ways to make sure you’re using Cool Running Software to its fullest before the next season hits.
Major Innovations in 2025
CoolConnect: CRS to Accounting API Integration
October 2025
In 2025, we introduced CoolConnect, a major step forward in how ice companies handle accounting workflows inside Cool Running Software.
CoolConnect was built to eliminate one of the most time-consuming and error-prone parts of running an ice business: moving sales data from delivery operations into accounting software. Instead of relying on CSV exports, third-party import tools, or repetitive manual steps, CoolConnect provides a direct API connection between Cool Running Software and QuickBooks Online.
Additional accounting platforms are planned for 2026, continuing our focus on building flexible, future-ready accounting integrations for ice companies.
For ice companies, this means sales batches can be sent directly from CRS into accounting with just a few clicks. Invoices and payments post cleanly, new customers and products sync automatically, and corrections can be made inside CRS before exporting, ensuring accounting data stays accurate without rework.
This shift replaces legacy workflows that depended on tools like Transaction Pro and removes multiple steps from the close-out process. By connecting delivery and accounting systems directly, CoolConnect helps ice businesses close books faster, reduce accounting errors, and spend less time managing exports and uploads.
More importantly, CoolConnect reflects a broader focus in 2025: reducing manual work, improving accounting accuracy, and giving ice companies a more reliable, scalable system as they grow. With additional accounting platforms planned, CoolConnect lays the foundation for a more connected financial workflow heading into 2026.
Why this matters:
Accounting shouldn’t slow down operations. CoolConnect helps ensure that what happens in the field is reflected accurately in the books, without extra tools, extra steps, or extra cleanup.
Route Optimization: Smarter Routing & Delivery Planning
July 2025
In July 2025, we introduced Route Optimization, a major upgrade to how ice companies plan, adjust, and manage daily deliveries inside Cool Running Software.
Even with strong scheduling tools and route templates, real-world routing rarely stays perfect. New orders, last-minute changes, delivery windows, and driver availability all require constant adjustments. Before Route Optimization, those changes often meant manual reordering, relying on experience, or spending hours fine-tuning routes.
Route Optimization was built to remove that burden.
Integrated directly into the CRS routing ecosystem, Route Optimization allows teams to automatically sequence stops, rebalance routes, and build efficient delivery plans with just a few clicks. It works within existing workflows, helping dispatchers and route planners respond quickly to changes without starting from scratch or sacrificing efficiency.
Rather than being a standalone tool, Route Optimization extends the routing foundation CRS customers already use, making it easier to plan smarter routes, reduce wasted miles, and keep deliveries on track during both peak and off-peak seasons.
Why this matters:
Route planning directly impacts fuel costs, driver efficiency, and on-time delivery. Route Optimization helps ice companies reduce manual planning, respond faster to daily changes, and build routes that reflect real-world constraints like delivery windows and receiving hours. The result is fewer wasted miles, more consistent service, and a routing process that scales as operations grow.
Receiving Hours: Built Into the Route Optimization Workflow
August 2025
Later in 2025, we expanded Route Optimization with Receiving Hours, adding another layer of real-world accuracy to route planning.
Receiving Hours allow ice companies to define when each customer location can actually receive deliveries. Instead of relying solely on order-level delivery times or dispatcher memory, these windows are stored directly on the customer location and automatically applied during route optimization.
When routes are optimized, CRS now factors in each customer’s receiving availability, ensuring stops are placed within accepted delivery windows. If a delivery cannot fit within those hours, the system flags it so teams can adjust proactively.
By embedding Receiving Hours directly into Route Optimization, CRS helps reduce missed deliveries, wasted trips, and last-minute route changes. It’s a practical enhancement that improves delivery accuracy while taking pressure off dispatchers during busy delivery days.’
Why this matters:
Together, Route Optimization and Receiving Hours help ice companies move away from manual route planning and toward smarter, more reliable delivery workflows that reflect real-world constraints.
Key Enhancements to the CR Driver App (2025)
Throughout 2025, improvements to the CR Driver App focused on making deliveries more accurate, reducing driver friction, and ensuring cleaner data flows back to the office. Rather than one major release, updates throughout the year strengthened how drivers work in the field across several key areas.
1. Fewer Wasted Stops & Better Delivery Awareness
(Receiving Hours, routing alignment — v1.0.127, September 2025)
- Receiving Hours added directly to the Driver App
- Replaced Google-based opening hours with CRS-managed receiving windows
- Clear warnings when a location is closed or outside delivery hours
- Alignment between route planning and what drivers see in the field
Why this matters:
Helps drivers avoid closed locations, reduces wasted miles, and prevents missed deliveries.
2. Faster Navigation & Easier Stop Management
(Search, filters, visibility — expanded mid-2025, v1.0.124)
- Route search tools to quickly find specific stops
- Smart filters in All Customers (pending orders, sensors, delivery zones)
- Cleaner customer and contact views
Why this matters:
Drivers spend less time scrolling and more time delivering, especially on large or unplanned routes.
3. Improved Accuracy for Billing, Inventory & Close-Out
(Shortages, surcharges, reconciliation — improvements throughout 2025)
- Fixed surcharge handling to ensure charges save correctly
- Inventory shortage calculation improvements
- Call-In markers for route orders
- Reconcile improvements for better accountability
Why this matters:
Cleaner delivery data means fewer corrections, fewer billing issues, and smoother close-out for office teams
4. More Reliable Hardware & Field Performance
(Printers, stability, sync — Zebra added v1.0.116, Printek expanded v1.0.130)
- Expanded printer support (Zebra and Printek)
- Improved sync reliability and crash reduction
- Better photo and proof-of-delivery handling
Why this matters:
Drivers can rely on their tools in the field without interruptions or workarounds.
5. Behind-the-Scenes Improvements That Add Up
(Infrastructure & polish — v1.0.118 and beyond)
- Expanded printer support (Zebra and Printek)
- Improved sync reliability and crash reduction
- Better photo and proof-of-delivery handling
Why this matters:
These quieter improvements help ensure the system performs consistently during busy delivery days.
Supporting Enhancements Added in 2025
In addition to the major feature releases, 2025 included several important enhancements that help ice companies scale, win larger customers, and operate more efficiently without adding complexity.
EDI Processing for Large & Multi-Location Customers
(Added in 2025)
To support growing ice companies working with large retailers, distributors, and corporate customers, we added EDI processing to Cool Running Software.
This allows ice companies to automate invoicing for EDI-required trade partners, reducing manual invoicing, speeding up payments, and unlocking access to larger contracts that require EDI compliance.
Why this matters:
EDI isn’t just a convenience, it’s often a requirement for growth. With EDI processing in CRS, ice companies can invoice faster, reduce errors, improve cash flow, and confidently work with larger clients.
RouteIce Sensor Integration
(Expanded integrations in 2025)
Sensor data flows directly into CRS and the mobile app, providing real-time visibility into merchandiser inventory. This allows teams to make smarter routing decisions based on actual ice levels instead of assumptions.
Why this matters:
Real-time sensor data helps reduce unnecessary trips, cut down on trucks and miles driven, expand delivery radius, and increase average invoice size — all while improving service consistency.
Make the Most of CRS in 2026
The innovations introduced in 2025 were designed to help ice companies operate more efficiently and prepare for what’s ahead. As we move into 2026, we’re continuing to expand the resources available to help customers implement these tools effectively and stay ahead of the curve.
If you want help applying what you’ve seen in this review, we’re offering two simple ways to get started:
- Book a 1:1 Strategy Session to review your CRS setup and identify opportunities to optimize
- Register for the Customer Q&A Webinar for practical, peer-driven insights on real-world CRS usage
A small amount of planning now can make a big difference when the next season ramps up.
Start Taking Advantage of Cool Running Software in 2026
The innovations highlighted in this Year in Review reflect how Cool Running Software continues to evolve alongside the needs of modern ice companies. From smarter routing and accounting automation to real-time field visibility, every tool is built specifically for the realities of ice delivery operations.
If you’re planning to improve efficiency, reduce manual work, or scale your business in 2026, now is the right time to take a closer look at what CRS can support.
Take the next step:
- Schedule a Demo See how Cool Running Software can be configured to fit your operation and workflows.
- Contact Us Directly Have questions? Reach out to us at iceguy@coolrunningsoftware.com and our team will help you get started.
A stronger system today sets the foundation for a smoother, more profitable season ahead.
