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Mastering Seasonal Shifts In Demand With Route Templates & The Schedule Builder Tool

7-9 Minute Read
Seasonal Product Demand In The Ice Industry - Mastery
Seasonal shifts in product demand are inevitable for some ice companies, but operational inefficiencies don’t have to be. Cool Running Software’s latest enhancement to the “Route Templates” Tool makes adapting to seasonal changes in demand easier & more efficient than ever.

By pairing the power of the new & improved “Route Templates” tool with the recently improved schedule builder tool, ice companies now have a strategic solution for planning & managing the seasonal change in demand. Adjusting order schedules and route templates as your ice company transitions between seasons used to be a complex and time-consuming task but now these tools work together to make changing your delivery strategy as easy as a few clicks, while eliminating the inefficiencies that often come with seasonal transitions.

To learn more about the Schedule Builder Tool, check out our detailed guide [Here]

The Challenge: Navigating Seasonal Ice Delivery Demands

A common challenge for many ice companies is adapting to fluctuating demand for their products as the seasons and the weather conditions change. The heat of summer drives peak sales, with customers relying on frequent ice deliveries to keep their businesses and events running smoothly. However, as the weather shifts, so does demand, creating a predictable yet complex cycle that requires careful planning and execution. Without an efficient system, ice companies risk wasting valuable time and resources manually adjusting their delivery schedules and strategies to accommodate unexpected weather changes or seasonal transitions.

Understanding Seasonal Demand Cycles In the Ice Industry

Summer Peak: The busiest time of the year, driven by high temperatures. During these months, ice companies need to run at full production & delivery capacity to meet the heightened demand. 

Fall Slowdown: As the heat starts to fade & the cooler temperatures set in, demand will dip. While some accounts remain steady, this period offers ice companies a chance to catch their breath & prepare for slower months. 

Winter Lull: As temperatures reach their lowest point of the year, the demand for ice products drops significantly. Deliveries are kept to a minimum, giving ice companies the opportunity to focus on maintaining operations, streamlining processes, and exploring ways to enhance efficiency in preparation for the busy season ahead.

Spring Ramp-Up: As the weather improves, demand begins to rise gradually. Summer event requests start rolling in, and most ice companies must prepare by increasing production and delivery frequency to meet the growing needs of their customers.

The Hidden Costs of Managing Seasonal Demand Without the Right Tools

Without the right tools in place, ice companies may hurt their overall profitability & customer satisfaction due to:

Inefficiencies Caused by Fluctuations: As demand peaks in summer and slows in winter, schedules and routes require constant adjustments. Without a strategic plan, overlooked or over-delivered locations can erode both profitability and customer satisfaction.

Time-Consuming Manual Adjustments: Reconfiguring delivery routes and schedules manually is time-intensive and distracts from key priorities like customer service and growth.

Missed Opportunities During High-Demand Periods: Manual processes struggle during busy periods like summer holidays, leading to delays, overworked drivers, and lost revenue.

The Solution for Seasonal Ice Delivery Challenges

Our latest enhancements to the Schedule Builder and Route Templates tools make planning and managing seasonal delivery operations more streamlined and efficient than ever, giving ice companies the flexibility they need to stay ahead of demand shifts.

Schedule Builder Tool: Create Auto-Order Schedules

The Schedule Builder is designed to automate order frequencies for each location, giving route managers the ability to efficiently manage product demand. By creating tailored auto-ordering schedules, this tool is designed to make sure that every location is accounted for, eliminating the risk of oversight and playing a key role in streamlining an ice company’s delivery operations

Feature Capabilities:

Auto-Ordering Schedules: Ice companies can set up recurring delivery schedules for each location based on demand.

Grouped Locations: Customers with similar delivery needs can be grouped to receive their orders on specific days of the week at varying frequencies such as weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. 

New Seasonal Capabilities (Nov 2024):

Season-Specific Schedules: Create and manage tailored order schedules for different seasons, such as summer, winter, or custom-defined periods, making sure that your deliveries align with fluctuating demand.

Effortless Transitions: Switch seamlessly between seasonal schedules with just a few clicks, making it easy to adapt as demand ramps up or slows down.

Optimized Efficiency Year-Round: Adjust delivery frequencies to match seasonal needs, reducing operational inefficiencies & any extra costs associated with them. 

Learn more about the latest upgrade to the Schedule Builder Tool (Formerly known as the Schedule Manager). [Here]

Route Templates: Organize Your Daily Schedules

The Route Templates Tool, now enhanced with a seasonal upgrade (Nov. 2024), allows ice companies to organize and customize their auto-scheduled orders into preset routes for each day of the week. Designed for maximum flexibility, this feature streamlines delivery route planning, optimizes each location’s potential for profit, and ensures efficient operations—all while minimizing manual errors.

Feature Capabilities:

Sync Auto-Scheduled Orders: Automatically integrate orders from the Schedule Builder Tool, ensuring that all deliveries are accounted for within the Route Templates system.

Preset Delivery Routes for Each Day: Organize and manage predefined routes for specific delivery days, making route planning more efficient and effective while minimizing the need for manual adjustments.

Custom Stop Grouping & Ordering: Group and prioritize stops based on customer needs or geographic location, allowing for fully customized and efficient route sequences.

New Seasonal Capabilities (Nov 2024):

Synchronized Seasonal Templates: Seamlessly sync the “seasons” created in the Schedule Builder with the Route Templates Tool, making sure that both delivery schedules and routes templates are perfectly aligned for each time of year.

Effortless Seasonal Transitions: Seamlessly switch between seasonal route configurations with just a few clicks, adapting quickly to high-demand summer months or quieter winter periods.

Short-Term Flexibility: Handle special events or holiday-specific demand surges by creating temporary route templates tailored to unique delivery challenges.

Joining The Tools: A Complete Seasonal Planning Solution

Cool Running Software is specifically designed and developed for the ice industry, providing a comprehensive system to address one of the biggest challenges ice companies face: managing seasonal demand changes efficiently. By utilizing the Schedule Builder, Route Templates, and Route Builder, our system streamlines the delivery planning process, allowing for users to respond effortlessly to demand shifts, while saving valuable time & maximizing profitability.

The Process For Tackling Seasonal Demand

Step 1: Build Order Schedules with the Schedule Builder Tool

To plan for your next season in Cool Running Software, the process starts with the Schedule Builder Tool. Route managers can create auto-scheduled orders for any location, grouping them to automatically schedule orders on specific days of the week and at customizable frequencies, such as weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. By switching between “seasons” in this tool, managers can create order schedules for every season or custom periods, allowing for an easy transition between seasons.

Step 2: Organize & Group Locations From Each Day With Route Templates

Once the auto-orders are set in the Schedule Builder, they automatically populate into the Route Templates Tool. Here, route managers can organize orders, group locations with similar needs, and create customized route templates for each day of the week. With the added “seasons” feature, you can create specific route templates for high-demand summer months or quieter winter seasons, that are synced with your orders from the Schedule Builder. This synchronization allows you to switch between seasonal configurations effortlessly, making sure that your route templates and order schedules are perfectly aligned as you transition between the seasons.

Step 3: Finalize Delivery Routes in Route Builder

The Route Builder Tool is where route managers bring their plans together for daily execution. Orders from the Schedule Builder and Route Templates seamlessly sync into the Route Builder, allowing managers to make adjustments such as reordering stops, adding or removing deliveries, or redistributing routes to balance workloads. This tool provides the flexibility to handle unexpected changes while ensuring that all routes are optimized and aligned with seasonal plans.

Watch All These Tools In Action (Video)

To bring everything together, we’ve created a detailed video demonstration showcasing how Cool Running Software’s Schedule Builder, Route Templates, and Route Builder work together to tackle seasonal demand challenges.

One Software For Every Aspect of Your Ice Business

Cool Running Software does more than just help your ice business manage seasonal shifts in demand, it’s a comprehensive solution built to optimize every facet of your operations. From planning and delivery to monitoring and data analysis, our platform is designed to empower ice companies to operate efficiently and profitably, year-round.

With tools like the Schedule Builder, Route Templates, Route Builder, Route Vision, the Cool Running Driver App, and Operational Reports, every part of your delivery process is connected and streamlined. Whether it’s creating efficient order schedules, tracking delivery routes, invoicing customers or analyzing performance, Cool Running Software will always make you feel a step ahead.

Take the First Step Toward Smoother Seasonal Transitions!

Seasonal changes don’t have to disrupt your operational efficiency. With Cool Running Software’s powerful tools will allow you to effortlessly manage your ice business & adjust to seasonal changes.
If you are ready to take your ice business to the next level, you have a few options!
  • Schedule a Demo: See how our solutions work and explore how they fit your business needs With NO Obligation. Click the button below to get started! 
  • Learn More: Dive deeper into all of our the features by visiting our blog, training center or homepage.
  • Contact Our Team: Got questions? We’re here to help you find the perfect solution. Send an email to iceguy@coolrunningsoftware.com

2 thoughts on “Mastering Seasonal Shifts In Demand With Route Templates & The Schedule Builder Tool”

  1. Pingback: How To Use The Seasonal Schedule Builder Tool

  2. Pingback: 2024 Year in Review: 10 New Features & Continued Innovation

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