Route Management: Implementation Activity

In this activity, you will enable the Route Management feature so that you can activate the route management functionality. You will then review the system-wide settings that affect route management.

You will also create a Bing Maps API key on the Bing Maps Dev Center website and specify this key on the Service Management Preferences (FS100100) form.

Attention:
To get started with Bing Maps, you need to have an existing Microsoft account or create a new one before you proceed.

Story

Suppose that you are an administrative user of the SweetLife Service and Equipment Sales Center. You are configuring the minimum required functionality to prepare the system for the route management functionality to be used.

Configuration Overview

In the U100 dataset, the following tasks have been performed for the purposes of this activity:

  1. The service management functionality has been prepared, as described in Basic Service Management Configuration: Implementation Activity.
  2. The sales order management configuration has been implemented, as described in Configuration of Order Management: Implementation Checklist.
  3. On the Numbering Sequences (CS201010) form, the numbering sequences to be used for equipment entities have been created.
  4. On the Enable/Disable Features (CS100000) form, the Service Management feature has been enabled.

Process Overview

To set up the route management settings, you will do the following:

  1. On the Enable/Disable Features (CS100000) form, enable the Route Management feature.
  2. On the Route Management Preferences (FS100400) form, review the basic route management settings.
  3. Create a Bing Maps API key on the Bing Maps Dev Center website and specify this key on the Service Management Preferences (FS100100) form.

System Preparation

Before you start setting up the route management functionality, do the following:

  1. On the MYOB Acumatica website, sign in to a company with the U100 dataset preloaded as a system administrator. You should sign in by using the gibbs username and the 123 password.
  2. On the Company and Branch Selection menu on the top pane of the MYOB Acumatica screen, select the SWEETEQUIP - Service and Equipment Sales Center branch.

Step 1: Enabling the Route Management Feature

Perform the following instructions:

  1. On the Enable/Disable Features (CS100000) form, click Modify to be able to change the features that are activated in the system.
  2. Under Service Management, select the Route Management check box.
  3. On the toolbar, click Enable.

Step 2: Reviewing the Route Management Preferences

Do the following:

  1. Open the Route Management Preferences (FS100400) form.
  2. On the General tab, review the settings as follows:
    • In the Route Numbering Sequence box, ensure that the FSROUTE numbering sequence is specified.

      This is the numbering sequence will be used to assign identifiers to the route executions.

    • Ensure that the Calculate Route Statistics Automatically check box is selected.

      With this check box selected, the route executions are automatically calculated with the Bing Maps API.

Step 3: Creating the Bing Maps API Key

With Bing Maps integrated into route management, the system calculates the distances and time of each executed route. If a user rearranges the order of the appointments in the route to be executed, Bing Maps plots and calculates the route again. By using Bing Maps, you can easily track executed routes and their appointments for particular days, as well as the staff members that execute routes. To create and specify a Bing Maps API Key, perform the following instructions:

  1. Go to the Bing Maps Dev Center at https://www.bingmapsportal.com/.
  2. If you have a Bing Maps account, sign in. If not, sign in by using your existing Microsoft account, accept the suggestion to use it as your new Bing Maps account, and then follow the instructions to create a Bing Maps account.
  3. On the My account menu, select My keys.
  4. Click the option to create a new key.
  5. Provide the following information, as shown in the following screenshot:
    • Application name: V150
    • Key type: Basic
    • Application type: Dev/Test
    Figure 1. Creation of a Bing Maps key


  6. Click Create.
    The new key is displayed in the list of available keys, as shown in the following screenshot. Use this key to authenticate your Bing Maps application, as described in the documentation for the Bing Maps API you are using.
    Figure 2. Created key


  7. Click the Copy key link.
  8. On the Service Management Preferences (FS100100) form, in the Map API Key box of the Calendars & Maps tab, paste the copied value.
  9. On the form toolbar, click Save.