NextBillion.ai Monthly Product Bytes — October 2023

October 2023 brought a range of notable updates.

The newly launched Asset Tracking SDK for Android and iOS equips developers to build applications with real-time asset-tracking capabilities.

We added advanced features to the Route Optimization, Geofence and Post Trip Route to enhance logistics, geospatial applications and route planning.

Plus, existing Geofence and Road Editor API users can now access these tools within our customer portal.

Join us as we unpack these October 2023 releases.

New Products

Unlock real-time precision with NextBillion.ai Asset Tracking SDK for Android and iOS

The NextBillion.ai Asset Tracking SDK is a robust solution for integrating advanced location tracking into Android and iOS applications. This versatile SDK enables developers to streamline real-time asset location tracking with maximum efficiency.

You can:

• Monitor assets dynamically with up-to-the-minute precision.
• Integrate location data seamlessly for a unified application experience.
• Tailor the SDK to specific requirements, including UI adjustments and data storage configurations.
• Create visualizations for easy interpretation and utilization of asset location data.

Business benefits:

• Optimize workflows with real-time tracking for enhanced operational efficiency.
• Enhance user satisfaction in asset tracking and management through an intuitive interface.
• Leverage location data visualizations for informed decision-making.
• Customize the SDK to align with business processes for enhanced adaptability.
• Scale effortlessly with both business expansion and application growth.

Dive into the comprehensive technical capabilities detailed in the documentation for NextBillion.ai’s Asset Tracking SDK — Android and iOS versions.

New Product Features

Improve task sequencing with Route Optimization API new features

We’re excited to announce major updates to the NextBillion.ai Route Optimization API that are designed to enhance logistics and delivery management. These feature upgrades focus on driver layover constraints, task precedence and enriched response data.

You can:

1. Driver Layover/Maximum Drive Time Constraints
   • Define layover constraints for drivers to optimize their schedules for breaks or specific time intervals.
   • Set maximum drive time constraints to ensure compliance with legal regulations and enhance driver well-being.
2. Task Precedence and Maximum Gap
   • Define precedence for a pair of jobs to outline the preferred order in which tasks should executed.
   • Specify the maximum gap between two tasks to ensure optimal sequencing for efficient route planning.
3. Distance Field in Response (V1 and V2)
   • Access enriched response data through the addition of the distance field, which provides information on the distance traveled between each step of the solution for both Route Optimization V1 and V2.
   • Utilize the distance field to enhance analysis, reporting and fine-tune route optimization strategies.

Business benefits:

• Improve driver satisfaction and compliance by incorporating layover constraints and maximum drive time, contributing to more balanced and efficient schedules.
• Define task precedence and maximum gap, ensuring tasks are executed in the most operationally efficient order.
• Enhance overall productivity by fine-tuning task sequences based on business priorities.
• Get granular insights into the distance covered in optimized routes.
• Improve decision-making, performance evaluation and resource allocation through detailed route analysis.

Explore the details of these new features in NextBillion.ai Route Optimization API documentation.

Create geofences in bulk with the upgraded Geofence API

We are pleased to unveil a significant enhancement to the NextBillion.ai Geofence API, introducing powerful batch creation endpoints and streamlined geofence search capabilities to elevate your geospatial applications.

You can: 

1. Batch creation of geofences
   • Create multiple geofences simultaneously with a single API request (up to 100 in one request).
   • Utilize the new batch creation endpoints to manage and deploy geofences at scale efficiently.
2. Search for multiple geofences in one request
   • Search for and retrieve information on multiple geofences with a single API request.
   • Streamline geofence data retrieval, improving application responsiveness and optimizing data querying processes.

Business benefits:

• Reduce the number of API requests required, optimizing geofence creation processes and improving overall efficiency.
• Enhance scalability with efficient geofence management, allowing businesses to handle a larger volume of geospatial data seamlessly.
• Minimize latency and improve the responsiveness of geofence-related queries.
• Enable quicker decision-making and improve user experiences with faster data retrieval.

You can read all about the update in the Geofence API documentation.

Get route geometry for round trips with Post Trip Route API’s new feature

Introducing key upgrades to the NextBillion.ai Post Trip Route API, focusing on trip characterization and geometry format customization. These updates give users better control over trip attributes and the route geometry representation in API responses.

You can:

1. Add ‘round_trip’ attribute
   • Specify whether a trip is a round trip using the ‘round_trip’ attribute. 
   • The setting of this attribute impacts the geometry and distance fields in the API response, providing flexibility in trip characterization.
2. Add ‘geometry’ attribute
   • Specify the desired format for route geometry in API responses using the ‘geometry’ attribute.
   • Choose between ‘polyline’ and ‘polyline6’ as allowed values to customize the representation of route geometry.

Business benefits:

• Fine-tune trip attributes by specifying whether a trip is a round-trip, offering more accurate post-trip analysis.
• Gain precise insights into trip details, enabling better decision-making and operational planning.
• Tailor the format of route geometry in API responses to meet specific application requirements.
• Improve compatibility with mapping and visualization tools, ensuring a seamless integration experience.

Dive into the details of these latest features in the NextBillion.ai Post Trip Route API documentation.

Other Important Updates

Geofence and Road Editor user interface (UI) tools in the NextBillion.ai Cloud Console

Geofence and Road Editor tools are now integral components of our customer portal — NextBillion.ai Cloud Console.

Designed for users already familiar with our Geofence and Road Editor Tool APIs, these tools redefine simplicity in achieving your objectives. No frills, just direct access to streamline your workflow and make real-time adjustments.

Let’s uncover the user-centric benefits awaiting existing Geofence and Road Editor API users.

You can: 

• Easily access and manage Geofence and Road Editor tools from the user interface.
• Quickly check configurations within the UI.
• Configure and optimize geofence and road restrictions without depending on developers.
• Effortlessly modify and delete geofences and restrictions.
• Enjoy visually pleasing interfaces that improve the overall user experience.
• Enable non-technical staff to harness the full potential of NextBillion.ai’s geofencing and road editing capabilities, fostering greater autonomy in leveraging key features.

Business benefits:

• Make tasks simpler and reduce the need for complex API usage.
• Ensure accuracy and save time during implementation.
• Dynamically respond to evolving operational requirements.
• Make navigation and configuration more straightforward and enjoyable.
• Fostering greater autonomy in leveraging key features.

Log in to your account and check out NextBillion.ai’s geofencing and road editing tools.

Interactive notebook on optimizing employee transportation with escort services

In this technical notebook, we dive into optimizing employee transportation for one of India’s leading commute service providers. Leveraging NextBillion.ai’s Route Optimization API, we aim to streamline the routing process, ensuring an efficient commute experience for employees.

Based on the challenges faced by transport operators, employees, and companies, NextBillion.ai identified and addressed key requirements:

• Minimizing transit time: The solution focuses on reducing employees’ time spent in vehicles during their commute.
• On-time arrival: Employees must reach the office before the designated log-in time.
• Escort services: Deployed for female employees when pickups/drop-offs occur between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., ensuring safety.

Salesforce Field Service integration with Route Optimization API

Empower your field operations by integrating Salesforce Field Service and NextBillion.ai’s Route Optimization API. This integration marks a significant change in how businesses navigate and enhance their field service capabilities. Positioned at the forefront of today’s competitive market, this integration ensures:

• Service excellence: Deliver unmatched service quality by optimizing field service routes with precision.
• Cost-effectiveness: Streamline operations, reducing costs through efficient route planning and resource utilization.
• Customer satisfaction: Elevate customer satisfaction with timely and optimized field service, meeting and exceeding expectations.

Visit the technical documentation page to learn about the integration prerequisites and steps.

In The Pipeline

Exciting things are brewing at NextBillion.ai!

Soon, you’ll have the Live Tracking User Interface tool at your fingertips in our Cloud Console, offering real-time insights. Plus, get ready for some interactive notebook action on animating trip data and vehicle breakdown scenarios.

Stay tuned for the November 2023 product launches, feature updates and technical resources, all geared toward enhancing your business operations.