Comparing Matrix Routing Services

Before route optimization or on-demand driver assignments, the origin-destination routing matrix (OD matrix) must be computed. There are several options out there on the market, we will be exploring all the pons and cons together in this blog post.

Open Street Map + OSRM/Valhalla

Open street map + open-source routing engine is always a cost efficient and reliable option to go. When a company in its early stage, this option is highly recommended for cost saving. Valhalla is best for routing flexibility and OSRM is best for speed. Cost wise, if host such solutions on AWS cloud, the estimate backend infrastructure cost would be ranging from $1000 to $3000 per month depends on the request volume how your engineer design and build the service.

Pros

• Affordability (Backend infrastructure cost + server maintenance + map data updates).
• Permissive (Both the OpenStreetMap data and OSRM/Valhalla are open).

Cons

• No traffic data
• No truck routing
• Steep learning curves (It takes some time to setup and configure OSRM/Valhalla, also, engineers need to learn to manipulate the OSM map data)

Google distance matrix API

Google is well known for its location and ETA accuracy. Its service is mature and stable. However, there are limits on the number of origins and destinations. And the service is too pricy.

Pros

• High service availability.
• Live traffic data and accurate predictive ETAs.
• Rich map data.

Cons

• Affordability (customer will be billed by number of elements returned from google matrix service, which is a product of number of origins times destinations).
• Scalability (google distance matrix API has limited of max 25 origins and destinations).

Here distance matrix API

Here Technologies is a Dutch multinational group specialized in mapping technologies, location data and related automotive services to individuals and companies. It has good reputation on location and routing services.

Pros

• High service availability.
• High throughput.
• Rich traffic data and good predictive ETAs
• Robust truck routing support.

Cons

• Affordability (customer will be billed by number of the max of destinations and origins. Price starting from 1.5c per location)

LogisticsOS distance matrix solutions

LogisticsOS has been partnered with TomTom to provide its customer an affordable and reliable matrix routing service. TomTom is a global leader in GPS sat navs, maps, updates and support. LogisticsOS has built a routing engine that routes on TomTom’s map data and utilize TomTom’s traffic profiles. for a fixed cost, customer can have unlimited access to the distance matrix service. Also, LogisticsOS’s ultra-fast routing engine computes a 1000 * 1000 matrix in a just matter of 3 to 4 seconds.

Pros

• Affordability (low fixed cost model or location-based model 0.5c per location).
• High service availability with dedicated computing resources for individual customer.
• Capable of solving large matrix requests (20000 * 20000), high throughput.
• Rich traffic data and good predictive ETAs.
• Map editing capabilities (blocking certain roads and areas).

Cons

• No truck routing at the moment.

Conclusion

LogisticsOS’s Distance Matrix solution delivers a valuable combination of performance, affordability, and flexibility. It is up to the customers to try it out. Get a free trail to experience the difference, and please give us a feed too.

About LogisticsOS

LogisticsOS is the most powerful route optimization system on the market. Our flexible, hosted route optimization and planning/replanning APIs require no knowledge of optimization techniques. High-quality results are returned within seconds— even at scale. From time reduction and vehicle capacity to depot automation and cost customization, our feature-rich software can create the efficiency and cost-savings that you need. Contact us today for a free product demo.