PDA instructions

[SpacePhoenix]

Lots of our logins are broken, and have been for a good few weeks now. Many are having to use the temp logins to log into a PDA

[Basildon Bond]

Interesting to read read the above instructions. I use the "scan to dedicated parcels route" tab in Indoor. Scan everything in there (Indoors) and then upload the manifest to the main server. Then swipe across to Ron and Download the route into Ron from the server. I only use the outdoor tab to manually do ad hoc deliveries when it makes sense to deliver them in a different order than what the optimisation suggests.

I have no idea why you would need to do that, makes it way more confusing than it ever needs to be.

You can go to the second screen and select the RON tile (Route Optimisation and Navigation), scan a non-ops header code, scan all the items, optimise route, confirm. And then go to the outdoor tile and scan the same non-ops header code and it will pull down the delivery points in order. However you SHOULD use the method below as it not only does a Ready for Delivery (like RON to Outdoor would) but it ALSO catches Inflights and Redirections. Hence it's the "proper", "preferred", and recommend way. If you don't think inflights are important (when they could actually allow you to get rid of a few parcels in the DO immediately that shouldn't be delivered) then by all means do RON to Outdoor.

Correct method:

1. Logon on
2. Select the correct DO if you see a list (option for some logins).
3. Scan In on the Scan In/Out tile if you haven't already.
4. Indoor > Inward DO Sorting (or something like that from memory) > "scan to dedicated parcels route".
5. Scan an unused non-ops code (a barcode number designed to be used for parcel only delivery route.
6. Scan all the items in selecting the correct address if a list appears. This will do a Ready for Delivery scan AND alert on inflights.
7. Submit when complete.
8. Go to the RON tile. The same non-ops code WILL be pre-filled for you. Set the starting Postcode (if requiring a different starting point) and the Start time (required - 30/60 minutes into the future as an example).
9. Optimise the route and confirm. This part is the "juggle the delivery points around into some kind of order".
10. Go to the Outdoor tile. The same non-ops code WILL be pre-filled for you. You will see a list of delivery points.

You can toggle the "enable van loading", pick how many "zones" (ABCDEF) you need based on quantity and rescan all the items. Rescanning an item with van loading now enabled will flash up "F78" or "B23" or "A1". Write this clearly on the item with a Sharpie near the label. Be careful you don't write "F67" rather than "E67" as you'll throw that packet into a different corner of the van can have a heart attack when you think you've lost it! :oD.

Keep all the A1..16 etc. in a neat order near the door you intend to work from and the first couple of parcels (A1/A2) in the front with you. Toss the F's and E's etc. into a corner of the van for each letter to group them and sort them out as you work down the list when you find yourself on a quiet side street.

You can rescan the van loading at the back of the van and toss them in as you go or do it in the DO in the warm/dry office. Slower to set off but ultimately quicker when out and about in the rain/ice/ snow, etc.

You cannot access van loading once you start delivering.

To navigate to the first/next delivery point swipe from right to left to pull up the map. If you're moving while doing this I've seen the GPS crash. When you get to a delivery point swipe left to right and it's just like you have scanned the item.

If you miss an item when scanning in or some gives you more items at the last minute that you haven't RON'ed in you'll have to look at the map (see below) and decide how to fit them in and write a rough number and keep them separate so you don't drive away without delivering them. When at the delivery point remove to scan them like normal to add them to an existing item or so you can take a picture and submit.

Don't listen to anyone saying "don't do this" or "you don't need to do that" - the process above is the one to follow for an RFD scan + inflights.

If someone points you at a york of parcel and says "they haven't been scanned; can you take them"... don't go through the whole Ready for Delivery scan and THEN RON/ "scan to dedicated parcels route" as it's not required.

And the whole "scan to dedicated parcels route" > RON > Outdoor is still only ONE scan and hopping quickly through screens as the barcode is prefilled and is the recommended way to do it.

To those not doing it....try it. You may like it!

Before setting off check the "map" overview...

Screenshot 2023-12-26 112252.png

...and if you have local knowledge you can flick about the list and decide your own order. Like "I'll knock off those outlying/remote ones first" or "I'll skip those businesses as they don't open until 10am" etc.

I recommend toggling van loading off before setting off as the PDA left on van loading while I travelled to the first delivery point with the PDA a sleep has caused the PDA to crash both times. Restarting isn't a big deal but just make sure you know the non-ops code in case it's lost. If Outdoor is blank just enter the same code and your list will come back immediately.

[Smoothbackground]

Great advice there, Basildon Bond. The only slight thing I’d say is that scanning just to RON and then confirming does now give it an RFD scan and download inflights — we put it to the test a few weeks back, as the manager was doubtful, and we found it did. Also, when downloading the route afterwards in Outdoor it captured all inflights.

[Mr Rush]

(If you want the card for making it easier "signing" in/out to the office and into your PDA then you could try a quick fix, get a barcode reader app on your phone and use it to create a barcode of your PDA login name)

Yep, the barcode literally just encodes your username. Although if no login has been issued yet then it would be a case of bruteforce guessing how many other John Smiths joined before you (john.smith2, john.smith3... john.smith99)