Tropics includes its own route optimization engine, an algorithm designed to generate routes that increase productivity in physical distribution operations and support the planning of all types of routes for cargo or passenger transportation. Developed to meet market demands, it serves distributors, shippers, carriers, service providers, and companies in general as a high-quality solution with affordable implementation costs and accessible requirements in terms of equipment and human resources.

Tropics also provides commands for handling transport demand requests in order to prepare route scheduling. There are commands to segment transports with transfer locations (intermediate distribution centers or transit points), edit requests, load items and frequencies, schedule service times, estimate travel times (transit time) and dispatch deadlines, plan routes or insert transport requests into existing routes, as well as handle returns and incidents throughout the service cycle. The insertion feature is very useful for last-minute demands or return handling, using trips already in progress. In this case, the system selects the best route and the best position within the route in order to minimize additional travel and comply with vehicle capacity rules, time windows for other services, and shift limits. These constraints can be ignored in exceptional cases or even new routes can be created for exclusive service.

Together with routing or for evaluating cargo occupancy of a request within vehicle cargo compartments, there is a three-dimensional cargo arrangement feature. Tropics analyzes the best placement of packages considering their dimensions, cargo weight, stacking or nesting restrictions, supported weight and axle distribution, in order to optimize space usage within the capacity of each vehicle type, its dimensions, possible lowered sections, and whether it has one or more compartments (bitrem, road train). Tropics allows three-dimensional visualization of the cargo layout in a graphical way, enabling highlighting of loads by order, delivery location, or package type.

For scheduling dock usage at warehouses or distribution centers, Tropics provides a panel to reserve loading and unloading slots for each dock and vehicle associated with planned trip stops. Tropics allows you to register available docks at each yard and define operating windows by type of operation, automatically calculating estimated dwell times based on expected cargo volume. This dock allocation and scheduling can be automatic when trips are created, adjusting trip times when necessary. Once scheduled, there is a yard control panel that helps monitor vehicle arrivals and progress through different stages, including waiting time, start and end of loading/unloading, and release. All these events are recorded along with the trips and generate performance indicators.

Tropics offers an operational monitoring module where it is possible to track, through a Control Tower with dashboards and maps, the services executed against the planned route schedule. It displays key operational indicators in real time by region, operation type, carrier, operational base, vehicle, dock, etc., showing the progress of scheduled services. In the monitoring map, multiple filters are available by trip status, company, branches, vehicle types, etc., as well as search by license plate, trip number, location, and cargo type. In addition, the system provides summary panels of vehicle and trip status, enabling full tracking and direct actions for rescheduling, reassignment, incident logging, or messaging with the driver. Behind this module there is a BOT that analyzes all data and recalculates estimated arrival times, detects route deviations and unauthorized stops, generating alerts and messages.

Tropics controls the entire delivery flow as well as pickups throughout the logistics cycle. All incidents related to each transport request can be recorded with configurable standard codes, incident types, document and image attachments, as well as tracking of analysis, responsibilities, pending actions, and resolution. Incidents recorded by the driver through the app, including proof of delivery and photos, are also available in the Tropics portal. It is also possible to generate incident reports and record delivery follow-up information. This information is also available for customers and shippers to access through the Tropics 360 module.

A mobile application is available for Android® or iOS® devices that allows drivers or field teams to view their scheduled trips, maps, and itineraries, and record all trip events such as start and end of stops, failed deliveries, unplanned incidents, general messaging, photos, barcode and/or QR code capture, cargo data recording, and recipient signature. All information is automatically transmitted to the Web Monitoring module. The app integrates with Waze®. Time and location (GPS) data are recorded and continuously synchronized with the central database, enabling real-time tracking of vehicles in operation. The system therefore alerts for delayed services, as well as verifies the correct location of each event.

For passenger transport planning and management, Tropics offers powerful tools for automatic creation, editing, and allocation of stop points to group boarding and alighting of public transport users, such as charter services. There is a sophisticated algorithm that suggests the best stop points that respect the maximum walking distance from passengers’ homes, in order to achieve more efficient routes. The system can also use pre-registered points. When routing these points, refinement functions are applied to adjust locations after itineraries are defined, as well as the ability to edit routes and reassign passengers between routes or redefine stop locations.

For passengers in people transport, a mobile app is available for Android® or iOS® that allows users to check their trips, assigned vehicle, boarding time, address, driver’s name and photo, as well as the vehicle’s current location. They can also view their profile, see upcoming trips, and even rate the service. The app also provides the ability to confirm boarding via a QR code placed on the vehicle and check alternative routes for their location. Everything is integrated with the web system and the driver app.

A portal is available for scheduling and updating passenger data for people transport. It is a channel for passengers themselves or managers of charter or ad-hoc transport to request trips. This portal is integrated with the web system, and route scheduling can be automated and integrated with both the driver and passenger apps. In this portal, users can view their schedules and modify them, including their address.

For freight transportation, a portal called Tropics 360 is provided, allowing customers and shippers to track their pickup and delivery orders. The portal provides information on service status, estimated date and time of completion, as well as vehicle location on a map and order details. For completed orders, users can access service confirmation records, including proof of delivery documents (such as signed delivery receipts or invoice acknowledgments), images captured by the driver, and any incidents or exceptions related to the service.

Tropics includes integration capabilities with external systems through Web Services or file-based data import. The Tropics API provides a wide range of functions for exchanging all information managed by the platform, including operational data, events, performance indicators, and other monitored information. The API is easy to use and enables fast and efficient data exchange with other systems, facilitating seamless integration and automation of business processes.