Example- Schedule Optimization

  • Release version: Xanadu
  • Updated August 1, 2024
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Schedule Optimization

    This document outlines how administrators can configure the Schedule Optimization engine in ServiceNow to effectively manage task scheduling. Key configurations allow for batch scheduling overnight, real-time scheduling throughout the day, and on-demand optimization initiated by dispatchers.

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    Key Features

    • Batch Scheduling: Schedule Optimization can be set to run in batches overnight, allowing for the scheduling of a higher volume of tasks.
    • On-Demand Optimization: Dispatchers can trigger optimization processes manually from the Dispatcher Workspace.
    • Policy Configuration: Policies can be created to maximize task assignments while minimizing travel time for agents.
    • Intraday Scheduling: Optimizations can also occur during work hours, ensuring tasks are efficiently assigned as conditions change.

    Key Outcomes

    • Increased efficiency for agents by reducing travel time and maximizing the number of tasks completed during their shifts.
    • Flexibility in scheduling that allows organizations to adapt to real-time changes and demands.
    • Enhanced control for dispatchers over task allocation and scheduling through on-demand features.

    This example shows three different ways admins can configure the optimization engine to schedule tasks.

    Admins can configure Schedule Optimization to run overnight in batches to schedule a larger number of tasks or throughout the day at selected intervals based on events. Admins can also enable dispatchers to initiate Schedule Optimization from Dispatcher Workspace by configuring on-demand optimization.

    In this example, the organization is ensuring that agents complete as many tasks as they can during their shift without spending a lot of time traveling between tasks. A policy is configured to maximize assignments and minimize travel time. On-demand optimization is enabled for the dispatchers who are assigned to this group of agents.

    Admin Core Configurations for Schedule Optimization

    Table 1. Schedule Optimization Properties
    Field Value
    Qualifier type for Schedule Optimization Assignment Group
    Number of seconds used for task scheduling resolution 1
    Maximum number of location points allowed in a map provider call 300
    Table 2. Policies
    Field Value
    Name Maximum Assignments
    Active true
    Constraints Default values
    Overall objectives

    Maximize travel time (weight 1)

    Maximize task assignments (weight 1)

    Maximize assignments to earlier shifts (weight 1)

    Table 3. Scheduling Attributes
    Field Value
    Name West coast config
    Active True
    Travel estimate provider Beans.ai
    Default policy Maximum Assignments
    Straight line estimate config West Coast
    Tasks State is one of: Pending dispatch or Scheduled
    On Demand applicable policy West Coast Dispatcher

    Batch Optimization Configurations

    Table 4. Batch
    Field Value
    Name West Coast weekly
    Schedule start date 2023-12-01
    Run frequency Every 7 days
    Batch start time 22:00
    Batch end time 3:00
    Table 5. Scope
    Field Value
    Name West Coast-Next 7 days
    Active True
    Scheduling attribute configuration West Coast config
    Rank 1
    Assignment horizon offset 00
    Assignment horizon range Days 7
    Optimization Batch West Coast weekly
    Start date 2023-12-01
    Batch start time 22:00
    Batch end time 3:00
    Assignment group San Diego North
    Note:
    Select schedule now when the form is complete

    Intraday Optimization Configurations

    Table 6. Intraday Configurations
    Field Value
    Name West Coast
    Active True
    Default scheduling attribute configuration West Coast config
    Default False
    Flow Schedule intraday jobs (default)
    Default processing window Workday 9:00-5:00
    Assignment group

    San Diego South - Enable On Demand = True

    San Diego North - Enable On Demand = True

    On-demand Optimization configurations

    Table 7. On-demand values in Scheduling Attributes configuration
    Field Value
    On Demand applicable policy West Coast Dispatcher
    Table 8. On-demand values in Intraday configurations
    Field Value
    Assignment group

    San Diego South - Enable On Demand = True

    San Diego North - Enable On Demand = True