Dynamic capacity ranges for workforce routing

A system for workforce scheduling, comprising:

• a memory storing instructions;
• and at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to:
• generate a capacity model comprising data and a plurality of associations that associate distance data for distances of locations within a service area, the distances being from a location of a depot from which workers servicing the service area are dispatched, with appointment time window data for a series of appointment time windows available for future scheduling of respective appointments with customers within a pre-determined time period, each respective appointment scheduled prior to assigning a work crew to service the appointment, wherein for a plurality of the appointment time windows, each appointment time window having an equal fixed duration, and each appointment time window having a respective effective coverage representing available aggregate worker capacity representing the total available work force during the appointment time window, wherein the effective coverage is not equal for all appointment time windows, the capacity model associates each appointment time window with a respective range of distances, such that appointment time windows having a relatively greater amount of available worker capacity are associated with a greater range of distances than appointment time windows having a relatively smaller amount of available worker capacity;
• said at least one processing being configured to determine a distance from the depot to a location of an appointment being scheduled within the service area;
• said at least one processing being configured to automatically produce decision assistance data comprising appointment time window suggestions for the appointment being scheduled, the decision assistance data based on the appointment time windows that are defined in the capacity model as being associated with the distance from the depot to the location of the appointment being scheduled;
• and provide the decision assistance data to an agent for appointment scheduling, wherein the appointment time windows are displayed via at least one of a first and second interactive graphical user interfaces, the first interactive graphical user interface arranged along a distance line representing a maximum distance of appointments made during each respective window and the width of each window proportional to available workforce capacity, the second interactive graphical user interface displaying appointment time windows arranged radially around an origin representing the location of the depot, the radial distance of each window from the origin representing the maximum distance of appointments made during each respective window and the width of windows proportional to available workforce capacity;
• where the appointment time window suggestions correspond to one or more of the appointment time windows based on the distance from the depot to the location of the appointment being scheduled;
• and where selection of one of the appointment time window suggestions in the graphical user interface dynamically updates the respective width of at least one window.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising stored instructions which, when executed by one or more computer processors, cause the one or more computer processors to perform steps of operations comprising:

• generating a capacity model comprising data and a plurality of associations that associate distance data for distances of locations within a service area, the distances being from a location of a depot from which workers servicing the service area are dispatched, with appointment time window data for a series of appointment time windows available for future scheduling of respective appointments with customers within a pre-determined time period, each respective appointment scheduled prior to assigning a work crew to service the appointment, wherein for a plurality of appointment time windows, each appointment time window having an equal fixed duration, and each appointment time window having a respective effective coverage representing available aggregate worker capacity representing the total available work force during the appointment time window, wherein the effective coverage is not equal for all appointment time windows, the capacity model associates each appointment time window with a respective range of distances, such that appointment time windows having a relatively greater amount of available worker capacity are associated with a greater range of distances than appointment time windows having a relatively smaller amount of available worker capacity;
• determining a distance from the depot to a location of an appointment being scheduled within the service area;
• automatically producing decision assistance data comprising appointment time window suggestions for the appointment being scheduled, the decision assistance data based on the appointment time windows that are defined in the capacity model as being associated with the distance from the depot to the location of the appointment being scheduled;
• and providing the decision assistance data to an agent for appointment scheduling, wherein the appointment time windows are displayed via at least one of a first and second interactive graphical user interfaces, the first interactive graphical user interface arranged along a distance line representing a maximum distance of appointments made during each respective window and the width of each window proportional to available workforce capacity, the second interactive graphical user interface displaying appointment time windows arranged radially around an origin representing the location of the depot, the radial distance of each window from the origin representing the maximum distance of appointments made during each respective window and the width of windows proportional to available workforce capacity;
• where the appointment time window suggestions correspond to one or more of the appointment time windows based on the distance from the depot to the location of the appointment being scheduled;
• and where selection of one of the appointment time window suggestions in the graphical user interface dynamically updates the respective width of at least one window.