When you build a route (single-tech from mobile, or per-tech from dispatch), PoolStamp reorders the stops to minimize total drive time. The optimizer runs automatically — you don't have to click anything.
How it decides
The optimizer uses the geocoded lat/lng of each stop plus the first stop you pin (usually your home base or your first appointment). It solves a Traveling Salesman-style problem constrained by:
- Time windows — if a customer has a requested arrival window, PoolStamp respects it.
- Service duration — expected duration per stop (default: 25 min) is folded into arrival estimates.
- Return-to-base — enabled by default so your last stop ends near where you started.
Overriding the order
Long-press any stop and drag it to reorder. PoolStamp keeps your manual order and shows a small blue dot next to the ETA to signal that the stop is manually pinned. The optimizer will not move a pinned stop on the next re-plan.
Tap the three dots on a stop and choose Unpin to let the optimizer move it again.
When the optimizer helps most
- Routes with 8+ stops: manual ordering vs optimized often saves 20-45 minutes of drive time.
- New customer added mid-day: re-optimize from the ⋮ menu; PoolStamp folds them in without disturbing pinned stops.
When it doesn't
- Short 2-3 stop days — you know the shape of your neighborhood better than any solver.
- Downtown routes with heavy one-way streets: the optimizer uses straight-line + road-network drive time, which handles most cases but can be off by a few minutes in dense grids.