Start with the stop that has the least room for delay. Check when you can get into each building, which products may run out before the next break, and what you have available to pack. Once those constraints are clear, group the remaining stops by drive time. The closest machine can wait if a service entrance across town closes at ten.
How would you order three stops?
Suppose a workshop only admits delivery drivers from 8 to 10. An office nearby is low on cold drinks before lunch. A third machine, closest to your storage room, has enough stock through tomorrow and can be serviced all afternoon. If you can reach the office before lunch after visiting the workshop, take the workshop first, the office second and decide whether the third machine needs a visit today. If the workshop contact moves your appointment, revisit the order before you load the van.
How much should you pack for each machine?
Work from the shelf at the destination. If a water slot holds 12 bottles and the last count was five, seven bottles would fill it at that count. If you have only four usable bottles in storage, pack four and put the remaining three on the purchase list. Sales since the last count may have changed the gap. Check the shelf before recording what you actually added.
Smart Mart Ops puts those decisions in one place. Smart Prep uses the shelf plan, machine counts and available storage stock to suggest a load. Smart Route weighs distance alongside empty slots and products nearing expiration. Check the proposed order against the access times your building contacts gave you.
What should you record before leaving a stop?
Record what you found, what you added and what still needs attention. For example, “Water counted two, added four, buy six for the next refill” gives the next driver a usable handoff. If the service door was locked, note who can open it and when to try again. An unfinished visit needs a next action even if the van has already moved on.
If you’re trying to add a location between two existing stops, use Smart Mart Leads to scout nearby businesses. Our guide to evaluating a vending location covers what to verify before adding the stop to your route.