Help Center
Find answers, troubleshoot issues, and learn how to make the most of routes.ai.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions and answers about routes.ai
🚀 Getting Started
How do I get started with routes.ai?
Sign up for a free account to get 10,000 monthly credits. Then grab your API key from the dashboard and make your first request to our solve endpoint. Check out our Quick Start Guide for step-by-step instructions.
What programming languages do you support?
Our REST API works with any language that can make HTTP requests. We provide official SDKs for JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, PHP, and Go. You can also use standard HTTP clients like curl, axios, or requests.
How long does it take to solve a routing problem?
Most problems with under 100 stops solve in under 10 seconds. Larger problems (500+ stops) typically take 30-120 seconds. You'll receive a job ID immediately and can poll for completion.
💳 Pricing & Credits
How are credits calculated?
1 credit = 1 stop × 1 solver run. For example, optimizing a route with 50 stops costs 50 credits, regardless of how many vehicles you use. Time windows, capacity constraints, and other features don't affect credit usage.
What happens if I exceed my monthly credit limit?
You'll be charged overage fees based on your plan. Free accounts are rate-limited at the monthly limit. Paid plans continue to work and bill overages at the published rates. You can set spending alerts in your dashboard.
Do unused credits roll over to the next month?
No, monthly credits reset at the beginning of each billing cycle and don't roll over. Only overage usage is billed separately.
🔧 Technical Questions
What types of routing problems can you solve?
We support TSP (Traveling Salesman), CVRP (Capacitated Vehicle Routing), VRPTW (with Time Windows), Multi-Depot routing, Pickup & Delivery, and custom variations. Check our features page for the complete list.
What's the maximum number of stops I can optimize?
We can handle problems with 1000+ stops efficiently. For extremely large problems (2000+ stops), contact our enterprise team for custom solutions and optimization strategies.
Do you support real-time traffic data?
Currently we use static distance calculations for consistency and speed. Real-time traffic integration is on our roadmap. You can provide custom distance matrices if you have traffic data from other sources.
Troubleshooting
Common issues and how to resolve them
Common API Errors
401 UnauthorizedInvalid or missing API key
Make sure you're including your API key in the Authorization header:
Authorization: Bearer sk_prod_your_api_key_here429 Rate LimitedToo many requests
You've exceeded your rate limit. Implement exponential backoff or upgrade your plan:
// Exponential backoff example
const delay = Math.min(1000 * Math.pow(2, retryCount), 30000);
await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, delay));400 Bad RequestInvalid request format
Check that your JSON is valid and includes required fields. Common issues:
- • Missing required fields (nodes, vehicles)
- • Invalid coordinate values (lat/lng out of range)
- • Malformed JSON syntax
- • Time windows with start > end
Performance Issues
Optimization taking too long?
Large problems (500+ stops) may take several minutes. To improve performance:
- • Set a reasonable time_limit_seconds (default: 300)
- • Use distance matrices for repeated optimizations
- • Consider breaking large problems into smaller chunks
- • Remove unnecessary constraints for initial testing
No feasible solution found?
This usually means your constraints are too restrictive:
- • Check vehicle capacities vs. total demand
- • Verify time windows are reachable
- • Ensure vehicles can reach all required stops
- • Try relaxing constraints temporarily
Best Practices
Request Optimization
- • Validate data before sending
- • Use estimate endpoint for cost planning
- • Implement proper error handling
- • Cache solutions when possible
Problem Design
- • Start simple, add constraints gradually
- • Use realistic time windows
- • Test with smaller datasets first
- • Monitor solution quality metrics
Still Need Help?
Can't find what you're looking for? Our support team is here to help with technical questions, integration assistance, and optimization guidance.