This defines a set of rules used to reserve some resource time when Appointment Booking. This consists of a set of Slot Usage Rule rows which specify limits based on how far into the future the slot being considered is. The minimum start offset on the rule determines which rule is used for any given slot. Rules can specify either a maximum utilization, or a minimum free time, or both. In either case this is applied only during the available times for the slot, and is applied across all resources able to carry out the activity, and within the distance threshold if specified. Rules sets can then be linked to appointment templates for use when appointment booking.
Slot Usage Rule
Limits the total amount of resource time that can be used during the slot available times, when making offers for an appointment request.
Filtering Resources
The rule will only ever be applied to the period of a resource's shift
matching the slot available times. By default, the rule will be applied
across all valid resources for the activity being appointed (based on
skills, regions and any other hard constraints). In addition, a distance
threshold may be set against the slot usage rule set. In this case a
resource will only be considered for an appointment if the straight line
distance from their shift start to the activity location is less than the
threshold specified. Furthermore, when calculating the slot usage, only
resources within the distance threshold will be considered. Finally, there
are options for how resource break time and private time should be handled.
By default this will count as utilised time, but there is also the option to
'ignore' break and private time from the utilisation calculation, and for
breaks there is a further option to 'exclude' the break time. To clarify the
difference between the 'ignore' and 'exclude' options, suppose we have a
single resource with an 8 hour shift and a 1 hour break, and we calculate
utilisation across the whole shift. The 'ignore' option means we treat the
the total available time as 7 hours, so if the resource is working for 5
hours excluding the break, then their utilisation will be 5 hours out of 7,
or 71.4%. The 'exclude' option means the break time counts towards the total
available time but not towards the utilised time, so the resource is
utilised for 5 hours out of 8, or 67.5%. If neither option is set then the
break counts as utilised time, so the resource would count as working for 6
hours out of 8, or 75%. Note that when using the 'minimum free time'
restriction there isn't any difference between ignored and included - this
only impacts the 'maximum utilisation' restriction.
Filtering Activities
It is is also possible to filter which activities are included in the slot utilisation calculation. This can be used to limit the amount of work that can be booked for certain types of activity, perhaps to ensure space if left in the schedule for more urgent work. There are two options here, to filter based on the activity type or based on the activity priority. To enable filtering based on activity type, the option 'filter_by_activity_type' should be selected on the slot usage rule set. This will then filter the slot utilisation check to apply only to activities matching the activity type of the activity being appointed. Alternatively (or in addition), filters can be applied based on the activity priority, to exclude either activities of a higher priority, or those of a lower priority, or both. For example, if the customer wishes to ensure 20% of available resource time is kept back for high priority work, then a slot usage rule can be set up with a maximum utilisation of 80% and the 'filter_exclude_higher_priority' option enabled. If any activity is excluded due to filters when calculating the utilisation, then the travel in the route will be recalculated to reflect this activity not being in the route, but the visit times themselves will not be updated. The updated travel will be treated as taking place immediately prior to the next activity in the route. (For travel home it is calculated as ending when the existing travel home ends).
None.
As a result of this activity, the Slot Usage Rule Sets are defined.