One Hundred Nights
    Back to AI Tools
    Fleet and Logistics

    Routific for Nonprofits: AI Route Optimization for Delivery Programs

    Routific helps food banks, meal delivery programs, and community distribution organizations plan smarter routes with less effort. AI-powered optimization cuts planning time from hours to minutes, maximizing volunteer capacity and reducing delivery costs by up to 25%.

    Start Free TrialView Pricing

    What Routific Does

    Manually planning delivery routes for multiple drivers is one of the most time-consuming logistics tasks nonprofit operations teams face. A food bank coordinating ten volunteer drivers across a city might spend hours the night before shuffling stops around a spreadsheet, only to produce routes that backtrack, create uneven workloads, and send drivers into unfamiliar neighborhoods. Routific eliminates this entirely.

    Routific is a cloud-based route optimization platform that accepts a list of delivery addresses, applies AI-powered algorithms to solve the vehicle routing problem, and generates clean, efficient routes in minutes. The platform accounts for time windows (when recipients are available), vehicle capacities, driver shift lengths, required breaks, and historical traffic patterns. The result is a set of routes that minimizes total driving distance, balances workloads across drivers, and avoids the overlapping paths that manual planning creates.

    For nonprofits running food bank home delivery, Meals on Wheels-style programs, mobile pantry stops, or any regular distribution to community members, Routific can transform operations from a stressful weekly puzzle into a repeatable, scalable workflow.

    Fast Optimization

    Routes that used to take hours to plan manually are generated in minutes. Upload addresses, set parameters, and dispatch drivers immediately.

    Unlimited Drivers

    Every plan, including the free tier, supports unlimited drivers and dispatchers. Ideal for nonprofits with rotating volunteer pools.

    Real-Time Tracking

    GPS-based live tracking lets dispatchers monitor deliveries in progress and send customers accurate ETAs and tracking links.

    Best For

    Routific is best suited for nonprofits that run regular, scheduled delivery programs with multiple drivers visiting multiple stops. The platform shines when route quality and ease of use matter most, and when volunteer driver adoption is a concern.

    Ideal Use Cases

    • Food bank home delivery programs
    • Meals on Wheels and senior meal delivery
    • Community supply and hygiene kit distribution
    • Emergency relief package delivery
    • Mobile pantry or pop-up distribution stops
    • Prescription or medical supply delivery for health nonprofits

    Organization Fit

    • Small nonprofits delivering fewer than 100 orders/month (free tier)
    • Mid-size organizations with 2-20 drivers per delivery day
    • Teams with non-technical volunteer drivers
    • Programs that deliver on predictable weekly schedules
    • Operations coordinators managing dispatching without technical support

    Key Features for Nonprofits

    Routific was built for organizations that need reliable, efficient delivery management without requiring a dedicated logistics team or technical setup. Its feature set is designed around practical operational needs.

    AI Route Optimization

    179 ML models and constraint-based algorithms

    Routific uses 179 machine learning models that predict traffic patterns based on time-of-day and day-of-week variations for specific geographic locations. These predictions feed directly into route optimization that solves variants of the Vehicle Routing Problem, accounting for time windows, vehicle load capacity, driver shift hours, required breaks, and driver familiarity with specific territories.

    • Time window constraints (deliver within recipient's available hours)
    • Fair workload balancing across all drivers
    • Driver familiarity keeps volunteers in known neighborhoods

    Driver Mobile App

    iOS and Android, designed for non-technical users

    Volunteer and part-time drivers receive a text link that opens their route directly in the Routific app without requiring account setup. The app provides turn-by-turn navigation and shows each stop in order. Users consistently describe it as simple enough for drivers who are not comfortable with technology, making volunteer adoption a much lower barrier than comparable platforms.

    • No account needed for drivers, just a text link
    • Turn-by-turn navigation built in
    • Stop notes and delivery instructions visible to drivers

    Live GPS Dispatch

    Real-time tracking for dispatchers and recipients

    Dispatchers see all drivers on a live map, allowing real-time monitoring of delivery progress. When stops are completed, the status updates automatically. Customer-facing email notifications are included on all plans, so recipients know when their delivery is on the way and can track estimated arrival times. SMS notifications are available as an add-on.

    • Live map view showing all active drivers
    • Automated email notifications to recipients
    • Real-time delivery status updates per stop

    Analytics and Proof of Delivery

    End-of-day reporting and delivery confirmation

    Routific generates end-of-day route reports showing total distance, time driven, stops completed, and any failed deliveries. Proof of delivery (photo capture and signature) is available on the Professional plan, providing documentation nonprofits may need for grant reporting or compliance purposes.

    • End-of-day analytics reports per driver and route
    • Proof of delivery via photo and signature (Professional)
    • Failed delivery logging with notes

    Real-World Nonprofit Use

    Consider a food bank that distributes weekly groceries to homebound seniors and families who cannot travel to their location. The organization has 12 volunteer drivers who each take a different shift, and the address list changes every week as new families are added and others graduate from the program.

    Before using route optimization, the operations coordinator would spend three or four hours each Tuesday manually grouping addresses by neighborhood, trying to give each driver a manageable workload, and printing paper maps. Drivers would sometimes call in with questions because their routes crossed back and forth across the city, and recipients would have no way to know when their delivery was coming.

    With Routific, the coordinator uploads that week's address list as a spreadsheet, sets the number of drivers and their available hours, and the platform generates optimized routes within minutes. Drivers receive a text link and follow turn-by-turn navigation. Recipients get an email notification when their driver is nearby. At the end of the day, the coordinator can see exactly how many stops were completed and flag any missed deliveries for follow-up.

    Hand Up Toronto: Doubling Delivery Capacity

    Hand Up Toronto, a volunteer-run charity addressing food insecurity, used Routific during the COVID-19 pandemic to scale from 8 families to 18 families per 3-hour delivery window after receiving 8,000 signup requests within 48 hours of school closures. Over the course of the program, the organization served more than 15,000 families. Volunteers reported higher satisfaction because of the efficient routes, and recipients gained real-time tracking for the first time.

    Pricing

    Routific switched to usage-based pricing in mid-2024, which benefits nonprofits with modest or variable delivery volumes. All plans include unlimited drivers and dispatchers.

    Free Forever

    Up to 100 orders/month

    $0

    • Up to 100 orders per month
    • Unlimited drivers
    • Route optimization and driver app
    • Email delivery notifications
    Most Popular

    Starter

    101 to 1,000 orders/month

    $150/month

    • Flat rate up to 1,000 orders
    • Unlimited drivers and dispatchers
    • Live GPS tracking
    • Analytics and end-of-day reports

    Scale

    1,001+ orders/month

    $0.15/order

    • Per-order rate declining at scale
    • $0.10/order at 3,001-5,000 orders
    • $0.03/order at 20,001-50,000 orders
    • Custom pricing above 50,000 orders

    Proof of delivery (photo and signature) requires the Professional plan. SMS customer notifications are available as a paid add-on on any plan. A 7-day free trial with no credit card required lets you test up to 5,000 orders.

    Note: Prices may be outdated or inaccurate.

    Nonprofit Access and Free Tier

    No Formal Nonprofit Discount

    Routific does not have a dedicated nonprofit discount program. However, the permanent free tier (up to 100 orders/month) effectively covers many small nonprofit delivery programs at no cost. The usage-based pricing model also naturally scales to fit organizations with modest delivery volumes, making the overall cost manageable for nonprofits compared to flat-rate competitors.

    For context on what 100 orders per month means in practice: if your food bank delivers to 25 families each week across 4 weeks, that is exactly 100 orders. A small meal delivery program serving 20 clients per delivery day, twice a week, would use 160 orders per month and fall into the $150/month tier.

    Organizations with proof-of-concept needs can contact Routific about free usage credits. The 7-day trial with no credit card required and support for up to 5,000 test orders is also a genuine opportunity to validate the platform before committing to any paid plan.

    Learning Curve

    Beginner-Friendly

    Routific is consistently rated among the most user-friendly route planning tools available. Reviews describe a "flat learning curve" that allows dispatchers to be up and running on their first day. The onboarding experience includes guided setup with sample data, and the interface uses familiar drag-and-drop interactions that require no technical background.

    For volunteer drivers, the learning curve is even lower. They receive a text link, tap to open the app, and see their stops in order with turn-by-turn directions. Multiple reviews from nonprofit coordinators specifically call out that drivers who are uncomfortable with technology adapted to the app quickly. This is a meaningful advantage for organizations that rely on older volunteers or community members with varying levels of smartphone experience.

    For Dispatchers

    • Upload addresses as spreadsheet or CSV
    • Set driver parameters with simple form fields
    • Drag-and-drop stop reassignment for mid-day changes
    • Takes roughly 1-2 days to feel fully comfortable

    For Drivers

    • No account setup required
    • One-tap route access from text link
    • Works on both iOS and Android
    • Suitable for tech-impaired volunteers per user reviews

    Integrations and Compatibility

    Routific offers native e-commerce integrations and a developer API, but has limited out-of-the-box connectors to nonprofit-specific platforms like donor management or case management systems.

    Native Integrations

    • Shopify (app available in Shopify App Store)
    • WooCommerce
    • Magento, Zoho, BigCommerce
    • AfterShip webhook integration

    API and Custom Integration

    • Two-way REST API for automating order creation and retrieval
    • Routing Engine API for embedding optimization in your own systems
    • Address import via CSV/spreadsheet (no API needed)
    • No native Salesforce, Bloomerang, or nonprofit CRM integration

    Most nonprofits will use CSV upload to bring in delivery addresses from their program databases. Organizations with developer capacity can use the REST API to automate this workflow and pull delivery confirmation data back into reporting systems.

    Pros and Cons

    Strengths

    • Free tier covers up to 100 orders/month, no credit card needed
    • Exceptional ease of use for dispatchers and volunteer drivers alike
    • Highest-rated route quality among comparable platforms
    • Unlimited drivers on all plans, including free
    • Outstanding customer support responsiveness (Capterra 4.9/5)
    • Usage-based pricing scales down for low-volume nonprofits

    Limitations

    • No formal nonprofit discount program
    • No barcode scanning for secure package verification
    • Limited support for on-demand or same-day dispatch
    • No multi-day advance route planning
    • SMS notifications are a paid add-on
    • No native integrations with nonprofit CRM or case management platforms

    Alternatives to Consider

    Bringfood

    100% free for 501(c)(3) nonprofits

    Purpose-built free multi-route planner specifically for U.S. food pantries and nonprofits. No order limits, no cost. Best for organizations that prioritize zero cost over advanced tracking features.

    View Bringfood

    OptimoRoute

    From $35.10/driver/month

    Strong competitor with per-driver pricing. Better suited for organizations that need multi-day route planning or more complex return-to-depot workflows. Route quality is slightly lower than Routific per head-to-head reviews.

    Visit OptimoRoute

    Onfleet

    From $559/month

    Enterprise-grade delivery management with stronger on-demand dispatch and barcode scanning. Better for organizations with frequent same-day additions or high security delivery requirements. Significantly more expensive than Routific.

    Visit Onfleet

    Getting Started with Routific

    Most nonprofits can have Routific running on their first delivery day within a few hours of signing up. The setup is lightweight compared to most logistics platforms.

    1

    Start your 7-day free trial

    Sign up at routific.com with no credit card required. The trial includes up to 5,000 orders so you can test with your actual delivery list before committing. If you deliver fewer than 100 orders per month, the free tier covers your needs permanently.

    2

    Import your delivery addresses

    Export your recipient addresses from your program database or case management system as a CSV or spreadsheet. Routific accepts standard address fields (street, city, zip) plus optional columns for time windows, priority stops, and delivery notes. Upload directly in the platform.

    3

    Set up your drivers and parameters

    Add your drivers with their start locations, available shift hours, and any vehicle capacity limits. You can save driver profiles for reuse across future delivery days. Set the depot or start address where drivers begin their routes.

    4

    Optimize, dispatch, and track

    Click optimize to generate routes for all drivers. Review the map view, make any manual adjustments needed using drag-and-drop, then dispatch. Drivers receive text links to their routes. You can monitor progress in real time from the dispatch dashboard and address any failed deliveries before drivers finish their shifts.

    Need Help Optimizing Your Delivery Operations?

    One Hundred Nights helps nonprofits identify the right tools for their logistics workflows, from route planning to driver coordination and program reporting.

    Talk to Our TeamTry Routific Free

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Routific free for nonprofits?

    Routific offers a permanent free tier for organizations delivering up to 100 orders per month. There is no formal nonprofit discount program, but the free tier and usage-based pricing model naturally accommodate small nonprofits. A 7-day free trial (no credit card required) lets you test up to 5,000 orders.

    How many drivers can use Routific?

    Routific supports unlimited drivers and unlimited dispatchers on all plans, including the free tier. This makes it well-suited for nonprofits that rely on rotating volunteer drivers.

    Can Routific handle volunteer drivers who are not tech-savvy?

    Yes. The Routific driver app (iOS and Android) is designed to be extremely simple. Volunteers receive a text link that opens their route directly in the app with turn-by-turn navigation. Users consistently describe it as intuitive even for non-technical staff and volunteers.

    Does Routific send customer delivery notifications?

    Yes. Email delivery notifications are included on all plans. SMS notifications are available as a paid add-on. Customers receive real-time tracking links so they know when to expect their delivery.

    What integrations does Routific support?

    Routific integrates natively with Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Zoho, and BigCommerce. It also provides a two-way REST API for custom integrations and a standalone Routing Engine API for developers who want to embed the optimization algorithm in their own systems.

    How does Routific compare to Bringfood for food banks?

    Bringfood is purpose-built specifically for U.S. food pantries and is 100% free. Routific is a more full-featured platform with real-time GPS tracking, customer notifications, proof of delivery, and analytics. Routific is better for organizations that need more robust dispatching capabilities or serve more than 100 stops per month.