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We get asked a lot about how features like route optimization actually come together, so here’s the honest version.
Where it started
Route optimization orders a sitter’s visits by the most efficient route instead of a manually sorted list. That sounds simple to describe, but building it meant sitting down with working pet sitters and dog walkers and watching how they actually run a day, not how we assumed they did.
What changed along the way
Early versions were more complicated than they needed to be. The version that shipped is simpler because we cut anything that didn’t directly save a sitter time or reduce a mistake.
Why it’s part of OPERATE
Every feature we build for OPERATE stays free forever — this one included. There’s no upsell tier waiting behind it.
Curious how route optimization could work for your business? See what’s included in OPERATE.
Route optimization went through several rounds of internal testing and direct feedback from working pet sitters before shipping, since the difference between a feature that looks good in a demo and one that survives a chaotic Monday morning is entirely in the details. We prioritized reliability and simplicity over adding every possible option, since most owners want something that just works without a learning curve.
Feedback from the pet sitter community directly shaped several decisions along the way, and that process continues as we refine it further.
Related reading: How this feature fits into running your day-to-day operations — Route optimization and Common mistakes this feature helps you avoid — Route optimization.
