Resumable Jobs

Resumable jobs allow long-duration tasks to be interrupted by scheduled breaks and then resumed, ensuring both task completion and compliance with break requirements. This feature is essential for managing lengthy service appointments alongside mandatory rest periods.

Overview

The resumable jobs feature enables:

Jobs to be paused during resource breaks
Automatic resumption after breaks complete
Better utilization of available working time
Compliance with break regulations without sacrificing long jobs

Basic Configuration

Making Jobs Resumable

Set the resumable flag on jobs that can be interrupted:

{
  "jobs": [
    {
      "name": "installation-project",
      "location": {"latitude": 52.520, "longitude": 13.405},
      "duration": 14400,  // 4 hours
      "resumable": true   // Can be interrupted by breaks
    },
    {
      "name": "quick-repair",
      "location": {"latitude": 52.523, "longitude": 13.401},
      "duration": 1800,   // 30 minutes
      "resumable": false  // Must be completed without interruption (default)
    }
  ],
  "resources": [
    {
      "name": "technician-1",
      "shifts": [{
        "from": "2024-03-15T08:00:00Z",
        "to": "2024-03-15T17:00:00Z",
        "breaks": [{
          "type": "WINDOWED",
          "from": "2024-03-15T12:00:00Z",
          "to": "2024-03-15T13:00:00Z",
          "duration": 3600  // 1-hour lunch break
        }]
      }]
    }
  ]
}

Default Behavior: Jobs are non-resumable by default (resumable: false). Only explicitly mark jobs as resumable when interruption is acceptable.

How Resumable Jobs Work

Break Interruption Process

Job Starts

Technician begins the resumable job at scheduled time

Break Time Arrives

When break window is reached, current job is paused

Break Taken

Resource takes the scheduled break (at depot or current location). If the unavailability break defines a start/end location, the travel from the job to the break’s start location and back from its end location is added to the job’s duration.

Job Resumes

After break completion, job automatically resumes where it left off

Job Completes

Remaining duration is completed after the break

Example Timeline

For a 4-hour resumable job with a 1-hour lunch break:

00 - Arrive at job location
00 - Start 4-hour installation (resumable)
00 - Pause job for lunch break (4 hours completed)
00 - Take lunch break
00 - Resume installation
00 - Complete installation
00 - Available for next job

Use Cases

Long Service Appointments

Handle extended service calls with mandatory breaks:

{
  "jobs": [
    {
      "name": "server-room-upgrade",
      "duration": 21600,  // 6 hours
      "resumable": true,
      "windows": [{
        "from": "2024-03-15T08:00:00Z",
        "to": "2024-03-15T18:00:00Z"
      }]
    }
  ],
  "resources": [{
    "name": "it-specialist",
    "shifts": [{
      "from": "2024-03-15T08:00:00Z",
      "to": "2024-03-15T18:00:00Z",
      "breaks": [
        {
          "type": "WINDOWED",
          "from": "2024-03-15T10:00:00Z",
          "to": "2024-03-15T10:30:00Z",
          "duration": 900  // 15-min morning break
        },
        {
          "type": "WINDOWED",
          "from": "2024-03-15T12:00:00Z",
          "to": "2024-03-15T13:00:00Z",
          "duration": 3600  // 1-hour lunch
        },
        {
          "type": "WINDOWED",
          "from": "2024-03-15T15:00:00Z",
          "to": "2024-03-15T15:30:00Z",
          "duration": 900  // 15-min afternoon break
        }
      ]
    }]
  }]
}

Construction and Installation

Manage multi-hour installations with regulated breaks:

{
  "jobs": [
    {
      "name": "kitchen-installation",
      "duration": 18000,  // 5 hours
      "resumable": true,
      "tags": [{"name": "installation", "hard": true}]
    },
    {
      "name": "appliance-delivery",
      "duration": 1200,   // 20 minutes
      "resumable": false  // Quick task, don't interrupt
    }
  ]
}

Healthcare Services

Extended patient care with mandatory rest periods:

{
  "jobs": [
    {
      "name": "home-care-visit",
      "duration": 10800,  // 3 hours
      "resumable": true,
      "priority": 100
    }
  ],
  "resources": [{
    "name": "caregiver",
    "shifts": [{
      "from": "2024-03-15T08:00:00Z",
      "to": "2024-03-15T16:00:00Z",
      "breaks": [{
        "type": "WINDOWED",
        "from": "2024-03-15T11:00:00Z",
        "to": "2024-03-15T12:00:00Z",
        "duration": 1800  // 30-min break
      }]
    }]
  }]
}

Interaction with Break Types

Windowed Breaks

Most flexible - solver optimizes when to interrupt:

{
  "breaks": [{
    "type": "WINDOWED",
    "from": "2024-03-15T11:00:00Z",
    "to": "2024-03-15T14:00:00Z",
    "duration": 3600
  }]
}

Drive Breaks

Interrupts based on accumulated driving time:

{
  "breaks": [{
    "type": "DRIVE",
    "driveTime": 16200,  // After 4.5 hours driving
    "duration": 2700     // 45-minute break
  }]
}

Unavailability Breaks

Resource completely unavailable - resumable jobs pause:

{
  "breaks": [{
    "type": "UNAVAILABILITY",
    "from": "2024-03-15T13:00:00Z",
    "to": "2024-03-15T14:00:00Z"
  }]
}

Best Practices

Identify Interruptible Work

Only mark jobs resumable if the work can actually be paused safely

Consider Customer Impact

Ensure customers are aware that service may include break periods

Set Realistic Durations

Account for any setup/cleanup time needed when resuming

Combine with Time Windows

Use time windows to ensure resumable jobs fit within acceptable hours

Common Scenarios

Mixed Job Types

Combine resumable and non-resumable jobs:

{
  "jobs": [
    {
      "name": "emergency-repair",
      "duration": 2700,
      "resumable": false,  // Cannot interrupt emergency work
      "priority": 100
    },
    {
      "name": "preventive-maintenance",
      "duration": 14400,
      "resumable": true,   // Can pause for breaks
      "priority": 50
    }
  ]
}

Multiple Break Interruptions

Long jobs interrupted by multiple breaks:

00 - Start 8-hour project (resumable)
00 - First break (15 min)
15 - Resume project
30 - Lunch break (1 hour)  
30 - Resume project
30 - Afternoon break (15 min)
45 - Resume project
45 - Complete project

Constraints and Behavior

Important Considerations:

Non-resumable jobs cannot be scheduled if they would conflict with mandatory breaks
Break travel time (if returning to depot) is added to the total time
Jobs can be resumed multiple times if interrupted by multiple breaks

Solver Behavior:

Automatically calculates optimal break placement for resumable jobs
Ensures breaks don’t violate job time windows
Minimizes total completion time including break interruptions

Performance Impact

Resumable jobs add complexity to route optimization:

Factor	Impact
Few resumable jobs	Minimal impact
Many resumable jobs	Moderate impact
Complex break patterns	Higher impact
Tight time windows	Highest impact

Troubleshooting

Job Not Scheduled Despite Being Resumable

Causes:

Time window too tight for job + breaks
Break location adds too much travel time
Other constraints preventing assignment

Solutions:

Widen job time windows
Use “ANY” location breaks
Check for conflicting constraints

Inefficient Break Placement

Causes:

Fixed break times not optimal
Too many short breaks

Solutions:

Use windowed breaks for flexibility
Consolidate multiple short breaks
Review break necessity

Customer Dissatisfaction

Causes:

Unexpected service interruption
Extended total service time

Solutions:

Communicate break policy upfront
Schedule resumable jobs early in shift
Consider customer preferences

Integration Examples

With Job Complexity

Balance complex resumable work:

{
  "jobs": [
    {
      "name": "complex-installation",
      "duration": 14400,
      "resumable": true,
      "complexity": 8  // High complexity work
    }
  ]
}

With Rankings

Assign resumable jobs to preferred resources:

{
  "jobs": [
    {
      "name": "vip-service",
      "duration": 10800,
      "resumable": true,
      "rankings": [
        {"name": "senior-tech", "ranking": 1}
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Break Management

Configure various break types and rules

Time Windows

Coordinate job timing with breaks

Job Complexity

Balance workload with resumable jobs

Advanced Constraints

Additional scheduling constraints

Platform

VRP API

Fill API

Resumable Jobs

Resumable Jobs

Overview

Basic Configuration

Making Jobs Resumable

How Resumable Jobs Work

Break Interruption Process

Example Timeline

Use Cases

Long Service Appointments

Construction and Installation

Healthcare Services

Interaction with Break Types

Windowed Breaks

Drive Breaks

Unavailability Breaks

Best Practices

Common Scenarios

Mixed Job Types

Multiple Break Interruptions

Constraints and Behavior

Performance Impact

Troubleshooting

Integration Examples

With Job Complexity

With Rankings

Break Management

Time Windows

Job Complexity

Advanced Constraints

​Resumable Jobs

​Overview

​Basic Configuration

​Making Jobs Resumable

​How Resumable Jobs Work

​Break Interruption Process

​Example Timeline

​Use Cases

​Long Service Appointments

​Construction and Installation

​Healthcare Services

​Interaction with Break Types

​Windowed Breaks

​Drive Breaks

​Unavailability Breaks

​Best Practices

​Common Scenarios

​Mixed Job Types

​Multiple Break Interruptions

​Constraints and Behavior

​Performance Impact

​Troubleshooting

​Integration Examples

​With Job Complexity

​With Rankings

​Related Features

Break Management

Time Windows

Job Complexity

Advanced Constraints

Resumable Jobs

Overview

Basic Configuration

Making Jobs Resumable

How Resumable Jobs Work

Break Interruption Process

Example Timeline

Use Cases

Long Service Appointments

Construction and Installation

Healthcare Services

Interaction with Break Types

Windowed Breaks

Drive Breaks

Unavailability Breaks

Best Practices

Common Scenarios

Mixed Job Types

Multiple Break Interruptions

Constraints and Behavior

Performance Impact

Troubleshooting

Integration Examples

With Job Complexity

With Rankings

Related Features