How to Unplan a Task

This article explains how to unplan a task and shares additional useful information about this functionality.

Content: 

• Overview
• How to Unplan a Task
• Why would I want to unplan a task?
• Technical Process When a task is unplanned
• Good to know

Overview 

Unplanning a task in Urbantz removes the assigned date and time window, returning the task to an "unplanned" status. This allows the task to be rescheduled later, either by through the web application or by recipients through the tracking page.

How to Unplan a Task

Method 1: Through Task Details

• Navigate to the specific task in the task overview.

• Click on the "Unplan" button.

  
   

• Note that the action is immediate and no warning appears, the task will immediately be unplanned. 
   

Method 2: Bulk Operations

• Select multiple tasks in the task overview.
• Use the bulk update functionality to unplan multiple tasks simultaneously.

• Select update status- unplanned

Technical Process When a task is unplanned:

• The task progress changes to "UNPLANNED".
• All items within the task are set to "PENDING" status.
• The time window, round assignment, driver, and sequence information are removed.
• The task is moved back to the active collection if it was archived.
• The Capacity used by the task in the associated timeslot is released and becomes available.
• A notification is sent for "schedule-unplanned" if configured.
• Webhooks are triggered to notify external systems if configured. 
   

Why would I want to unplan a task? 

Unplanning a task might be needed depending on your operational needs, such as: 

1. Failed Deliveries/Pickups When tasks are marked as "Delivery Failed" or "Pickup Failed", unplanning allows recipients to choose new delivery times themselves via the tracking page, rather than having dispatchers manually reschedule them.
    
2. Capacity Management
   • Release capacity from overbooked timeslots.
   • Make room for higher-priority deliveries.
   • Adjust to unexpected capacity constraints.
      
3. Customer Self-Service
   • Allow recipients to reschedule their own deliveries.
   • Reduce dispatcher workload for routine rescheduling.
   • Improve customer satisfaction through flexible scheduling.
      
4. Planning Flow Management
   • Return tasks to the pool for automatic optimization.
   • Handle changes in delivery requirements.
   • Manage tasks that need different time windows.
      
      

Good to know

• Tasks can only be unplanned if they are not currently in an active round.
• The flow configuration must allow unplanned tasks. 

• Unplanned tasks cannot be optimized until they receive a new time window.
• Recipients will receive notifications when tasks become available for rescheduling.

• The platform Manager can define limit of the times when a task can be replanned 'Limit the number of bookings allowed' and set it under 'Maximum number of bookings allowed'