There are two main approaches used for vehicle routing: High Density Routing and Low Density Routing. Each is used for different types of application.

A Low Density approach will evaluate every possible routing option. It can take account of more individual options and parameters than high density approaches but becomes unmanageable in terms of computer speed when the number of points required to be visited is greater than 1,000 or so. Typical applications are parcel or product delivery and industrial waste containers.

The High Density approach is required when considerably more points require to be visited. Examples are postal delivery, waste collection, street sweeping, road gritting, meter reading, housing inspection and newspaper / magazine delivery. For High Density, ISL offers RouteSmart™, "the world’s most intelligent routing system".

Read more about high and low density routing.