Category:HWeb Agent

Mileage Pricing in HWeb Agent

One of the very powerful features in the HWeb Agent application is the ability to produce fares for various services based on mileage. As with a Taxi service, it is possible to charge clients for different services based on the mileage between the pickup location and drop off location. This is called Point to Point pricing using mileage. To configure for fares based on mileage, the following steps will be completed:

1. Create and import a Point to Point fare file (ptpfares.csv)
2. Create and import a Zone file, zone.csv (optionally)
   
3. Run the HWeb Admin Mapping utility
4. Modify HWeb configuration

Create and Import a Point to Point fare file

The quickest way to accomplish this task is to make a copy of your largest and most complete airport fares file and then save the copy as: ptpfares.csv. Make sure that all locations you wish to calculate point to point fares for are included on this list. If you have additional airport fare tables with different locations listed, you may need to copy the locations from these fare tables into your ptpfares table. Once the ptpfares.csv file has been saved, go in to the file and remove all fare values that are displayed under the service type columns.  Open the HWeb Agent and import the ptpfare table in the normal manner.

Optionally: The next step is to look at a map and to group all of your fare records into geographic zones.** While each fare record can be it’s own unique zone, it will be easiest to group towns that are geographically close as the same zone. For each fare record in the ptpfares file, enter a zone number in the format Z01, Z02…Z##, in column labeled "Zone Price Record ID". Open the HWeb Agent and import the ptpfare table in the normal manner.

Create and import a zone file (Optionally)

This step will be required if you wish to manually determine or override a fare for any one or more location combinations from the ptpfares.csv file created above. For example: the mapping utility determines that the distance between Jonesville (Z05) and Smithtown (Z23) is 10 miles, and that due to the mileage calculation parameters as defined in the HWeb configuration (see step 4 below), the fare for point to point sedan service will be $35. You wish to override this town combination and set the fare to $49.

Following the Knowledge Base layout guidelines presented HERE, create and import a zone.csv table. In this table, you will list the zone combinations you wish to provide specific fares for. Using the example above, we will have two rows on our zone.csv file starting with Z05.Z23 and Z23.Z05 respectively. In the column where sedan service fares are listed, we will enter 49. This fare will now be displayed for point to point fares between these two towns.

Run the HWeb Admin Mapping Utility

You must have Microsoft MapPoint installed on your system to accomplish this task. The mapping software will look at all locations in your ptpfares.csv file and will calculate road-based mileage and travel times for every possible combination of locations listed on the fare file. A new table will be created in your SQL database named Mapinfo where these location combinations, distance and travel times will be stored.

• Open HWeb Admin
• Select General Functions - Mapping - Create map points
• Select Execute to begin the map point generation process afeter checking one of the following options - if applicable
  
  • If you wish to redraw all combinations and distances, place a check mark next to ReCreate table (may take hours to days to complete)
  • If you wish to simply update mapping combinations for new locations added to your ptpfares.csv file, place a check mark next to "Update only new records."
    

Modify the HWeb Configuration settings

• Open any of the HWeb applications and go to Tools - Configuration - Fare and Services - Services Tab
• Scroll to the columns listed below and adjust values for each service as desired:
  • Mileage calc allowed? ~ Place a check mark in this field to enable mileage pricing for desired services
  • Mileage rate ($): ~ Place the dollar value to be charged per mile for this service type. Values may be other than whole dollar amounts. Ex: 1.50, 7.23, etc.
  • Mileage Rounding ~ Enter the whole number to which you wish all fares to be rounded. Entering a "1" will result in fares being rounded to the nearest whole dollar. Entering a "5" will round fares to the nearest 5 dollar increment, etc.
  • Mileage Minimum ~ Enter the number of miles that will be used to calculate fares for shorter distances. Ex: For towns that are only 2 miles apart, you may desire to charge a fare equal to a minimum of 10 miles. Entering a 10 in this field will accomplish this task for all trips where the mileage is less than 10 between the pickup and dropoff locations.
    
  • Mileage Minimum Rate ~ Enter the base fare to be charged for the vehicle. Additional fare will be added to this, based on number of miles and mileage rate. Ex: if Mileage minimum rate is $15, and the vehicle is traveling 10 miles @ $2.50 per mile, the total fare will be: $15 + $25 = $40.  This is effectively the same as the manner in which Taxis charge:  Base rate to enter the vehicle, then an additional amount for distance traveled.
  • Deadhead mileage To location allowed? ~ Enable if you want to charge deadhead mileage from base to the pickup point
  • Deadhead mileage To location key ~ Fare key to consider your start point
  • Deadhead mileage From location allowed? ~ Enable if you want to charge deadhead mileage from the dropoff point back to base.
  • Deadhead mileage From location key ~ Fare key to consider as your ending point.  Normally the same as start point.

  • Deadhead mileage rate ($) ~ Place the dollar value to be charged per mile for this service type.
    Values may be other than whole dollar amounts. Ex: 1.50, 7.23, etc.

  • Deadhead mileage minimum ~ Enter the number of miles that will be used to calculate fares for
    shorter distances. Ex: For towns that are only 2 miles apart, you may
    desire to charge a fare equal to a minimum of 10 miles. Entering a 10 in
    this field will accomplish this task for all trips where the mileage is
    less than 10 between the pickup and dropoff locations.

  • Deadhead mileage minimum rate ~ Enter the base fare to be charged for the vehicle. Additional fare
    will be added to this, based on number of miles and mileage rate. Ex: if
    Mileage minimum rate is $15, and the vehicle is traveling 10 miles @
    $2.50 per mile, the total fare will be: $15 + $25 = $40.  This is
    effectively the same as the manner in which Taxis charge:  Base rate to
    enter the vehicle, then an additional amount for distance traveled.

  • Click Apply to save changes.
• Directions Tab - Ensure that the Point to Point direction type has been enabled.
• Open Tools - Configuration - Advanced Features - Reservation 2 Tab. Put a check mark next to the text: Enable mapinfo record lookups.
• Click Apply and OK to save changes.
• Press F11 key to refresh your configuration.

After completing the above steps, you can test the mileage calculation system by starting a new reservation and making the direction equal to Point to Point. After selecting your pickup, dropoff locations and date, press the enter key to display fares and services. Pressing the F11 key while in the Fare and Availability screen will open a Fare Trace window. This window will display the tables and fare records used, along with distances and travel times from the Mapinfo table, showing how the fare(s) were reached.

Categories:

• HWeb Agent