Getting Started
This guide will walk you through setting up your RouteBot account and help you understand the basics of the platform.
Creating Your Account
Sign Up
- Visit the RouteBot website and click Book Demo or Sign Up
- Enter your information:
- Name - Your full name
- Email - A valid email address (this will be your login)
- Password - Create a secure password
- Click Create Account
Verify Your Email
After signing up, you'll receive a verification email:
- Check your inbox for an email from RouteBot
- Click the verification link in the email
- Your email will be confirmed and you can start using all features
Note: Some features may be limited until you verify your email. You can resend the verification email from your dashboard if needed.
First Login
When you first log in to RouteBot, you'll see the Dashboard with helpful setup guidance.
Choosing Your Transport Type
On your first login, a modal will appear asking you to select your transport type:
- School Transportation - For managing school bus services for students
- Employee Transportation - For managing shuttle services for employees
This selection helps RouteBot:
- Show you the most relevant features for your needs
- Configure appropriate default settings
- Display the right navigation options
- Pre-populate helpful sample data
Note: You can work with both transportation types, but this initial selection determines which features are shown by default.
Demo Data
After selecting your transport type, you'll be asked if you want to start with demo data:
Accept Demo Data:
- Your account will be populated with sample data
- Explore features with realistic examples
- Learn how the system works before adding real data
- Demo data can be cleared later
Skip Demo Data:
- Start with a completely clean account
- Add your own data from scratch
- Recommended if you're ready to enter real information
Demo Account Badge
If your account contains demo data, you'll see a "Demo Account" badge in the navigation bar. This reminds you that you're working with sample data.
Understanding the Dashboard
The Dashboard is your home screen in RouteBot. It provides:
Quick Status Overview
- Number of Parents - Total parent accounts in your system
- Number of Students - Total students being transported
- Number of Routes - Active vehicle routes
- Number of Schools - Schools or companies configured
Setup Progress
The dashboard shows your setup progress with helpful indicators:
- Checkmarks for completed setup steps
- Quick links to add missing data
- Suggestions for next steps
Email Verification Warning
If your email isn't verified yet, you'll see a warning banner with:
- Information about why verification is important
- A button to resend the verification email
Navigation Overview
RouteBot's main navigation is located at the top of the screen. Depending on your permissions, you may see:
| Menu Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Users | Manage parents, students, employees, and drivers |
| Stops | Manage pickup/drop-off stop locations |
| Services | Create and manage transportation routes |
| Transfers | Point-to-point transfer management |
| Shifts | Configure work shifts (for employee transport) |
| Shift Management | Advanced shift service operations |
| Live | Real-time vehicle tracking |
| Accounting | Contracts, payments, and financial reports |
| Analysis | Data validation and shift service reports |
| Inventory | Fleet management (vehicles, maintenance, fuel) |
| Clients | Manage schools and companies |
| Settings | Profile, team, subscription, and help |
Tip: Not all menu items appear for all users. What you see depends on your account permissions and the features enabled for your organization.
Your First Steps
Here's the recommended order for setting up RouteBot:
For School Transportation
- Add your school(s) - Go to Clients and create your school with its address
- Add parents - Go to Users > Parents and add parent contact information
- Add students - Go to Users > Students and add student details with addresses
- Link parents to students - Connect each student to their parent(s)
- Create routes - Go to Services and create your first vehicle route
- Add drivers - Go to Users > Drivers and add your driver information
- Assign students to routes - Add students to the appropriate routes
For Employee Transportation
- Add your company - Go to Clients > Corporate Clients and create your company with its address
- Add employees - Go to Users > Employees and add employee information with addresses
- Create services - Go to Services and set up your shuttle services
- Add drivers - Go to Users > Drivers and add your driver information
- Assign employees to services - Add employees to the appropriate services
- (Optional) Set up shifts - Go to Shifts if you have shift-based transportation
- (Optional) Set up stops - Go to Stops if you use centralized pickup points
Profile Settings
Before diving into data entry, you may want to set up your profile:
- Click the Settings icon in the navigation
- Update your profile information:
- Name - Your display name
- Phone Number - Your contact number
- Timezone - Select your local timezone
- Country - Your country
- Address - Your business address
Getting Help
As you use RouteBot, you can always:
- Refer to this help center for detailed guides
- Contact our support team at support@routebot.com
- Use the in-app tooltips and descriptions for quick help
Next Steps:
- Managing Schools - Set up your school locations
- Managing Companies - Set up company locations for employee transport
- Managing Students - Add students to your system
- Managing Employees - Add employees to your system