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Sales Route Planners: What They Are + How to Choose One

Sales route planning has evolved beyond basic navigation and emerged as the key to unlocking unparalleled time efficiency and maximizing results in the field.

In the dynamic world of field sales, simply getting from client A to client B is no longer sufficient. It’s about finding the optimal path that seamlessly integrates with your sales strategy, empowering you to exceed quotas and surpass customer expectations.

While tools like Google Maps and Waze offer multiple stop options, they lack the essential features that truly elevate your sales game.

Get ready to delve into the game-changing sales route planners and optimizers that will revolutionize your field sales journey.

Sales Route Planners: Unlocking Productivity

First, let’s explore what sales route planners are, why they matter to field sales reps, and how they differs from “regular” route planners.

What is a Sales Route Planner?

Sales route planners are tools designed to help field sales reps efficiently map out their customer visits and navigate through multiple stops. These planners provide efficient routes, directions, and turn-by-turn guidance, streamlining the sales journey and attempting to maximize productivity on the road.

Why are Sales Route Planners important?

Did you know that field sales people spend an average of 21 hours behind the wheel per week? This is why sales route planners are essential tools for today’s road warriors. These tools are also important for the following reasons:

Time Efficiency: By efficiently planning routes and minimizing travel time, sales reps can maximize their productivity and visit more customers within their limited schedule.
Improved Productivity: Streamlined routes enable sales reps to focus on selling rather than getting lost or wasting time on inefficient routes, leading to increased sales productivity.
Enhanced Customer Experience: With well-planned routes, sales reps can arrive promptly, provide better service, and foster stronger customer relationships.

How do Sales Route Planners work?

Sales route planners work by utilizing advanced algorithms and mapping technology to help field sales reps effectively navigate their customer visits. Here’s how they work:

Input: Sales reps input their desired stops or import customer data into the route planner, specifying the order of visits.
Calculation: The route planner calculates the most efficient sequence of stops based on factors like distance, traffic conditions, and appointment time windows.
Route Generation: The tool generates a well-structured route plan, complete with turn-by-turn directions, to guide sales reps through their sales journey.
Real-time Updates: Some route planners, like Badger Maps or Sales Rabbit, provide real-time updates, allowing sales reps to adapt to changes on the go and stay on track with their routes.

Curious what makes sales route optimizers like Veloxy better than planners? Stay tuned!

Google Maps and Waze as Route Planners?

Are Google Maps and Waze truly your best companions on the winding road of field sales? Let’s embark on an exhilarating journey of exploration and uncover the truth behind their allure.

Go here to read MK’s Guide on Google Maps vs. Waze

The Appeal & Shortcomings

While Google Maps and Waze have their undeniable appeal in everyday travel, they fall short when it comes to the unique demands of sales routes. Here’s why:

Inefficiencies and Lack of Route Optimization: Planning a route manually with these navigation apps can be a time-consuming ordeal. There’s no intelligent optimization at play, leaving you to wander through an overwhelming maze of possibilities without a guiding light.
Arrival Time and Customer Information: Picture this: you reach your destination, but you’re left scrambling to access crucial customer details. Google and Waze may steer you in the right direction, but they don’t seamlessly integrate with your CRM or provide easy access to customer intelligence.

Google Maps vs. Waze

If you’re contemplating which app to rely on for your sales route planning adventures, here’s a brief comparison:

Google Maps: It’s the undisputed king of navigation, offering reliable directions and traffic information. However, its limitations in terms of sales-focused features and route optimization may leave you longing for more.
Waze: Known for its crowd-sourced traffic data and interactive features, Waze adds a dash of excitement to your journey. Yet, similar to Google, it lacks the sales-specific functionalities that can truly transform your field sales (or outside sales) game.

Curiosity Strikes? Try 'em Out!

If you’re itching to test the waters or see how Google and Waze handle your sales routes, here’s a quick guide:

Google Maps: Open the app, enter up to 10 stops in the order you desire, and behold your manually planned route. Just remember, without the guiding hand of intelligent optimization, you might be missing out on a more efficient path.
Waze: Seek the thrill of navigating with Waze by following a similar process to Google. Experience its lively interface, voice alerts, and user-contributed traffic reports. But remember, the missing sales-centric features might leave you yearning for a more tailored solution.

Sales Route Planner vs. Google Maps and Waze

In the realm of field sales, where every minute counts and customer interactions are paramount, a dedicated route planner takes center stage, setting itself apart from the likes of Google Maps and Waze. Let’s explore the unique benefits that a route planner brings to your business trips and how it differentiates itself from other navigation tools.

The Power of Customized Planning

Are you ready for the complexity of sales routes? Brace yourself for the staggering number of possibilities.

Depending on the city you’re in, even a route with just 10 destinations can have over 100,000 unique plans.

That’s where the true value of a sales route planner shines.

Don’t leave your sales journey to chance. With a dedicated sales route planner, you have the advantage of carefully selecting the best route, avoiding the gamble of randomly choosing from thousands of less-optimal options. Take control of your sales journey and ensure every decision leads to maximum efficiency and success.

Embrace the power of a sales route planner that combines strategic planning, expanded sales opportunities, and valuable insights. It’s time to unlock your full sales potential and leave no room for chance.

Advantages of Sales Route Optimizers

Sales route optimizers take route planning to a whole new level, harnessing the power of cutting-edge technology, buyer propensity analysis, and intelligent Sales AI algorithms to revolutionize your field sales journey. Let’s dive into the remarkable advantages they bring to the table.

The Power of Sales Route Optimization

Say goodbye to manual planning and embrace the dynamic intelligence of sales route optimizers.

These innovative tools consider multiple factors, including sales visits, time windows, and buyer propensity, to conjure up the optimal sequence of visits. By optimizing your sales routes, they unlock a world of benefits:

Reduced Travel Time: Bid farewell to hours spent on the road. Optimizers slash travel time by calculating the most efficient sales routes, enabling you to reach more customers in less time.
Cost Savings: As your travel time decreases, so do your expenses. By minimizing fuel consumption and reducing wear and tear on your vehicle, optimizers help you save on costs.
Increased Customer Reach & Coverage: Expand your customer reach without stretching your resources. With optimized sales routes, you can effortlessly navigate through territories, maximizing your potential to connect with all clients in as little time as possible

Real-Time Adaptability & Data-Driven Insights

The world of sales is ever-changing, and sales route optimizers are designed to thrive in this dynamic environment. They seamlessly adapt to real-time updates, whether it’s traffic congestion or unexpected customer detours. Their adaptability ensures you stay one step ahead, reaching your customers without delays or disruptions.

But the benefits don’t stop there!

Optimizers unravel hidden patterns and reveal untapped sales opportunities. With geolocation intelligence and data-driven insights at your fingertips, you become a master strategist, making informed decisions that pave the way for unparalleled success.

Embrace the power of sales route optimization and unleash your full sales potential with Veloxy. With their unrivaled expertise in smart route mapping, geolocation intelligence, and advanced features tailored for sales professionals, Veloxy takes your field sales journey to new heights. It’s time to elevate your sales game and experience the true power of optimization.

Choosing the Right Sales Route Planner or Optimizer

When it comes to selecting a sales route planner or optimizer, one size doesn’t fit all. It’s crucial to choose a solution specifically tailored to the unique needs and challenges of field sales professionals such as yourself.

You can view a field sales software grid here.

Let’s explore some of the top players in the market and their distinctive features:

Veloxy: Unleash Your Sales Potential

Veloxy is a trailblazer in the field sales route optimization arena. This powerful tool goes beyond route planning, offering a comprehensive suite of features integrated with Salesforce.

Here’s what sets Veloxy apart:

Seamless Salesforce Integration: Veloxy seamlessly integrates with Salesforce, providing a unified platform to manage customer information and streamline your sales workflow.
Sales Engagement Capabilities: With just a click, initiate sales engagement activities like customer calls and cold emails, ensuring a seamless transition between sales route planning and customer interactions.
Geolocation Intelligence: Veloxy’s geolocation intelligence empowers you to discover new prospects in your vicinity, expanding your customer base and uncovering hidden opportunities.
Dynamic Routing: The dynamic routing feature helps you pivot to the next best destination when a customer cancels at the last minute. Other route tools make you manually reset everything, which is a waste of your precious time.

Badger Maps

For non-Salesforce CRM users, Badger offers a compelling option. While it may not have the extensive sales engagement features of Veloxy, Badger excels in personalized data visualization and tailored onboarding.

Here’s what makes Badger a standout:

Personalized Data Visualization: Badger allows you to visualize your data in a way that suits your unique needs, enabling you to gain valuable insights and make informed decisions.
Dedicated Manager Support: With Badger, you receive dedicated manager support to ensure a smooth onboarding process and personalized assistance tailored to your requirements.
Lasso Feature: Badger’s innovative ‘Lasso’ feature allows you to draw a section on the map, generating an optimized route for that specific area.

GeoPointe

GeoPointe is a popular choice among Territory Managers who oversee multiple field sales representatives. It offers robust features for efficiently mapping out territories and maximizing revenue potential. Here’s what makes GeoPointe a preferred option:

Territory Management: GeoPointe enables Territory Managers to efficiently map out territories, ensuring effective sales route planning and revenue maximization.
Thematic and Heat Mapping: Say goodbye to spreadsheet field sales reporting. GeoPointe provides thematic and heat mapping functionalities, allowing you to identify hot opportunities and prioritize trips for your team.

Embracing the Power of Sales Route Optimizers

Say goodbye to the days of manual sales route planning and embrace the efficiency and productivity of field sales route optimizers. Here’s why you should make the switch:

1. Enhanced Sales Coverage: Field sales route optimizers unlock the potential for increased sales coverage, allowing you to reach more customers and prospects within the same timeframe.

2. Staying Ahead of the Competition: By leveraging route optimizers, you gain a competitive edge in the field. Stay one step ahead of your competitors by efficiently navigating through territories and maximizing your time with customers.

3. Insights for Strategic Decision-Making: Field sales route optimizers provide valuable insights into customer behavior, helping you make data-driven decisions to prioritize and strategize your sales efforts.

Now is the time to explore the benefits of route optimizers like Veloxy. Crush your sales quotas and achieve unparalleled success. Schedule a call with me to learn more about how Veloxy can revolutionize your field sales journey.

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