Why easymap? – The software for your territory planning
easymap is the ideal map software for your territory planning. From use in sales, to planning marketing activities or use in controlling, there are many possible applications for our software. In the “Why easymap?” series, we introduce you to the functions of our software. We start with its use in sales territory planning.
But what exactly is territory planning?
Territory planning is the strategic and optimal use of available company resources in sales or field service. This is achieved by dividing the sales or service territory into sub-areas as efficiently as possible. The resources include, for example, sales staff, branches, warehouses, service centers or marketing activities. The objectives of strategic territory planning include optimized coverage of the market area, improvement of service quality and cost minimization.
What benefits can be achieved with optimal territory planning?
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Increased efficiency
By dividing territories according to the skills and resources of sales or service employees, it is possible to ensure that they are deployed efficiently and that territory allocations are sustainable. When planning delivery areas, the aim is to minimize delivery times across all delivery and warehouse locations. Service centers and service areas can be planned in such a way that as many customers as possible can be served. In addition to increasing quality, this also ensures that customers are comprehensively supplied.
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Growth in sales
With intelligent territory planning, sales activities can also be coordinated in a targeted manner and contact persons are clearly defined. Shortening travel times during route planning also enables better coverage of customers and the development of more personal on-site relationships. This not only improves relationships, but can also increase sales.
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Cost efficiency
The iterative process of territory planning enables flexible adaptation to changes in the market, customer structure or customer requirements through regular reviews. In addition to the efficiency gained in this way, costs can also be saved.
The easymap map software as ideal support for your territory planning.
How is territory planning effectively implemented on digital maps?
Territory planning is usually carried out by means of various spatial surveys of the market area. This is exactly where easymap comes in as a GIS and mapping software that has been tried and tested over many years. Depending on the objective, easymap can be used to analyze catchment areas, customer density or customer potential based on the company’s customer data.
easymap adds a spatial dimension to your CRM system through the simple transfer of your customer data to digital maps using integrated geocoding. Optimization measures can be easily derived from the heat maps created in the blink of an eye, the calculation of travel times or the mere visualization of your market coverage by your sales staff.
What approaches are there for territory planning?
Once the market and the target groups are known, these should be documented with corresponding visit frequencies and visit durations. There are two approaches. Either the limited availability of personnel resources limits the number of possible visits or the level of personnel resources results from the visit definitions.
In addition to these two central factors, there are many other factors that should be taken into account, such as the skills of employees or customers, hierarchies, branch and network structures, historical motivations, local conditions and differences, etc. With framework tour planning or workload planning, visit duration and travel times can be put in even better relation and round off an optimized territory structure.
All these variables can be integrated into easymap and the time spent using different planning tools is a thing of the past in your company.
What are common mistakes in territory planning?
A lack of communication and cooperation between different departments in the company, as well as the late involvement of stakeholders of all kinds, such as sales management, works council, marketing or office staff, often lead to a lack of acceptance for changes to territory structures.
Over time, a lack of review and adaptation means that the company is no longer able to continuously improve sales strategies and thus react to changes in the market. This often leads to an unbalanced strain on resources and uneven customer service.
Particularly when market conditions or the company’s portfolio change, a lack of or inadequate customer segmentation means that employees are unable to respond adequately to customers and make suitable offers.
With easymap and our comprehensive customer support we will help you to avoid these mistakes and instead optimize your sales.
If you have any questions about easymap and the use of the map software for your territory planning, please contact our team by email (vertrieb@infas360.de) or by phone (+49 228 9591 490).
This post is also available in: DE
