Route Management
Introduction
Route Management Context
Advantages of Route Management
Route Management is the planning and optimization of routes for the field team.
Route management plays a pivotal role in optimizing field team operations, enhancing visit efficiency, and maximizing coverage. By strategically planning and optimizing routes, businesses can significantly improve their overall productivity and customer satisfaction.
In this section, we'll dive into three key aspects of route management:
Route Module Setup
Sales Recommendation
Activity guide
Setting up the route management feature within the web application is essential for businesses seeking to optimize their field team operations.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to configure:
Step 1: Enabling the Route Feature:
To enable the route feature, navigate to the settings of the desired client and enable/toggle on the Route Management feature within the Addon section of the web application.
Step 2: Defining of roles for Mobile Users:
For route management to function efficiently, it is essential to assign the appropriate user roles.
For example, if Van Salesmen are expected to use this feature, their roles must be clearly defined and selected to enable access to route management feature.
To assign the roles:
Navigate to the Client Settings page on your desired client environment.
Go to the Addon section.
Select the designated role for users who need access to route management.
By ensuring the correct roles are assigned, each user will have access to the necessary functionalities based on their role and responsibilities within the organization.
Step 3: Configure Customer Details:
Within the customer list schema, configure Customers' Route Day & GPS Location question.
To do this, edit the customer details on the customer section to include accurate GPS locations and designate specific route days for each customer, this is done through the bulk edit option on the list
By including GPS locations for each customer in the customer list, enables the feature to accurately plot the locations of customers on maps.
This information is essential for generating optimized routes that minimize travel time and distance between visits.
Note: The accuracy of GPS location is crucial for the functioning of Google Maps and other location-based services.
Let’s dive into why GPS accuracy matters:
Navigation Precision:
Google Maps relies on accurate GPS coordinates to provide precise navigation, ensuring accurate turn-by-turn directions for users. Inaccurate GPS data could lead to wrong directions or unexpected delays.
Traffic Estimation and Routing:
Accurate GPS information is crucial for Google Maps to calculate optimal routes based on real-time traffic data. Incorrect location data might result in suboptimal routes or longer travel times for field teams.
Step 4: Creation of routes:
Route creation is done based on the specific route days for each customer defined by the client in which the users need to adhere to.
The route creation is done on the backend and uploaded to the calendar where the field users can be able to see the customers they need to visit arranged by distance nearest to them, based on their location and they are able to optimise as they move so the outlets can rearrange themselves.
They can also see the order of visit on the map.
Sales recommendation is a pivotal aspect of route management, particularly in optimizing field team operations and maximizing sales potential.
We have developed a system that recommends Van Sales Men (VSMs) on what to load on their trucks for the day based on customer purchase history and purchase patterns within their route. Here's how it works:
Our solution considers the financial targets of sales representatives and customer purchase behavior observed over the last months to compute a daily loading guide for each VSM.
VSMs can access their loading guide directly from the mobile app, receiving sales recommendations per outlet to help manage their product loading and daily visits effectively.
Additionally, we provide insights about adherence to sales recommendations, loading guide adherence, progression of monthly target achievement, and more.
The system takes into account various factors such as distance, traffic, cluster optimization, and monthly target completions to provide the best possible routes for VSMs, enhancing overall efficiency and productivity.
Our Activity Guide is a comprehensive tool designed to empower field teams with actionable insights, guiding them on what products to sell to each outlet based on historical sales data and monthly targets.
In addition to historical sales data, the Activity Guide aligns recommendations with monthly sales targets set for each outlet. By considering both past performance and current objectives, the system ensures that field teams focus on selling products that contribute to meeting or exceeding monthly targets.
This is an optional feature in the route management module.
The Activity Guide also includes performance tracking features, allowing managers to monitor sales activities and measure the effectiveness of recommendations. By analyzing sales data in real-time, managers can identify trends, evaluate performance, and make data-driven decisions to further optimize sales strategies.
Step 0: A pre-defined daily route-plan (weekly recurring) is set for each VSM. Each route contains the number of outlets/retailers.
Step 1: The VSM clicks on the "Calendar icon and gets a view of the list of his assigned outlets and loading guide for the day
Step 2: Based on his/her route, the VSM sees a loading guide based on the retailers/customers purchase pattern of his portfolio as well as his/her own sales targets.
Step 3: The VSM starts his/her route and can then see on the Mobile App the optimal route ( retailers/customer order of visit and best way to get there) he needs to follow based on the traffic and distance between the outlets.
- VSM can tap on "Optimize" in order for the app to suggest the closest route according to the current traffic via google map.
Optimizing your route enables the app to automatically synchronize with Google map to suggest the closest route to your current location, according to the current traffic at that particular period of time, so it is advisable to always tap on "Optimize" icon after every route visit for better and smoother movement.
- VSM can start visit by clicking on the "Map" icon and follow the map route to the assigned outlets to be visited for the day:
Step 4: The VSM can see a sales guide where he can see the recommended sales for this particular retailer for each SKU at the retailer's premises.
Step 5: The VSM arrives at the retailer's premises, he/she checks-in (GPS + Barcode scanning)
Step 6: The VSM makes his sell and move to the next outlet as suggested by the optimized route.
Dynamic computation - targets are re-computed everyday in order to take into account of sales already done in the month and help the sales reps attain their monthly objective/targets
Easy to implement - minimal data requirements, only Sales data and Sales reps route to market
Easy to use - loading guide and sales recommendations directly accessible from the mobile app for the Sales reps
Customizable - the computation of sales recommendation can be adapted and include other metrics, according to the customers needs.
Reduced Vans Out Of Stocks
Reduce missed-sales opportunities
Avoid vans time loss and cost of needing to go back to warehouse for refill
Reduce vans traveling distances and time spent in traffic through optimized routes
Warns vans mobile users in the event that a wrong activity is conducted on a customer that is not recommended by optimization.
Reduce fuel consumptions (studies show that optimized routes help save up-to 20%-30% of fuel)
Reduce carbon footprint impact (500 VSMs saving 5km of distance traveled per day = 2,500 km saved per day = 0.75M km saved per year = 150T of CO2 saved per year
Route Management Context
Advantages of Route Management
Introduction
Route Management is the planning and optimization of routes for the field team.
Route management plays a pivotal role in optimizing field team operations, enhancing visit efficiency, and maximizing coverage. By strategically planning and optimizing routes, businesses can significantly improve their overall productivity and customer satisfaction.
Route Management Context
In this section, we'll dive into three key aspects of route management:
Route Module Setup
Sales Recommendation
Activity guide
Route Module Setup
Setting up the route management feature within the web application is essential for businesses seeking to optimize their field team operations.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to configure:
Step 1: Enabling the Route Feature:
To enable the route feature, navigate to the settings of the desired client and enable/toggle on the Route Management feature within the Addon section of the web application.
Step 2: Defining of roles for Mobile Users:
For route management to function efficiently, it is essential to assign the appropriate user roles.
For example, if Van Salesmen are expected to use this feature, their roles must be clearly defined and selected to enable access to route management feature.
To assign the roles:
Navigate to the Client Settings page on your desired client environment.
Go to the Addon section.
Select the designated role for users who need access to route management.
By ensuring the correct roles are assigned, each user will have access to the necessary functionalities based on their role and responsibilities within the organization.
Step 3: Configure Customer Details:
Within the customer list schema, configure Customers' Route Day & GPS Location question.
To do this, edit the customer details on the customer section to include accurate GPS locations and designate specific route days for each customer, this is done through the bulk edit option on the list
By including GPS locations for each customer in the customer list, enables the feature to accurately plot the locations of customers on maps.
This information is essential for generating optimized routes that minimize travel time and distance between visits.
Note: The accuracy of GPS location is crucial for the functioning of Google Maps and other location-based services.
Let’s dive into why GPS accuracy matters:
Navigation Precision:
Google Maps relies on accurate GPS coordinates to provide precise navigation, ensuring accurate turn-by-turn directions for users. Inaccurate GPS data could lead to wrong directions or unexpected delays.
Traffic Estimation and Routing:
Accurate GPS information is crucial for Google Maps to calculate optimal routes based on real-time traffic data. Incorrect location data might result in suboptimal routes or longer travel times for field teams.
Step 4: Creation of routes:
Route creation is done based on the specific route days for each customer defined by the client in which the users need to adhere to.
The route creation is done on the backend and uploaded to the calendar where the field users can be able to see the customers they need to visit arranged by distance nearest to them, based on their location and they are able to optimise as they move so the outlets can rearrange themselves.
They can also see the order of visit on the map.
Sales Recommendation/Optimization
Sales recommendation is a pivotal aspect of route management, particularly in optimizing field team operations and maximizing sales potential.
We have developed a system that recommends Van Sales Men (VSMs) on what to load on their trucks for the day based on customer purchase history and purchase patterns within their route. Here's how it works:
Our solution considers the financial targets of sales representatives and customer purchase behavior observed over the last months to compute a daily loading guide for each VSM.
VSMs can access their loading guide directly from the mobile app, receiving sales recommendations per outlet to help manage their product loading and daily visits effectively.
Additionally, we provide insights about adherence to sales recommendations, loading guide adherence, progression of monthly target achievement, and more.
The system takes into account various factors such as distance, traffic, cluster optimization, and monthly target completions to provide the best possible routes for VSMs, enhancing overall efficiency and productivity.
Activity guide
Our Activity Guide is a comprehensive tool designed to empower field teams with actionable insights, guiding them on what products to sell to each outlet based on historical sales data and monthly targets.
In addition to historical sales data, the Activity Guide aligns recommendations with monthly sales targets set for each outlet. By considering both past performance and current objectives, the system ensures that field teams focus on selling products that contribute to meeting or exceeding monthly targets.
This is an optional feature in the route management module.
The Activity Guide also includes performance tracking features, allowing managers to monitor sales activities and measure the effectiveness of recommendations. By analyzing sales data in real-time, managers can identify trends, evaluate performance, and make data-driven decisions to further optimize sales strategies.
Ideal steps in Route management
Step 0: A pre-defined daily route-plan (weekly recurring) is set for each VSM. Each route contains the number of outlets/retailers.
Step 1: The VSM clicks on the "Calendar icon and gets a view of the list of his assigned outlets and loading guide for the day
Step 2: Based on his/her route, the VSM sees a loading guide based on the retailers/customers purchase pattern of his portfolio as well as his/her own sales targets.
Step 3: The VSM starts his/her route and can then see on the Mobile App the optimal route ( retailers/customer order of visit and best way to get there) he needs to follow based on the traffic and distance between the outlets.
- VSM can tap on "Optimize" in order for the app to suggest the closest route according to the current traffic via google map.
Optimizing your route enables the app to automatically synchronize with Google map to suggest the closest route to your current location, according to the current traffic at that particular period of time, so it is advisable to always tap on "Optimize" icon after every route visit for better and smoother movement.
- VSM can start visit by clicking on the "Map" icon and follow the map route to the assigned outlets to be visited for the day:
Step 4: The VSM can see a sales guide where he can see the recommended sales for this particular retailer for each SKU at the retailer's premises.
Step 5: The VSM arrives at the retailer's premises, he/she checks-in (GPS + Barcode scanning)
Step 6: The VSM makes his sell and move to the next outlet as suggested by the optimized route.
Advantages of Route Management
Dynamic computation - targets are re-computed everyday in order to take into account of sales already done in the month and help the sales reps attain their monthly objective/targets
Easy to implement - minimal data requirements, only Sales data and Sales reps route to market
Easy to use - loading guide and sales recommendations directly accessible from the mobile app for the Sales reps
Customizable - the computation of sales recommendation can be adapted and include other metrics, according to the customers needs.
Reduced Vans Out Of Stocks
Reduce missed-sales opportunities
Avoid vans time loss and cost of needing to go back to warehouse for refill
Reduce vans traveling distances and time spent in traffic through optimized routes
Warns vans mobile users in the event that a wrong activity is conducted on a customer that is not recommended by optimization.
Reduce fuel consumptions (studies show that optimized routes help save up-to 20%-30% of fuel)
Reduce carbon footprint impact (500 VSMs saving 5km of distance traveled per day = 2,500 km saved per day = 0.75M km saved per year = 150T of CO2 saved per year
Updated on: 12/02/2025
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