Field Sales Software Guide
Field sales software is a type of application designed to help businesses manage the sales process more effectively. It’s used in both inside and outside sales processes, and typically provides tools for tracking leads, managing customer relationships, automating marketing activities, creating reports, and more.
The main purpose of field sales software is to streamline the workflow within a business’s sales process. It can be used to increase efficiency by helping teams track leads and prospects more accurately, as well as analyze customer data and develop better strategies for targeting them with the right products or services. Additionally, it can be used to automate certain tasks associated with sales, such as generating quotes or sending out follow-up emails.
Another major benefit of field sales software is that it can help managers see how their teams are performing at any point in time and identify areas that need improvement or new strategies to maximize success. This data-driven approach helps teams stay on top of their goals while making sure they’re delivering superior customer service throughout the entire transaction lifecycle.
Field sales software can also include features tailored specifically for field reps, such as GPS tracking so they can stay organized while “in the field”; digital signature capture capabilities; mobile access to inventory; customized templates for product/service presentations; scheduling tools; appointment reminders; and analytics dashboards so reps can better understand how prospects respond to different types of content or messages during meetings.
Finally, many modern field sales solutions utilize machine learning technology in order to make recommendations based on customer data or previous interactions with similar prospects. This helps reps customize their conversations with customers according to each individual's needs and preferences - improving overall customer satisfaction ratings in the long run.
Field Sales Software Features
- Contact Management – Field sales software typically provides contact management features, allowing you to store customer information and track interactions. This includes basic contact info such as addresses, phone numbers, and emails, as well as vital customer details like purchase history and payment records.
- Lead Tracking – A good field sales software should provide an organized way to capture leads from different sources and then organize them for further inquiry or follow up. You should be able to filter leads by criteria such as location, product interest or market segment.
- Task Management – Automated scheduling helps increase efficiency in the field by making it easier to manage meetings, service calls and other tasks. Advanced tools can even suggest optimized routes based on customer locations or deliver reminders about appointments right to your device.
- Robust Reporting – Analytics are a crucial part of any field sales software system. Reports allow teams to visualize data related to quarterly goals, top-performing reps and more so they can make informed decisions that help the business grow.
- Accessibility & Mobility – Field sales teams need convenience when out of the office, so cloud-based solutions are ideal because they can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. User friendly mobile apps also enable reps to enter data into the system while still on their route without needing a laptop computer or bulky device.
- Integration – The best field sales solutions offer tight integration with other business systems, like customer relationship management (CRM) software and accounting programs. This allows teams to take advantage of the full range of features without needing to manage data in multiple locations.
Types of Field Sales Software
- CRM Software: Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software is designed to help sales teams manage customer relationships and track customer interactions. It provides a centralized place to store customer data, such as contact information, purchase history, interactions with the sales team, etc., and allows users to access this data quickly.
- Lead Management Software: Lead management software helps sales teams manage lead generation and qualification. This type of software automates the process of capturing leads from various sources (such as events or website forms) and tracking their progress through the sales pipeline. It also helps prioritize leads based on key metrics such as potential revenue or probability of conversion.
- Quote and Proposal Automation Software: Quote & Proposal automation software helps streamline the quote & proposal process by providing automated tools for creating quotes/proposals quickly and accurately. This type of software can also be integrated with other systems such as accounting or CRM applications in order to pull relevant data into quotes/proposals.
- Contract Management Software: Contract management software is designed to help organizations manage contracts throughout their entire lifecycle – from creation through archiving. This type of software enables users to create contracts quickly, efficiently track changes/revisions, version control documents, review contracts for compliance issues, generate reports, automate renewal processes, etc.
- Sales Analytics Software: Sales analytics software is used by sales teams to gain insights into their performance. By collecting and analyzing data points such as sales figures, opportunities won/lost/in-progress, average deal size, time taken to close deals etc., this type of tool can provide valuable insights into how your organization can improve its performance over time.
- Sales Planning Software: Sales planning software is designed to help sales teams plan their activities and optimize their performance. This type of tool allows users to create detailed plans, establish goals and track progress against those goals, assign tasks and monitor performance, measure key metrics such as conversion rates or average deal size, etc. It also provides insights into key trends in your organization's sales cycle.
Trends Related to Field Sales Software
- Automation: Field sales software is increasingly becoming automated to streamline processes and optimize performance. Features such as customer relationship management (CRM) and customer segmentation are used to automate sales processes.
- Data Analytics: Field sales software is now incorporating data analytics to help drive decision-making. This helps companies gain insights into customer behaviors, trends, and preferences.
- Mobility: Field sales software is now designed to be mobile-friendly so that sales reps can access the necessary information while on the move. Mobile apps are used to stay in touch with customers, update records, track sales activities, and more.
- Cloud Computing: Cloud computing has become an integral part of field sales software. It allows for real-time data sharing and collaboration across various departments, allowing for more efficient team communication and project management.
- Artificial Intelligence: Artificial intelligence (AI) is being used in field sales software to enhance customer service. AI can be used for tasks such as virtual customer support, product recommendations, and personalized marketing campaigns.
- Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality: Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are being used in field sales software to create immersive experiences for customers and prospects. VR can be used to provide virtual tours of products or services while AR can be used to overlay additional information onto existing images or videos.
- Social Media Integration: Field sales software is integrating with popular social media platforms to make it easier for sales reps to engage with customers and prospects. This allows them to quickly respond to inquiries, build relationships, and increase brand awareness.
Benefits of Field Sales Software
- Increased Efficiency: Field sales software helps to streamline the sales process by automating data entry, contact management and other administrative tasks. This allows sales teams to focus on more important aspects of their work such as customer relationships, negotiation and closing deals.
- Tracking and Reporting: Field sales software can provide better visibility into customer activity, enabling teams to track opportunities and analyze performance. With tracking features such as customer profiles, order histories and customer metrics, sales teams can better understand customer behavior and adjust their strategies accordingly.
- Improved Performance: Field sales software provides access to performance dashboards that allow users to set goals and track progress towards those goals. This helps ensure that teams are hitting their targets while also identifying areas for improvement in order to drive higher levels of success.
- Better Collaboration: Field sales software makes it easy for team members to collaborate with each other by sharing customer information, documents and files among the team. This helps ensure that all team members are up-to-date on the latest customer data so they can make informed decisions quickly.
- Mobility: Field sales software is designed for mobile use so that users can access real-time data from anywhere. This means teams can stay productive even when they’re away from the office or out in the field meeting new customers or prospects.
- Automated Follow-Up: Field sales software enables teams to automate their follow-up process, allowing them to schedule emails and calls at specific intervals based on customer activity. This helps ensure that leads aren’t forgotten and allows sales reps to focus on higher value activities such as building relationships.
How to Select the Right Field Sales Software
When selecting the right field sales software, there are several key factors to consider:
- Cost: Assess the cost of buying, hosting and maintaining the software. Determine if this aligns with your budget and financial goals.
- Features: Evaluate what features are available in the software and how they will benefit your team. Consider if those features have any customization capabilities, as well as compatibility with other systems like CRM or accounting programs that you may already be using.
- Usability: Test out the user interface to make sure it's intuitive and easy to use for your team members who will be using it daily in their jobs.
- Security: Consider security measures to ensure customer data is protected and kept secure from cyber threats and hacking attempts.
- Support: Ask about available customer service or technical support for questions or issues you may run into when using the software. Once these factors have been reviewed, you can make an informed decision on which field sales software is best suited for your needs.
Utilize the tools given on this page to examine field sales software in terms of price, features, integrations, user reviews, and more.
What Types of Users Use Field Sales Software?
- Independent Sales Representatives: Individuals who work as independent contractors, selling products and services to customers on behalf of a business.
- Manufacturer’s Representatives: Representing multiple manufacturers with the same customer base.
- Distributors: Companies that sell products from multiple manufacturers to retailers or end users in a particular geographic region.
- Retailers: Storefront businesses that offer goods and services directly to customers.
- Direct Sales Force: Employees of a company who sell directly to end users by visiting them at their homes or workplaces.
- Territory Managers/Area Managers: Professional salespeople responsible for managing customer relationships, sales opportunities, and market expansion within an assigned area or region.
- Account Executives/Account Managers: Professionals responsible for establishing long-term relationships with business customers, by understanding their needs and identifying how a company can meet them through its portfolio of products and services.
- Specialty Merchandisers: Professionals who specialize in selling certain types of items (such as clothing, consumer electronics, home furnishings, etc.) in retail outlets such as department stores, supermarkets, drug stores, mass merchandisers, etc.
- Business Development Reps/Sales Development Reps: Professional sales reps focused on generating new business opportunities in the early stages of the sales cycle (prospecting prospective leads).
- Sales Consultants: Experienced sales professionals who provide high-level product/service expertise to customers.
- Specialty Contractors: Professionals who specialize in selling products and services to government agencies, such as military bases and local authorities.
- Telemarketing Representatives: Professional sales reps who contact potential leads over the phone for the purpose of setting up meetings or closing deals.
How Much Does Field Sales Software Cost?
The cost of field sales software depends on the scope, features and capabilities of the software you are seeking. Pricing may vary from product to product, but typically field sales software can range from free for basic packages up to several thousand dollars for more comprehensive solutions. If you choose a monthly subscription for your field sales software, prices can range from as low as $20 per month up to several hundred dollars per month depending on the number of users and features included.
In some cases, specialized services such as technical support and training may be additional charges or provided at no cost as part of the package. As with any purchase, researching available options is important to make sure you are getting the best value possible while still meeting your business needs. Evaluating demos and trial packages may help you better decide what type of field sales software is right for your business.
What Software Can Integrate with Field Sales Software?
Field sales software can integrate with a variety of other types of software, including customer relationship management (CRM) systems, project management applications, order processing platforms, and supply chain management software. CRM systems allow field sales teams to track and manage customer relationships by recording contact information, deals in progress, and related communications. Project management applications provide tools to help field sales personnel plan projects and tasks, assign resources effectively, track progress toward goals, and manage deadlines. Order processing platforms enable the creation of orders and order confirmations as well as the tracking of delivery status and payment processing. Finally, supply chain management software allows field sales teams to optimize inventory control strategies across multiple distribution channels in different locations around the world. All these types of software can be integrated into existing field sales processes to streamline workflows and improve efficiency.