Category: Uncategorized

  • 6 ways to Maximize Sales Efficiency with Field Sales Tracking Software

    6 ways to Maximize Sales Efficiency with Field Sales Tracking Software

    Field sales tracking is a system or process used by businesses to monitor and analyze the activities of their sales representatives who operate outside of the office, in the field. It involves tracking the performance of the sales team, monitoring their daily activities, and measuring their progress towards meeting sales targets. In today’s sales world, field sales tracking software has become an important tool for companies to maximize their efficiency.

    Below are six ways you can maximize your efficiency with field sales tracking software:

    1. Track and analyze data in real time

    With field sales tracking software, sales teams can track their activities in real time. This means sales reps can update their progress on deals, log customer interactions, and even add new leads to the system as they receive them.

    This real-time tracking and analytics capability helps sales teams make informed decisions and identify areas for improvement. For example, sales reps can analyze their performance metrics such as conversion rates, sales cycle length, and lead-to-opportunity ratios to identify bottlenecks in the sales process.

    By tracking and analyzing data in real time, sales teams can respond faster to challenges, make better decisions, and improve overall efficiency.

    2. Optimized lead management

    Lead management is one of the most important aspects of the sales process. Field sales tracking software can help optimize lead management by allowing sales reps to track leads and their stages in the sales funnel.

    Sales reps can add new leads to the system, update lead information and track the progress of each lead. They can also assign leads to different team members and set reminders for follow-up.

    This feature helps sales teams effectively prioritize leads and focus their efforts on those most likely to convert into customers. By streamlining lead management, sales teams can increase efficiency, close more deals, and generate more revenue.

     

    Also Read : 10 Reasons Why Your Field Sales Team Needs Happisales Field Sales App
    
    

    3. Optimize route planning

    Field sales reps spend a lot of time travelling to different locations to meet with customers. Route planning can be a time-consuming task that requires a lot of effort and attention to detail.

    Field service tracking software can help streamline route planning by providing sales reps with tools to plan their trips more efficiently. For example, field sales representatives can use the software to plan their routes based on the location of their customers, the shortest distance, or the fastest route.

    This feature helps sales reps save time, reduce travel costs and maximize their productivity. By optimizing route planning, sales teams can focus on what really matters – customer meetings and closing deals.

    4. Automated reporting

    Reporting is an essential part of the sales process. However, it can be a time-consuming and tedious task that takes valuable time away from sales reps.

    Field sales tracking software can automate the reporting process by automatically generating reports based on data entered into the system. This allows sales reps to generate reports on their sales performance, lead management, and customer interactions with just a few clicks.

    Automated reports help sales teams save time, reduce errors, and focus on selling instead of creating manual reports. Plus, managers can quickly analyze the data and make informed decisions.

    5. Collaboration and communication

    Effective collaboration and communication are critical to the success of any sales team. Field sales tracking software can help sales teams collaborate effectively by enabling them to share data and information in real time.

    Sales reps can use the software to communicate with each other, share customer data and provide updates on their progress. This feature helps sales teams collaborate more efficiently, share best practices, and improve their overall performance.

    6. Mobile accessibility

    Field sales reps are always on the go and need access to important information and data on the go. Field sales tracking software can provide mobile access so that sales reps can access the system anytime, anywhere using their mobile devices.

    With this feature, sales reps can view their schedules, update customer information and communicate with team members while on the road. 


    In summary, Filed sales tracking software is a game changer for companies looking to maximize efficiency in the sales process. Through real-time data tracking and analytics, streamlined lead management, optimized routing, automated reporting, effective collaboration and communication, and mobile accessibility, field sales tracking software can help sales teams improve performance and generate more revenue.

    Whether you’re a small business or a large corporation, investing in field sales tracking software can help you stay ahead of the competition and achieve your sales goals. With the right software and tools, your sales team can work smarter, not harder, and achieve better results. So, start exploring your options for field sales tracking software today and see how it can transform your sales process.

    Check out Happisales and help your business thrive. Schedule a demo today!

    Happisales CTA

  • Untitled post 8959

    The manufacturing industry is constantly evolving, and technology is playing a major role in shaping its future. One of the technologies that have made a significant impact on the industry is field sales apps. These apps have transformed the way manufacturing companies conduct their sales operations, allowing them to streamline their processes, improve customer engagement and satisfaction, and boost their revenue.

    India’s gross domestic product (GDP) at current prices stood at Rs. 51.23 lakh crore (US$ 694.93 billion) in the first quarter of FY22, as per the provisional estimates of gross domestic product for the first quarter of 2021-22. The manufacturing GVA at current prices was estimated at US$ 77.47 billion in the third quarter of FY22. India has potential to become a global manufacturing hub and by 2030, it can add more than US$ 500 billion annually to the global economy.

                                                                         Source:India brand equity foundation

     In this blog post, we will explore how field sales apps help the manufacturing industry and the benefits they provide.

    What is a Field Sales App?

    A field sales app is a mobile application designed to help sales teams work more efficiently and effectively in the field. The app is typically installed on a salesperson’s mobile device and provides them with access to critical information such as customer data, product information, pricing, inventory levels, and order history.

    These apps are designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, allowing sales reps to quickly and easily navigate through the app to find the information they need. Additionally, field sales apps are often integrated with the company’s backend systems, enabling real-time data updates, accurate reporting, and more.

    Read More : The Significance of Field Sales App for FMCG Sector

    How Field Sales Apps Help the Manufacturing Industry

    The manufacturing industry is constantly under pressure to improve its operations, reduce costs, and increase revenue. Field sales apps can help manufacturing companies achieve these goals by providing a range of benefits, including:

    1.Improved Sales Efficiency

    Field sales apps can help sales teams work more efficiently by providing them with access to real-time data, eliminating the need for manual data entry, and automating repetitive tasks. This allows sales reps to spend more time interacting with customers and closing deals, rather than spending their time on administrative tasks.

    With a field sales app, sales reps can easily access customer data, including their order history, previous interactions, and preferences. This information can be used to personalize the sales process, making it more effective and increasing the chances of a successful sale.

     2.Better Customer Engagement

    Field sales apps also improve customer engagement by allowing sales reps to provide more personalized service. With access to customer data, sales reps can tailor their sales pitch to meet the specific needs of each customer, improving the customer experience and building stronger relationships.

    Additionally, field sales apps allow sales reps to easily communicate with customers, whether it be through email, text, or phone. This enables sales reps to quickly respond to customer inquiries, provide updates on orders, and address any concerns, improving customer satisfaction and loyalty.

    3.Increased Sales Revenue

    By improving sales efficiency and customer engagement, field sales apps can help manufacturing companies increase their sales revenue. By streamlining the sales process, sales reps can spend more time on selling, leading to more closed deals and higher revenue.

    Additionally, by providing personalized service and improving customer satisfaction, manufacturing companies can increase customer loyalty and retention. This can lead to repeat business and referrals, driving long-term revenue growth.

    4.Better Data Analytics

    Field sales apps provide real-time data updates and accurate reporting, enabling manufacturing companies to make data-driven decisions. Sales managers can track sales performance, monitor individual sales reps’ activity, and identify areas for improvement.

    This data can be used to optimize the sales process, improve sales forecasting, and identify new opportunities for revenue growth. With better data analytics, manufacturing companies can make smarter business decisions, leading to improved operations and increased profitability.

    5.Improved Collaboration

    Field sales apps also improve collaboration between sales reps and other departments, such as marketing and customer service. By providing real-time data updates and enabling easy communication, field sales apps can help different departments work together more effectively, leading to improved overall business performance.

    For example, sales reps can provide feedback to marketing on which products and promotions are resonating with customers, enabling marketing to create more effective campaigns. Similarly, customer service can use real-time data to provide better support to customers, improving their satisfaction and loyalty.

    Wrapping Up:

    Manufacturing companies that invest in field sales apps can streamline their sales operations, improve customer satisfaction, and drive long-term revenue growth. Additionally, by providing real-time data updates and enabling better collaboration between departments, these apps can help manufacturing companies make smarter business decisions and improve overall business performance.

    Looking for a reliable field sales app solution partner? Get free consultation now.

    Want to explore the features of the app?

    Happisales CTA

  • Field sales app – Motivate and drive sales team to deliver expected results

    Field sales app – Motivate and drive sales team to deliver expected results

    The sales team, considered the backbone of an organization’s growth can sometimes wreak havoc if the workforce and top management don’t share a common goal. 

    For an organization to thrive, its sales team must be proactive. The sync between field sales, internal sales, and top management is vital for the assured growth of the business. 

    Yet, many companies overlook the process of bridging the gap between them and sales teams. This creates ripples in the sales cycle, leading to substandard outcomes and employee churn outs. 

    To ensure a profit and rapid growth, companies must foster cultural change in the organization. The sales team must be motivated to raise their game. 

    Remember, a well-treated workforce always performs better than their counterparts. This way, reducing the employee churn outs and improving business RoI is practical. 

    But, how to motivate the workforce? 

    If so, what can companies do to improve sales team’s productivity? 

    Is there any solution to bridge the gap between the sales team and top management?

    If the above questions have lingered in your mind for some time, don’t worry. You’re not alone. 

    This post will walk you through some motivational ideas and practical solutions to improve your sales team’s performance and performance

    Data is everything

    If you want to monitor and track the performance and efficiency of your workforce, you have to achieve it with the help of sales data. A deep dive into every sales rep’s data will help you analyze, understand and ensure their impact on the sales team. 

    Nevertheless, what if your data is not accurate? Yes, if your field sales and internal sales use partially automated field sales management software or perform the complete operations manually, there are chances that you won’t have the accurate to make the right decisions. 

    So, companies must encourage and empower the internal and external sales teams with advanced tools, technologies, and systems to improve their performance and efficiency. 

    Unleashing the power of a motivated workforce

    Without reliable and accurate data, it is hard to track the operational efficiency of a sales rep. How to improve data accuracy? Is there any way out? Yes, there is one. Implementing field sales software is a simple and efficient way to negotiate this challenge.

    Why field sales software? 

    The software aims to improve operational efficiency and bring visibility to all the stakeholders involved in the sales cycles and processes. 

    There is a common misconception that the field force help app is widely used to track and manage only sales reps out for delivery. In practice, the software simplifies top management, field sales, and internal sales team operations. 

    How will field sales software motivate the workforce?

    Simplifying and improving the sales team’s function will motivate and encourage them to perform better. Most sales reps and managers don’t prefer using an outdated system and updating the reports at the end of the day. This process involves a lot of effort, time, and cost. 

    Also, many sales reps believe collecting, sharing, and updating sales and customer data to managers daily is an uphill task. Also, route planning and sharing, customer feedback collection, marking attendance, requesting leaves, switching routes, etc. impacts their morale and disengage them. 

    On the other hand, the obsolete and inaccurate data collected and shared by the disengaged workforce with the management hampers decision-making and impacts business growth.

    Field service software is the ideal choice for companies that want to negotiate all the challenges I have shared above. The system not only simplifies the operations of the sales team but also helps the management to leverage real-time data to make significant decisions. 

    The field force app will help every manager scrutinize and examine each employee’s performance and reward them accordingly. The employees can collect and share data without hassle, and this motivates them to meet more customers in a short span. 

    Technology upgrades permanently reduce the woes of salespeople and motivate them to perform faster and better. Employees can also check their milestones and achievements for the week, prompting them to perform even better in the coming weeks. 

    Key benefits of using field sales software for employee motivation

    Improved communication

    The back and forth communication between internal and external sales teams to meet customers is a must. The app helps both parties to communicate efficiently in real-time. The data shared are immediately captured in the CRM, saving both teams time. What else does your business needs? 

    Reduced travel time and fuel cost

    The app lets the sales managers plan and optimize routes perfectly beforehand to reduce the fuel cost of the workforce. The workforce can save time by utilizing the planned route to meet the customers. Also, the app lets the crew to switch paths to meet customers in the vicinity, saving customers and the workforce’s time. The unnecessary fuel cost will be cut down as well. 

    Improved customer meetings and satisfaction

    A massive advantage of a field force automation solution is that it can simplify the customer meetings process. The planned routes and proper allocation of tasks will help the field force team to meet customers well within the stipulated time and collect their feedback instantly. The automated process delights the customers and sales reps. What can motivate your field sales better than a customer’s smile?

    Increased process visibility

    Field sales app opens up the door for real-time communication between the sales teams in and out. With data coming from both teams consistently and updated in the CRM, the top management can analyze and review the performance of the sales reps and managers with minimal effort. 

    The app-driven transparency in the process helps every stakeholder review their actions and improve from time to time. 

    Wrapping up

    No one stops the company’s growth when every stakeholder is on the same page. This is why field sales management application is a game changer. A simple yet efficient field force app can transform how your entire sales team works, communicates, and collaborates. 

    Empower your sales team with the best field sales software to improve its efficiency and boost sales. Recognize and reward the team for their efforts to help them perform more. Just get started. 

    Ever tried a field force app before? Don’t know how it works?

    Don’t worry. We can help. 

    Try our best-in-class field force app today to realize the potential benefits discussed in this post. 

    Interested? 

  • 7 Field force Practices to Engage and Improve Sales

    7 Field force Practices to Engage and Improve Sales

    Every business must strive hard to engage and retain its customers. Offering a fantastic experience is quintessential for companies planning to engage customers better. To achieve that, every employee of the company should be proactive. 

    Of the different departments that deliver customer experience, the role played by internal and external sales (field sales executives) is vital. 

    Many companies today face the massive challenge of engaging their field force and internal sales team as they lack defined strategy, tools, technology, and vision. 

    The year 2023 is critical for customer-driven organizations. In 2022 many companies face challenges due to the COVID impact, and 2023 could be a game changer and have to change gears to accelerate productivity, improve employee engagement and deliver a fantastic customer experience. If the organizations didn’t realize the challenges yet, they might be in no man’s land in the upcoming years. 

    If you’re looking to plan your 2023 field force engagement and improvement, this post will help you with some 7 practical insights. 

    Communicate company’s vision to key stakeholders

    Before sharing your vision with your stakeholders, it is crucial to have one for the next 5 years. Planning for at least 5 years is important to take your business to the next level. Many companies overlook this part and struggle in the long run. 

    So, develop a vision and communicate the same with the key stakeholders. Especially, the field force, marketing and internal sales team should have thorough understanding of the goals to align with them. 

    Having the marketing, field, and internal sales team on the same page will ensure business success in the long run. Discuss the technology updates, modernizing operations, systems, etc., with them to improve production. 

    Sit down and talk with your field force team

    Problem with many companies is that they don’t spend enough time with the field force and internal sales team. As they hear from no one, the field force teams carry on with their routine and don’t share a lot about the challenges and customer feedback with the top management. 

    Sitting and talking to them will help them understand the problems and challenges they face while meeting customers. This could help you with some data to improve their operations and morale. 

    Modernize sales operations

    If you want to transform your customer experience in the years to come, you have to start internally. The transformation should start within your company. Modernize the sales operations and persuade the internal and sales reps by detailing the benefits of transforming the operations with advanced applications, technologies, and system. If there are no takers, then there is no point in making one. Cultural change needs to be addressed as it is the sales team who will meet customers on a daily basis. 

    Empower field sales with technology

    2023 will be a tech era, and only companies that feed on the technology will survive. Plan for updating your legacy systems with advanced field service management software to improve the operations. 

    Without such a system in place, it is hard for your field sales team to step up their productivity and meet customers on time. Technology advancements like mobile applications, AI, and Cloud are transforming many companies’ field sales operations. Be there before your competitor does. 

    Ensure training and trial runs

    No one would love to take up a new initiative as they have to step out of their comfort zone. You have to convince your sales team to drive training programs to improve their morale and confidence. If they realize the technology upgrade is for performing better, chances are there that they will deliver to their fullest potential. 

    Simplify field sales operations

    If you have interacted with a field sales executive, oftentimes you could hear that they have an intelligent system that will simplify their day-to-day activities. Performing every task manually takes a lot of effort and time, and many sales executives don’t prefer that. With advanced software powered by modern technologies can simplify their operations to a great extent. 

    Engage employees using field sales software

    Go for field force automation Solution to improve the back-and-forth communication between you, internal and external sales teams. Field force applications are highly useful for every stakeholder involved in the sales process as they make the entire process transparent and help share sales data instantly from anywhere. 

    Marking attendance, meeting customers, sharing feedback, and requesting leaves or permissions is simple for field sales personnel as they don’t have to do everything manually. This saves a lot of time and fuel cost. The field sales software steadily accelerates the sales cycles and helps you make the faster and better decision quickly and effectively. 

    Well, how to find the best software as there is a wide array of field sales software available in the market?

    Implementing reliable and futuristic field sales applications is critical for engaging your field sales and improving customer experience. Check the implementation partner’s experience, portfolio, customer testimonials, app development expertise, post-implementation support, online presence, communication channels, training offers, etc. It is not hard as you think—all you need to do is spend time on the internet. 

    Top companies will help you and your sales team with the correct details and can even offer training programs about the software. Some companies offer free trials for the customers for a quarter or 30-days to use their software. You can try such products and use them for some time before finalizing your Field Sales Mobile App implementation partner. 

    Conclusion 

    It doesn’t matter if you have not taken any technology initiatives, but it is a must for you to reconsider your strategy in 2023. The next few years will see a massive spike in technology investments and implementations, and only tech-enabled companies will earn customers’ trust. 

    So, start practicing the above strategies in the coming years, beat the competition, and improve customers’ experience. 

    Need more details on field sales software and its benefits? Try our field sales product now. We bet you’d love it.

  • How to write follow-up emails that buyers rave about: Leverage these proven strategies to skyrocket conversions

    How to write follow-up emails that buyers rave about: Leverage these proven strategies to skyrocket conversions

    Why generic follow up emails don’t work?

    Sending a generic, “just checking in” follow up email typically isn’t good enough. You’re probably feeling suspicious!

    After all, sales sequences, automated templates, and check-in emails are the gold standard. They’re adored by every seller prospecting and managing a pipeline of SMB-size deals. 

    Akin to how crutches help a physically challenged person to walk, automated follow-up emails serve as a support system to sellers as they rise through the ranks to tackle more strategic deals.

    However, the fact remains that the higher the contract value, the higher the bar for a thoughtful follow-up. The reality is that prospects don’t forget to follow up with you but rather de-prioritize the people who don’t help them get their job done and personalize their interactions.

    The reason why most follow-up emails go straight to the spam folder is simply because they read like a series of reminders. When a buyer reads a follow-up email, they automatically run a mental calculation: “Is the value that I’m getting from this interaction worth the time I’ll invest into it?”

    So, how do you write a sales follow up email that actually converts your leads?

    When should you follow up? How do you maintain contact without being pushy? What exactly should you say in your follow up emails?

    We’ll answer all of these questions and more in this blog. Let’s dive right in and explore what it takes to master the art of following up!

    Tips to craft forward-worthy follow up emails

    The mark of a truly helpful and engaging follow-up email, is that its forwarded around and not deleted.

    Use these six tips to help your buyers accomplish their tasks and capture their attention.

    1. Always introduce new information 

    Go back to the emails you just reviewed. Were you rehashing what’s already been said or actually introducing new information? 

    You have a unique vantage point. You see where customers struggle, where the industry’s heading, and what top performers do differently.

    All of these insights give you an opportunity to share a new point of view. Use your follow-up emails to create curiosity and a feeling of, “Every time I hear from ___________, I discover something new.” 

    Think of a kid on Christmas morning, ready to open a present and see what’s inside. That’s the feeling you should strive to create in the minds and hearts of your buyers!

    1. Use data and insights

    Augment everything you say up with third-party statistics and anecdotes from industry thought leaders. 

    You should also leverage social proof like testimonials and case studies, showcasing the results you’ve generated for clients just like them.

       3. Leave them better off 

    Will your message help your buyer do their job better than they could do it before? 

    Most times, value to buyers is delayed until the point of purchase when they can start using a product. But there’s an incredible opportunity to make the buying process valuable, too. 

    People go where value is, so make your process that place. Introduce a template, feedback, data source, or other resource that’s hard to find.

        4. Craft a clever subject line

    Your subject line should be given more importance than the actual content of the email. After all, one of the first things your prospect lays their eyes on is the subject line. 

    A well-known research study unearthed the fact that 47% of all emails are discarded by recipients due to uninteresting subject lines! That is a huge percentage you cannot afford to risk. 

    Your subject line will determine the success or failure of your cold email campaign. Here are some spam triggering words and phrases that you would be well-advised to avoid:

    • Exclusive Deal
    • Hurry up 
    • Instant 
    • Once in a lifetime 
    • Take action 
    • Please read 
    • Urgent 
    • Pure profit 
    • 100% free 

    There are three key rules to adopt while writing follow-up email subject lines:

    • Personalize wherever possible! 
    • Keep it short and to the point 
    • Include intriguing questions 

    Optimize the length of your subject line, keep it at 9 words and 60 characters, and ensure it is readable for mobile users. Also, don’t forget to A/B test your subject lines to figure out what’s resonating well with your audience. 

          5. Add adequate value

    As an email recipient yourself, you understand the importance of valuable content. If you receive an email that adds no value to your life then you will most likely ignore it.

    The number one reason why sales emails do not elicit responses is because they lack value. Do not send a follow-up email without adding in more value than you did previously and demonstrating your worth.

    Sending ‘generic’ follow-up emails will not work in your favor either. The whole ‘catching up’ strategy is antiquated and outdated, and prospects deserve much more than that. 

    Find ways to delight your prospects in every interaction and make it worth their while. Here are a few ways you can provide value to your prospect: 

    • Share customer testimonials 
    • Offer solutions for specific pain points 
    • Blog posts 
    • E-books
    • How-to guides 
    • Video guides
    • Case studies 
    • Webinar 
    • Personalized offers 
    • Extended free trial 

    Whatever way you decide to add value, ensure it is relevant to them. In order to open the lines of communication you need to incentivize your prospects and push them to respond. 

    Additionally, you can also ask them for their opinions about certain things, for example, you can ask your lead if the pricing doesn’t work for them? Or if your product/service is lacking a feature that they need? 

    This will create a positive business relationship and will make them feel that they are valued and respected, which is extremely important. After all, the fundamental purpose of any business endeavor is to add value and earn goodwill while also earning reasonable profits.

           6. Enrich your emails by adding your personality

    People do business with people they like or respect. You should always be yourself during the entire sales process, but especially during your follow-ups.

    Above all, people bond with people who have a life beyond work, avoid being pretentious and maintain vibrant emotional and mental states of experience.

    Nobody wishes to do business with a monotonous, profit-oriented and narrow-minded drone who lacks a larger perspective of life and has nothing to converse about beyond deals, deadlines and financial matters.

    Conduct in-depth customer research and dig deep into your customers’ hobbies, pain-points, dreams and aspirations. Invite them for lunch or take them out for a game of golf and build a relationship that transcends work.

    Talk to them about movies, music, poetry and any other mutual interests that you share without coming across as desperate. They will not only be willing to do more business with you but evolve into trustworthy friends who will stand by your organization through thick and thin. 

    In a nutshell

    In this article, we’ve only scratched the surface of what it takes to craft perfect follow-up emails that will transform your prospects into brand advocates for your business and organization.

    In the next article of this 3 part guide, we’ll explore follow-up email templates that you can use to enchant your prospects and elicit a positive response.


    Until then, stay tuned!

  • Field Sales: Simple Solution to Engage and Drive Your Team

    Field Sales: Simple Solution to Engage and Drive Your Team

    Of the many factors that decide a business’s success, employee productivity and efficiency are skyrocketing top of the list. Managing the field sales team and tracking their efficiency can be a headache. 

    Making the complete sales team (sales managers and field sales) focus on the tasks and work efficiently doesn’t rely only on the CEOs and CTOs. Giving them the right tools and technical assistance can help them overcome the challenges and deliver their best. 

    Before getting started, let’s dive deep into understanding the challenges and factors distracting or annoying the sales team. 

    Top challenges that disengage field force 

    1. Attendance/permission/leave approvals
    2. Task allocation/collaboration
    3. Route planning/task switching
    4. Meeting customers at the right time
    5. Reporting to managers

    The same can happen to the heads of your sales as well. It doesn’t matter whether your field force or sales heads get annoyed/disengaged. The result remains the same, a drop in productivity. 

    Top challenges that disengage sales managers

    1. Monitoring field sales executives away
    2. Assigning routes, tasks
    3. Following up for updates
    4. Updating reports at the end of the day
    5. Tracking efficiency of field sales executive 
    6. Reporting to management with data 

    What should businesses do to engage field sales and accelerate productivity?

    Most field sales teams of different companies confront the above challenges. The ONE reason for all the challenges is either lack of complete automation or partial automation software implemented by the businesses. 

    Even today, many field sales executives report to the managers in the morning and start their day-to-day activities. The process takes some time, and the sales executives have only a few hours to meet the customers on time. 

    After completing the daily chores, they report to the sales managers in the evening to provide updates on the customer meetings. 

    On the other hand, the managers are clueless whether a sales representative has met the customer at the specific location until he updates/reports to the office. The process lacks transparency and results in a productivity loss for field sales executives and sales managers. 

    The total productivity loss from the sales team hits the business’s bottom line hard and leads to the de-branding of the company. 

    If your sales team faces the above challenges, you’re not alone. The above-shared challenges can be mitigated with the help of field service management software. 

    Top benefits of leveraging field sales app 

    • Transparency to the entire process 
    • Seamless route planning and task allocation
    • Live-tracking app 
    • On-the-go reporting 
    • 100% accuracy/faster decision making 
    • Peace of mind

    Let’s discuss each benefit in detail in the sections below. 

    6 Ways field service automation helps your sales team to boost productivity

    Brings transparency to the sales cycle

    A significant problem most sales team faces is the communication between field sales executives and sales managers. Often, sales managers don’t get any updates from the field sales team. 

    Similarly, the field sales team is let down by managers sometimes. Lack of transparency in the process hurts the sales performance and customer experience. 

    With field service management software in place, sales managers can quickly discover where the field sales executive is and can instantly communicate with sales managers regarding customer meetings. 

    Often the software comes up with a field sales app. This simplifies the communication and eliminates the communication block between field sales and sales teams, improving operations and efficiency. 

    Seamless route planning and task allocation

    Assigning tasks and planning routes for field sales is often a headache for most sales heads. Even more challenging is tracking the field sales team when they are out. On the other hand, field sales face challenges if there is a problem in the route assigned to them. 

    This leads to a dilemma and slows down the sales cycle. 

    On the other hand, the field sales management software helps the sales team assign tasks and plan the routes without any discomfort. Even if there is a change in the route, the field sales team quickly updates the sales managers so that they can reengage another field sales person near the vicinity to get the meeting done. 

    This saves time and improves operational efficiency. 

    Live tracking of field sales activities

    Tracking and monitoring the day-to-day activities of sales persons is a massive challenge for sales managers. Sometimes they don’t even know whether the scheduled appointment is made or missed until the field sales executive updates at the end of the day. 

    The lack of daily updates causes a delay in the sales cycle. 

    Sales managers can track every field sales person for customer meetings without using field sales automation software. 

    The live field sales tracking feature helps the sales heads to track the activities of the field sales team live. This gives them a quick update on the scheduled meeting progress. 

    On-the-go reporting

    Updating the sales data from the field sales at the end of the day is one hell of a task for field sales managers and the field sales team. On the other hand, no matter how long it takes, field sales have to update their reports to the managers at the end of the day. 

    Both processes consume much time and bring down the sales cycle. 

    Field sales can use the on-the-go reporting feature of field service management software to update their activities from anywhere, at any time. Similarly, the sales manager doesn’t have to wait till the end of the day, saving their time. 

    The automation software for the field force simplifies the entire process, leading to faster sales cycles. 

    100% Accuracy and faster decision making

    What if you have sales data updated daily, which is inaccurate? It doesn’t make any difference. Without automation, manufacturing errors are always possible, impacting the performance and efficiency of field sales activities and sales cycle. 

    Above all, with false data in hand, decision-making becomes an uphill task. 

    The field force automation software eliminates the possibility of errors in the data entered, which helps make faster and more formidable decisions. The accurate data depicts the exact picture of the sales activities and their impact on the business candidly. 

    Peace of mind

    As most of the process is automated with the help of field sales software, the sales manager and field sales team don’t have to sweat out a lot when performing the day-to-day activities. 

    Both teams can complete the tasks well within the stipulated time, which gives much time to get a good night’s sleep and spend time with their families. This helps them to focus and deliver better.  

    Final thoughts 

    Providing the sales team with the right tools and technology is the best way to engage and delight them. With best-in-class field service management software, both teams can perform and deliver to their best. 

    Do you have the right tools for your sales team? Still, is relying on outdated systems disengaging your workforce and team’s performance?

    It’s time to re-evaluate your strategy. The competition is brimming, and you must act fast before your competitor does. 

    Looking for suggestions or got queries about field sales improvement or software? We are all ears. 

  • Top strategies to reduce Field Service Operation Costs

    Top strategies to reduce Field Service Operation Costs

    One of the paramount concerns for every field service organization is its high operational costs. In recent times, most organizations are striving to reduce them without compromising the quality of the services offered.

    At the crux, to achieve a competitive position in the service industry, one needs to remain profitable while fulfilling customer expectations and keeping them satisfied.

    To achieve this, it is essential to deep dive into these issues and address them. Let us look at some of the strategies that can be implemented to reduce the costs-

    1. Improving the effectiveness of the technician’s first visit – A lot of the field technicians complain about the lack of proper information available to go in for the initial visit.

    This leads to more follow-up trips, thereby increasing the cost of fuel expenses and resources. To prevent this, you should find out the customer’s issues along with their expectations in advance.

    This way you can send the right technician along with the appropriate equipment to solve the issue in the first visit itself.

    Further, a follow-up should be initiated with the customer to ensure that the task has been accomplished to the customer’s satisfaction thereby improving the trust and goodwill of your organization.

    1. Optimizing the Inventory– It is never a good idea to overstock or understock inventory because holding too much inventory can eat away the profits whereas understocking leads to losing potential customers.

    You need to strike the right balance between the two. To achieve this, you need to evaluate your business needs and requirements and find the right inventory management tools that provide the real-time status of the inventory.

    These tools will aid in improving inventory management and cashflows, saving storage costs, and retaining customers.

    1. Ensuring scheduling is up to date- Poor scheduling practices often lead to internal conflicts within the team, low productivity, and high field service operation costs.

    To avoid such conflicts, you can employ a smart field service software that can help in assigning tasks based on the technician’s skills, in other words, putting the right person for the right job, tracking the location of the technicians on a real-time basis to improve efficiency, and optimizing the routes to save travel time and fuel costs.

    1. Reducing costs of Training and Recruitment – Ideally, hiring new candidates and providing them with the necessary training involves a huge cost.

    One of the effective ways to save such recruitment and training costsis by retaining the best talent. To do that, you should motivate the employees by recognizing them periodically.

    This recognition should be data-driven and not be fuelled by any biases. By using the right software, you can build a performance evaluation profile for each technician based on the metrics such as the number of work orders assigned and finished in a day, type and current status of the task assigned, inspection, and validation of the task, etc.

    You need to set optimal performance metrics to perform at the best productive level. The performance profile of each employee can be evaluated against these metrics to determine appropriate rewards and compensation.

    1. Going Digital- About 50% of the field service organizations still operate using manual methods. Such methods are neither cost-effective nor efficient.

    If you have hired people to perform tasks such as scheduling and planning the work, it is time to automate it. Using a filed sales management software tool allows you to gather important information such as invoices, billings, business contracts, attendance and leaves of the employees, etc leaving no room for errors.

    This way the employees can now focus more on meaningful tasks. So, the first step is to identify the business processes that are redundant or dependent more on paper, examine the cost associated with people performing such tasks, and then plan to automate them in order to save on such expenditures.

    1. Customer-centric support solutions: Customers often experience unnecessary wait times even for issues that can be resolved online.

    Innovative solutions can be provided to handle such issues. You can implement AI-enabled Chatbots that can handle redundant customer queries.

    Customer rating can be captured for all the AI-resolved issues. Technicians can further review the ratings and update the AI resolution mechanism on a regular basis.

    A ticketing system can be used to report issues that are not resolved through AI support. All such issues reported by customers through tickets can be reviewed for online resolution by interacting with the customers.

    Technicians can be assigned for field resolution only on a need and priority basis. In this manner, you can create a better customer-centric experience and also utilize the technician’s time more efficiently and effectively.

    In a nutshell

    Optimizing field service costs is imperative if you are running a field service organization. Digitizing and using relevant field service tools can help you achieve your goals while remaining at the top of your game.

    The above-mentioned strategies are some of the ways that can help you cut down on costs, and focus on elevating customer satisfaction.

  • How to craft winning sales pitches: The ultimate guide (Part 2)

    How to craft winning sales pitches: The ultimate guide (Part 2)

    In the last blog, we uncovered the elements of a perfect sales pitch and highlighted 3 templates that you can use to skyrocket your conversions.

    In this article, we’ll cover the process that you can adopt to craft ultra-effective sales pitches for your own business and explore a few other templates that will raise your sales pitches to the next level.

    Let’s dive right in!

    How to create a winning sales pitch – A step by step framework to earn the loyalty of your target customers

    1. Research and do your homework

    Great research will help build a foundation of value for your pitch, increasing the likelihood that your buyer will respond. 

    Try to understand to whom you are pitching. What does their company do? What goals might that company have? 

    Additionally, don’t forget to explore the customer’s profile — find out who they are, what their role is, and if you have any shared interests that might help you build rapport.

    2. Highlight benefits and not features

    Droning on and on about your product is the fastest way to get buyers to zone out. 

    Your pitch should be about the customer, not you. Think about what value your product creates for your buyer. 

    Are you reducing costs? Improving efficiency? Eliminating manual tasks? Buyers will respond more to benefits than they will to features.

    3. Choose the right medium

    There are many avenues through which a sales pitch can be delivered — email, social media, and over the phone. 

    Think about both the buyer and their industry. Mature, more established industries may respond better to more traditional forms of outreach, like a phone call. 

    On the other hand, a highly innovative company may prefer modern approaches, like a direct message over social media. If you don’t get a response from one channel, it’s totally acceptable to try again via another one.

    4. Be empathetic and personalize your pitches

    Next, think about personalization. Most reps work off a base template, but that template should change based on how you are delivering your pitch and who it’s going to. 

    For instance, you’d use different language based on whether you’re pitching a prospect via social media than you would via email. 

    You’ll also want to tailor your pitch so that the value and benefits you’re describing map to actual buyer pain points — after all, now two prospects are the same and you’ll have to customize your pitches according to the unique desires and needs of your target customers.

    5. Include a clear call to action

    What do you want the buyer to do? Call you back or respond with times to meet? 

    It’s critical that you close with a clear next step, so stay away from vague phrases like “What do you think?” 

    Go for strong, timely, actionable phrases instead: “Can we catch up on Zoom next week for a quick 15-minute call? I’ll show you how you can improve the elegance of your website and boost website traffic in just 3 steps.”

    Now, that you have a proven process to craft powerful sales pitches that tap into the innermost feelings and desires of your target customers, let’s explore a few more sales templates that you can harness to transform your prospects into brand advocates.

    Sales templates that will make your customers fall in love with your brand

    The celebratory pitch

    Occasionally, one of your pitches will coincide with an important moment in a buyer’s life. As long as it’s appropriate, leverage that moment to build a connection.

    Hi <<>>,

    Congrats on the recent promotion to Senior Program Manager! As you settle into your new role, I’m curious to see how you’re approaching project management?

    Did you know that a simple reduction of two manual tasks can win you back five hours a week?

    Our platform makes it easier than ever for you to focus on the work that matters. If it makes sense, I would love to connect more on what we could do for you to make your day more efficient.

    Do you have time next week for a quick catch-up on zoom?

    Warm regards,

    ____________

    Don’t sell a product, sell an experience

    Back in the early 2000s, billionaire entrepreneur and investor Mark Cuban was the new owner of the Dallas Mavericks. The team was struggling to win games, which resulted in low ticket sales.

    To get ticket sales back up, Cuban led the charge with his sales team by getting on the phone with former season ticket holders.

    At the beginning of these conversations, Cuban was met with objections, like how bad the team was. In response, he would remind former ticket holders of their own experiences going to games as a kid—when it didn’t matter if a team was winning or losing. 

    The point was the game itself. The arena. The popcorn and cheering and time with parents, friends, neighbors, etc. It was a unique experience that cost only $8 a ticket and provided more value than going to the movies or McDonald’s.

    His approach worked, and ticket sales began to climb. During a pitch, sell prospects on the benefits, and not the features. 

    Cuban didn’t promote good seats, talented team players, and tasty popcorn. Instead, he promoted a special family experience—something he and his team knew that former season ticket holders valued.

    Tell a story

    Storytelling is an excellent way to create a memorable connection. Our brains literally thrive on stories.

    Stories trigger the release of a trust hormone called Oxytocin, which promotes connection and empathy.

    Take a look at LISNR’s pitch to understand how effective stories can prove to be in capturing the prospect’s imagination and inspiring them to make a purchase:

    “In 2012, one single belief brought LISNR’s founders together: ultrasonic audio is better. These individuals understood the growing need for a device- and platform-independent solution for sending short communication back and forth at the software level. They believed that companies shouldn’t have to spend on costly hardware or processes to drive more friction-less and connected experiences.”

    Found on the LISNR website, this product pitch uses their origin story to explain both how their organization came to be and what they aim to accomplish. 

    This gives more context to their product, making purchasing with them more than just a transaction but also a contribution to a greater mission and belief system.

    In a nutshell

    Now that you know how to create compelling sales pitches for your business, go ahead and put what you’ve learnt into action. Write to us and let us know how these templates worked out for you!

    If you’re looking to leverage a holistic Field Service Management App to maximize your sales conversions and optimize the performance of your field reps, try Happisales.

    Happisales is a neat and elegant field force engagement platform that allows you to perform sales, collection, order, and service in a synchronized way. 

    It is a progressive solution that is equipped with advanced features like route optimization, customer analytics, and field rep monitoring, enabling your sales reps to create meaningful customer experiences. 

    So, what are you waiting for? Talk to our experts and schedule a free demo today!

  • Top 10 Problems in Sales with Simple Solutions

    Top 10 Problems in Sales with Simple Solutions

    Selling is hard work. In order to achieve your targets, a salesperson has to address a number of issues. In order to achieve your targets, a salesperson has to address a number of problems in sales on a daily basis. Technology has helped buyers become more knowledgeable than ever before – they are able to make informed choices by doing basic research about the company, its products and offerings.

    Salespeople today face multiple problems in sales, especially after the rise of digital-first buyers and remote interactions. Some of the challenges that have risen after the advent of social media and the “new normal” include building trust, being productive, nurturing prospective leads, and more. So, yes, closing deals is more of a challenge these days for sales personnel and in this blog post, we will try to understand 10 common sales challenges that must be addressed to clinch the deal! Can a field service management software help? Let’s find out.

    What are the challenges faced by sales personnel?

    Some of the challenges that have risen after the advent of social media and the “new normal” include building trust, being productive, nurturing prospective leads etc. Let us examine them one by one.

    1. Building Trust:

    The Covid-19 pandemic pushed most sales personnel to rely primarily on email and telephone to communicate with their prospects. Potential clients receive a great deal of emails and phone calls, so standing out as the best vendor may be difficult. Developing credibility online necessitates creative strategies for distinguishing yourself from your competitors. A personalised approach can help achieve this. Making use of field service management software can smoothen this process. It is also vital that sales personnel ensure that their efforts are relevant, timely, and appropriate for the platform being used.

    2. Less Number of Qualified Leads:

    Statistics indicate that sales personnel spend less than 36% of their time selling. It is primarily a matter of not spending enough time developing connections and prospecting. As far as discipline is concerned, making time to prospect every day requires setting aside time and minimising distractions. New opportunities can be generated by combining a territory and account strategy, blocking time, and an insight-based approach.

    3. Goal Setting:

    In order to achieve success, realistic sales targets that are actionable and attainable should be set, rather than focusing too much on just numbers. To meet targets, your sales team may end up pursuing low-quality, ineffective leads. Sales team managers utilise field sales tracking software to assign  and track these goals and targets. 

    4. Closing Deals:

    Economic circumstances are difficult all over the world, and customers do not want to feel compelled to buy in today’s competitive market. That is why closing deals are difficult. It is usually plagued by problems much sooner in the sales cycle. The most efficient way to increase your close rates is to make the buyer’s journey easier and to ensure that all key dialogues occur in the right order. If sales people don’t begin to bargain right away, they will run into a lot of problems. It is beneficial to utilise the entire sales discussion to explain the pricing, triangulating the competitors, and emphasising the amount of effort needed to achieve the client’s goals. In this manner, profits can be maximised. The buying cycle can be documented in the field sales tracking app too to enable easy tracking.

    5. Discussing Pricing:

    Most often, the decision to choose a product or service boils down to the pricing. To weed out the unqualified prospects, it’d make sense to present the pricing on the company website. Knowing your competitors and what the market charges is also essential. Sales personnel need to recognize if they are genuinely meeting their needs with the service or product.

    6. Productivity Issues:

    After the pandemic, many sales organizations moved to a remote sales model. Such firms were faced with inefficiencies and lack of cohesiveness. The pandemic also saw changes in people’s buying patterns. The changing nature of buying patterns presents reps with new challenges, managers with new methods to boost seller productivity, and executives with new challenges to drive development. With field sales tracking software such as Happisales, managers are able to provide clarity and sound advice as and when their team members are found struggling to adjust to prospects’ changing habits and sensitivities.

    7. Nurturing Leads at Right Time:

    Sending emails and making phone calls to a prospect list is simple, but doing this manually will not only take time but it might hamper relations too. Without comprehensive activity monitoring in place, analysing each prospect takes time and leaves gaps. When using a mobile sales app for field service tracking software such as Happisales, sales personnel can set up automated reminders for themselves to analyse a prospect once specific events occur. Automations that send emails to prospects at predetermined intervals can also be triggered by actions.

    8. Wasting Time on Unqualified Leads:

    As mentioned earlier, the amount of time spent on selling is far lesser than the other work done by a sales representative. Erroneous prospect data can lead sales professionals to spend nearly a quarter of their time pursuing unqualified leads. This may severely demotivate your sales staff, resulting in a negative impact on your sales funnel and, eventually, your figures.

    By ensuring accurate data for your sales team to analyse, you can solve this problem. Solutions for field sales tracking such as Happisales ensure that your sales team is spending their time productively nurturing the qualified prospects.

    9. Time Management:

    The majority of your sales team’s time is spent on administrative tasks like data entry and report generation. This can be addressed by automating these simple administrative tasks with mobile sales app for field sales tracking such as Happisales. Having the right tools and technology at their disposal will ensure your sales team has more time on hand to devote to key sales tasks. Meeting scheduling solutions allow prospects to arrange time on your reps’ calendars promptly, avoiding extensive email threads. Email templates also save time.

    10. Poor Teamwork:

    In sales, teamwork is key. You can find creative solutions to problems by working in a group and benefit from the expertise and experience of others. Team members aren’t the only thing that makes a team successful. Team sales can be particularly challenging for sales staff that are used to working alone. Establishing a collaborative atmosphere will help your sales staff be successful. Regular communication will prevent a disconnected selling process.

    Conclusion:

    These are some of the most common problems in sales that field executives encounter in their day-to-day work. By ensuring better teamwork, improved time management, and leveraging technology like field service management software such as Happisales, your business can overcome these issues effectively. To find out more about it, schedule a demo today!

  • All you need to know about sales management

    All you need to know about sales management

    Without a doubt, sales management is one of the most difficult business domains to master and implement. However, your sales staff will be inspired and motivated if you have a robust sales management system.

    The top field force managers can comprehend the most up-to-date sales strategies and apply their best practices to help their staff close more transactions and increase sales revenue.

    It is sometimes harder to manage sales than make a sale on the field. You must, after all, manage your employees, customers, and processes. The stakes are high. However, the results are satisfying because you can watch your company expand rapidly.

    Therefore, to ace those sales, here’s a coherent explanation of sales management.

    What Is Sales Management?

    The practice of planning, managing, and managing the salesforce to achieve company objectives is known as sales management. It entails putting together a team, allowing the sales team, and inspiring team members to accomplish their responsibilities well.

    While the specific definition of sales management varies by organization, the following duties frequently come under the sales management umbrella:

    Hiring and training new personnel: You can’t manage a sales force if there isn’t one to manage. Development agents, salespeople, business development managers, and other employees work in sales teams. Sales managers are in charge of hiring and training these sales representatives.

    Setting sales targets and limits: The sales manager is in charge of establishing the sales targets that the sales staff aims to meet. These quotas must make sense to each team member and find the right balance between challenging and achievable.

    Controlling and adjusting the sales process: Sales managers must also decide on the sales processes that the sales force will follow. Again, these protocols must be well-planned and empirical support to guide the team in the proper route.

    Motivating co-workers: Sales may be a demanding profession. As a result, Field Sales teams require the correct kind and motivation to succeed. As a result, effective sales management must determine what works and what doesn’t.

    Preparing sales reports: Sales teams must employ a varied, precise range of data to drive their decision-making and attain results. As a result, sales managers must be able to compile reliable reports of their Field Sales Reporting that detail performance and highlight areas for development.

    What are the Objectives of Sales Management?

    Sales managers should ensure that their teams are appropriately engaged. Then your company will be able to meet these key goals.

    Achieve the sales volume that you want

    Salespeople worldwide are working hard to ensure that their companies achieve their sales targets. This concept is crucial since a bigger volume indicates appropriate penetration in a specific market. Therefore, the more clients you have, the more secure your firm will be.

    Contribute to the company’s profits

    Sales managers’ responsibilities should be carried out as efficiently as feasible. Then your sales department will be able to close more deals and increase your company’s turnover rate. In addition, you should sell each product at the correct pricing and employ the necessary tactics to maximize sales.

    Contribute to the growth of the company

    To satisfy shareholders and have a greater impact, businesses must expand. It’s critical for a sales department to contribute to this expansion. Handling the costs involved with sales is critical for the sales manager has to make sure that a business is financially profitable.

    What Is the Process of Sales Management?

    If you aim to succeed as a sales manager, you have to figure out what works and keep improving on it. You can’t switch from one strategy to the next at breakneck speed.

    This predictability will provide your team the confidence to work together and the capacity to iterate your strategy. Then you’ll be able to achieve the best results imaginably.

    A performant sales management process includes the following:

    • Assembling the ideal team
    • Creating a sales funnel
    • Working with marketing to find new leads
    • Improving prospecting skills
    • Making use of precise sales forecasts and reports

    Sales management strategies

    Great sales teams don’t just happen to form without some guidance. Instead, gifted minds purposefully construct them. Here are some techniques for building a high-performing team.

    Invest in your salespeople’s training and growth:

    Because selling behaviors and methods evolve, it’s critical to engage in learning and development programs to keep your staff sharp and current on current sales best practices.

    Create a culture that is both engaging and motivating:

    You want to show your salespeople that their efforts are recognized and appreciated when they pay off. Create a culture where victories are celebrated frequently and publicly.

    To create a positive workplace, use positive reinforcement:

    You have to bring positive vibes & support into your sales organization through upscale reinforcement because sales can be a cutthroat and demanding atmosphere.

    Sales management in the digital age

    The face of sales management is changing rapidly due to technological advancements. Sales managers in the digital age have a precise outline of their sales process. Leading indicators are used to track progress along the path. These modern-day managers make these actions visible to the entire team and encourage them to meet their goals. 

    They make victory visible and foster a winning culture. This new breed of sales managers leverages field force automation technologies and employs data analysis and technology to deliver intelligent coaching in real-time. In addition, they include science in the selling process.

    Final Thoughts:

    Field Sales Mobile App and other Field Force Manager can help you streamline your work, accomplish tasks and duties more quickly, have a greater impact on your team, and become a stronger leader. 
    Happisales is a one-stop solution for managing field force activities in real-time, allowing salespeople to focus on more critical responsibilities by automating sales tracking, reporting, and administration. So do look at what Happisales has to offer & reach out to us!