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Tag: Business

  • Field Force Automation Software Benefits for Businesses

    Field Force Automation Software Benefits for Businesses

    Field force management is a highly challenging task: it can be especially gruelling since you are not physically present with your field force executives. Many industries have a large deskless workforce deployed across the globe to perform a wide variety of tasks. After all, you cannot run a business with the help of desk jockeys alone!

    That being said, there are several things that you need to ensure to streamline field force management:

    • frontline workers maintain excellent standards of operational execution and compliance
    • data is accurately captured in the field and used effectively by the head office to drive continuous process improvements
    • workers in the field are provided with an enriching experience that nurtures and brings forth their full potential

    Field Force Automation is a fantastic tool that can help organizations achieve the objectives mentioned above. It ensures greater efficiency and compliance. In addition, it optimizes employee performance and establishes real-time communication between the head office and operational frontline.

    Let’s dive deeper, understand what is FFA and the benefits that it offers to your business.

    What is Field Force Automation

    Field Force Automation is an aspect of field service software that leverages mobile technology such as mobile devices, wearables, and IoT sensors to facilitate bi-directional communication between technicians in the field and the head office. Data is instantly recorded in the back-end, eliminating the time spent on manual data entry and the risk of errors associated with it.

    By implementing FFA, organizations allow field force executives to capture and share data in real-time, enabling managers to evaluate, provide feedback and boost performance. 

    Advantages of Field Force Automation 

    Increase efficiency

    By leveraging analytics, you can process the abundant amount of data generated in the field and gain valuable insights into locations having plenty of business opportunities. Route optimization empowers field workers to navigate their territory in the most efficient way, reducing the time and cost of traveling. 

    Assign leads automatically

    When a lead is captured, the FFA software automatically assigns that lead to the relevant salesperson based on certain criteria like zip code, product, or proximity. This reduces response time drastically. The sales rep receives instant mobile notifications and can access the available lead details with just a tap.

    Achieve greater visibility

    Operational directors can use FFA to gain greater visibility over performance in the field which helps to eliminate inefficiencies and reward top performers.

    Field Service Management Software allows you to see what is happening on the field from a distance with real-time geo-tracking, spontaneous updates on sales activities with customers, or requests for assistance from the manager. 

    It makes it easier to track the performance of your sales team members without breathing down their necks. A simple dashboard on the web app provides you with a clear report of all sales reps, which includes what they’re currently working on, their location at the moment, the client they’re meeting, the distance they’ve travelled, etc. 

    Build meaningful and personalized customer relationships

    FFA allows you to forge longstanding trust-based relationships with customers and deliver an engaging customer experience. It provides customer information and history to your field force executives, enabling smooth interactions with customers. 

    The automation tools are often identity-driven: they can identify past track records, touchpoints, and communication history, helping your field force executives to better plan their approach to customer service.

    FFA software can provide notifications to the customer about shipping status, delays, etc. to make sure the customer is informed throughout the entire process. To put it simply, it helps customers identify and relay their requirements accurately, allowing you to better serve your customers.

    This kind of directive and administrative software improves communication and shows both the customer and the home office more about what is needed and what the company can do to serve a particular client well.

    Nurture the well-being of your employees

    A seed does not grow into a tree, simply because of your desire to eat its fruit. It needs healthy soil, manure, sunlight, water, and active nourishment from your side to blossom into a full-fledged tree.

    The same holds true for your field force employees. You need to create a positive, uplifting atmosphere in which your field force employees can thrive. FFA technology enhances employee engagement in several ways.

    It allows organizations to create a knowledge repository of field workers’ expertise and enables employees to upskill quickly. If any of your frontline workers leave the workforce, their expertise can be preserved and used by newcomers in the organization.

    Field force automation solution also empowers frontline workers to execute tasks, communicate and collaborate with greater effectiveness, saving them valuable time and providing them with a frictionless experience.

    Using FFA software, organizations can transform frontline operations into a fun-filled process and enhance employee involvement. You can recognize and celebrate individual achievements, offer personalized feedback, and set performance incentives to bolster employee spirit. 

    In a nutshell

    Looking for robust FFA software to turbocharge your field force operations? We’ve got the perfect solution for your needs.

    Happisales is a neat and elegant field force engagement platform that allows you to perform sales, collection, order, and service in a synchronized way. Using Happisales, you can log customer data effectively, avail push notifications based on tasks performed in the field, and track the journey of your field executives in real-time.

    It is a progressive solution that automatically plans the best travel route based on the location of meetings and generates actionable customer insights, enabling your field reps to create meaningful customer experiences. 

    Designed to enhance collaboration between managers and field reps, Happisales allows managers to assess and maximize the performance of field executives. In addition, it simplifies attendance tracking as well as order management enabling you to optimize field force activities. 

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

  • The complexity of Field Sales when compared with Online Sales

    The complexity of Field Sales when compared with Online Sales

    Introduction to online and field sales:

    Traditionally, field sales and inside sales have had their distinct domains. Field salespeople conducted most of the heavy labor, meeting with customers in person. Inside salespeople sold via the phone and the Internet and were in charge of simple items, small and remote clients, and simpler sales activities, including lead generation and renewals.

    However, field sales utilize online technologies like automated field sales tracking solutions in today’s digital age. At the same time, inside sales are encroaching on-field sales territory. As a result, businesses must reconsider how they structure, hire, support, manage, and incentivize their field and inside sales staff.

    The digital revolution drives the convergence of field and inside sales in three ways. First, digital enables freemium and subscription sales organizations, which direct clients to digital and inside sales channels rather than costly field personnel.

    Second, as technology improves, digital communication tools have grown more commonplace. Customers and salespeople (both inside and outside) are increasingly using email, live video, online tools, field force automation solutions, and websites to share information, develop and evaluate alternatives, and complete sales transactions.

    Finally, data and analytics influence more salespeople, sales managers, field force managers, and sales leaders in online sales. Companies have always concentrated heavily on field sales, but the sector is changing. Online sales are expanding at a 15x quicker rate than outside sales.

    Key differences between them:

    The primary distinction between inside & outside sales is the salesperson’s interactions with customers. Field sales are conducted in the field via face-to-face talks. Online sales are conducted over the phone or the Internet.

    Other distinguishing criteria include client acquisition expenses, revenue predictability, and the types of talents salespeople must possess to thrive.

    Why choose online sales over field sales?

    According to anecdotal evidence, inside sales teams grow 15 times faster than outside sales teams. Companies are putting their faith in in-house teams. It can be ascribed to causes such as the expansion of software companies and that more businesses are now selling to customers worldwide.

    Another element that helps inside sales is that they spend, on average, 71 percent of their day selling. Due to longer travel times and difficulties coordinating face-to-face meetings, field sales representatives only spend 41 percent of their time. 

    With the rise of digital products and services, scheduling product demos via video calls utilizing Zoom, Skype, GoToMeeting, or similar applications is possible. Field sales teams can concentrate on less volume and spend more time with enterprise clients with particular demands and long sales cycles.

    As measured solely in dollars and cents, field sales necessitate a higher investment to succeed. Outside sales representatives earn 12-18% more per year than inside sales representatives. Travel costs are undoubtedly higher due to the increased need to visit clients in various geographic locations.

    As businesses look for new ways to sell more for less, harnessing the resources of an efficient and productive online sales staff leads to considerable cost savings while keeping production at the same, if not greater, level than before.

    Final Thoughts:


    Most businesses establish a balance between internal and external sales, as we’ve seen. It is less expensive and more scalable to build an inside sales team. However, if you’re dealing with big clients with lengthy sales cycles, an outside sales force might be a better fit for your company. All you need is a sales tracking software to conduct efficient business!

  • 4 Ways to Measure the Productivity of Field Sales Employees

    4 Ways to Measure the Productivity of Field Sales Employees

    Consistently exceeding sales targets pays everyone’s bills, including commissions and bonuses, and guarantees the company’s bottom line is powerful. The biggest determinant you have for consistently managing and delivering on your goals is measuring and tracking your Field Sales Team’s performance and progress.

    You cannot afford to lose vision of the woods and only see individual trees. The first step towards determining sales team performance is to have clear visibility. It is far more efficacious than piecing together the entire picture from the operations of individual sales reps, which is time-consuming.

    Implementing sales tracking may appear difficult, but it does not have to be. There are only a few practical steps required to develop an effective method for measuring, tracking, and reporting on the performance of your sales team.

    4 Ways to Measure Sales Productivity:

    • Establish key performance indicators – 

    KPI, also known as the Key Performance Indicator, is a value that measures the performance of various aspects of the firm to determine whether or not it has met its targets. Any sales organization must create a real-time dashboard to track the performance of their sales team. 

    Also, a Field Force Automation Solution is equally enabled to track the performance and productivity of your sales reps’ team. 

    • Evaluate forecasted business vs. Targeted business – 

    Forecasting your business is more than just a numbers game. Rather, it is a well-researched estimation that defines an organization’s future tendencies. 

    Accurate prediction reports express how many deals are necessary to fulfill your goal, the most likely buyers, and how much prospecting is required to fill your sales pipeline. field sales reporting apps are perfect for such predictions. The accurate forecast numbers provide a benchmark for salespeople to see if they are on track to meet their goals.

    • Make time for constant follow up – 

    It is also tough to set aside time to check in with each individual. Use this opportunity to debate how their performance compares to the team’s goals and emphasize any key areas for improvement.

    • Measure long and short-term goals – 

    The most impactful performance metrics balance short-term task completion with long-term performance. This combination of objectives and incentives promotes a positive work ethic.

    With the right investigating tools and a field service management software designed to help you track performance in real-time, you can begin working smarter and smacking those team targets regularly! With such intelligent solutions, you can monitor, track, and analyze your revenue-generating activities and ensure maximum productivity every time! Visit us at Happisales to learn more.

  • Mastering Sales Skills: A Practical Guide for Sales Professionals

    Mastering Sales Skills: A Practical Guide for Sales Professionals

    When people hear sales skills, they often picture pushy salespeople or nonstop cold calls. That’s not what good sales is about. Strong sales skills are about connecting with people, understanding what they need, and helping them make choices that work for them.

    Whether you are new to sales or have years of experience, improving your sales expertise skills can make a real difference in your results. Some small changes in how you communicate, listen, and manage your time can add up to better client relationships and more closed deals. Here are some of the best sales skills every sales professional should develop and ways to apply them in real situations.

    Why mastering sales skills matters for a sales professional?

    Success in any profession starts with mastering sales skills. The right approach can make a big difference in your results. Think back to when you were a kid trying to convince your parents to get you ice cream. You were practicing sales skills without even realizing it.

    Everyone has some level of sales skills, but honing them intentionally sets top performers apart. To help you grow and succeed, here are 10 sales skills that can strengthen your abilities and improve your professional life.

    10 Essential Sales Skills Every Professional Should Learn

    Listen More Than You Talk

    This seems simple, but many people overlook listening as a sales professional skill. Think about it. In a conversation, who do you remember more- the person who talked nonstop or the one who actually listened?

    Active listening is a key part of strong sales skills. Don’t just wait for your turn to speak. Ask questions, nod, and pay attention to what the client says. For example, if a client mentions problems with delivery times, don’t jump straight into a product pitch. Take time to understand the issue. They will notice, and you can suggest a solution that really works for them.

    Follow Up Thoughtfully

    One of the best sales skills is following up in a way that feels natural. Following up isn’t pestering. It’s showing that you care.

    After a client buys a product, you can send a quick message to see how it’s working for them. You might also share a tip that helps them use it better. Small, thoughtful follow-ups strengthen relationships and can lead to referrals. Clients remember when you take the time to check in.

    Know When to Speak and When to Stay Silent

    Timing matters in sales. I often tell my trainees that you don’t need to fill every silence. Let clients explain their needs first before sharing your ideas.

    It’s like talking with friends over dinner. You listen to understand, not just to reply. If you interrupt or over-explain, you risk losing trust. Balancing listening and speaking is a quiet but important part of sales expertise skills.

    Manage Your Time Wisely

    Time management is an important sales professional skill. You only have so many hours in a day, so how you spend them matters.

    Some sales reps spend hours manually entering data or updating spreadsheets that could be automated. Tools like field force automation can help by keeping client info organized and scheduling visits. This frees up time to focus on meeting clients, understanding their needs, and closing deals.

    Focus on tasks that make a real impact rather than staying busy for the sake of it. Managing your time well improves productivity and helps you get better results.

    Do Your Homework

    You can’t sell something you don’t understand. Researching clients, competitors, and market trends is an important part of strong sales skills.

    Before a meeting, take time to check the client’s website, recent news, or social media updates. Learn about their challenges and the trends in their industry. Being prepared helps you speak confidently and show that you understand their situation. It also allows you to offer solutions that actually make sense for them.

    Small efforts in preparation can make a big difference in how clients perceive you and how effective your sales professional skills are.

    Solve Problems, Don’t Just Sell

    Customers are looking for solutions, not just products. Developing problem-solving as a sales expertise skill sets top performers apart.

    If a client is frustrated with slow delivery, don’t just offer a faster service. Take time to understand the real issue. Is it a scheduling problem or a stock shortage? When you identify the root cause and offer the right solution, it shows you understand their world. Clients remember that approach and it strengthens trust.

    Handle Objections Calmly

    Objections are not a rejection. They are a chance to show your sales professional skills. When a client raises a concern, listen carefully and respond without getting defensive.

    For example, if a client says your product is too expensive, you could say, “I hear you. Some of our clients felt the same at first, but they found the return on investment made it worthwhile.” Handling objections in this way builds trust and can turn a maybe into a yes.

    Master the Art of Closing

    Closing a deal does not have to feel pushy. One of the best sales skills is knowing when and how to ask for a commitment.

    It is like inviting a friend to lunch. You would not nag them, but you would be clear about your plan and check if it works for them. In sales, you do the same. Be clear, confident, and considerate. Choose the right moment and make it simple for the client to say yes.

    Embrace Technology

    Technology can help you sharpen your sales expertise skills. Tools like field force automation let you track clients, schedule visits, and prioritize leads. When all your client information is in one place, you spend less time on spreadsheets and scattered notes. This gives you more time to focus on relationships and planning your approach . Getting comfortable with technology is now a key part of being an effective sales professional.

    Keep Learning and Adapting

    Sales is always evolving, and strong sales skills mean staying up to date with new strategies, tools, and customer insights. When a new app or tool makes field sales reporting easier, take time to try it out and see how it fits into your routine. The more you adjust and adapt, the sharper your sales professional skills become. Being flexible helps you handle challenges better, improve results, and make the most of your day in the field.

    What’s Next?

    Developing sales skills is not about memorizing scripts. It is about understanding people, solving problems, and using the right tools. Focusing on listening, research, time management, and technology like field force automation can improve both your results and your relationships. Think of sales as a craft. The more you practice, the better you become. Tools like Happisales help your team track, manage, and optimize each interaction, making daily work smoother and letting you apply your sales professional skills more effectively.

    You can experience Happisales yourself with a 14-day free trial and see how your field team can perform at their best. Schedule your demo today and start transforming the way your team works.

    Click here to Schedule your demo
  • 4 tips that will change the way you approach sales in 2022 and beyond!

    4 tips that will change the way you approach sales in 2022 and beyond!

    It is quite unclear when we will be returning to “business as usual”. Last year, the changes brought about by Covid-19 were considered as a temporary adjustment — something we would have to put up with for a few months before returning to commuting, workplaces, and in-person meetings. However, when businesses accept that the current state of affairs may be the new normal, they must move their attention from transient solutions to a new approach to organisational planning.

    It’s time to adapt your field sales team for the environment we live in for any company that relies on direct sales to generate money. Here are four tips that will change the way you approach sales in the coming year.

    Setting realistic goals

    The capacity to promote products and services will decide whether a company succeeds or fails. The revenue gained through sales is critical to the growth and development of any small/medium business. A competent sales plan is required to thrive in today’s competitive company climate. A successful sales strategy tackles two issues: overcoming fierce competition and growing product and service sales. A sales manager’s job includes setting sales targets for their staff via field sales apps. Realistic sales targets are action-oriented and attainable, rather than being too focused on achieving specific figures. When it comes to creating goals for the team, the worst a sales manager can make is focusing entirely on the figures.

    Of course, you want to increase sales and achieve better success, but without a strong strategy outlining how to reach a specific set of goals, it’s doubtful that your team can meet your target.

    You should also evaluate your company’s long-term objectives. In order to meet targets, your field sales team may end up pursuing substandard, unproductive leads. This may have major consequences for your company’s reputation since salespeople over-promise and then under-deliver on your product or service.

    Field Force Tracking Solution or sales force automation makes identifying and setting realistic goals that your field sales team can achieve. These goals and targets can be assigned to the team through field sales apps

    Assign the right people for the right job

    In many instances, employees are promoted to jobs that are not in sync with their talents and ambitions because their employer has incorrectly assessed how their skills and goals connect with the company’s broader strategy. Assigning people with a fitting job will have a variety of good results including better engagement. Studies have shown that employees appreciate being in a position where they believe they can flourish and do important work. By assigning the right job to the right employee can help you achieve a better customer service experience. Candidates with strong interpersonal skills are critical to the success of your company. The most common cause for new customers to leave is a negative customer service experience. Employees that are capable of taking ownership of their job and their role within your organisation will not only help your firm flourish, but they will also work to stabilise and enhance it. Using sales force automation systems enables managers to identify how their field sales team are performing and assign the right job to the right person.

    Identify key players in each team

    Employees that are organisational key players are those who keep your company functioning. They are the top achievers on whom companies focus their resources because their talents and specialty create value to the organisation. When trying to identify these key team players, companies should bear in mind the special attributes required to increase corporate success. Even if you find a candidate who isn’t the finest, you can still invest in them by assisting them in honing their abilities. Knowing the various qualities of these key team players can thus be beneficial to your operational effectiveness. Ideally, a key player must exhibit characteristics such as they must be inclined to collaboration, must have an optimistic outlook, and must have a competitive nature. Such team players provide a significant contribution to the stability and progress of not only their coworkers, but also of the firm.

    Identify key players based on their achievements that are recorded on the field force automation system and enable them to achieve more.

    Transparency in communication

    Transparency is more than just a buzzword in business. It serves as a catalyst for organisational communication and responsibility. Transparency is essential for getting a 360-degree perspective of what’s going on, collaborating across departments, and having a true grasp of what’s going on throughout the sales cycle. Instead of focusing solely on the long term, establish incremental checkpoints for monthly or quarterly progress and share that information with the whole sales team. Incremental checkpoints assist managers in determining where the field sales team is doing well and where it may be struggling. Sharing the progress of these milestones may enhance the motivation and self-esteem of the field sales team who would otherwise go unnoticed until their annual appraisals. Most significantly, it can encourage healthy rivalry among employees. Transparency and accountability are most likely the two most critical aspects of a successful business. According to a Harvard Business Review poll, 70% of employees are more engaged when senior management consistently updates and communicates corporate strategies. Even if complete transparency may appear to be a bad idea, employees want to know what motivates the organisation for which they work. Furthermore, the team must be aware of the company’s goals in the short and long term, as well as how they will contribute to those goals. 

    Communication and openness at all levels of management will aid in the development of both productivity and trust among the sales staff. However, a lack of responsibility can have a disastrous effect, eventually leading to poor performance and sales. In other words, having clear standards and expectations for everyone, as well as feeling accountable for their work and outcomes, may assist sales teams enhance morale and productivity.

    When it comes to sales, you have your job cut out for you as a business owner. You can achieve better sales with these tips along with automating the system using sales force management apps. Check out blog.happisales.com/ to identify how you can automate many processes in your business and achieve better sales at a lower cost. Schedule an appointment today!

  • Top Four New Year Resolutions to Boost your Sales Team Morale

    Top Four New Year Resolutions to Boost your Sales Team Morale

    As we head towards New Year 2022, most of us take the opportunity to reflect on the passing year and plan what’s coming next. And while the age-old traditions of weight loss and healthy eating resolutions remain popular, the New Year is ripe for businesses to set new goals. 

    The sales industry is always changing, and the most effective salespeople keep up. Sales managers should reflect on their team’s accomplishments and shortcomings over the last year and utilize this information to plan for future achievement. In light of this, your sales resolutions should be well-thought-out and properly designed to set the tone for the coming year.

    4 Effective Ideas to Inspire the Sales Team this New Year:

    Consider these 4 New Year’s resolutions to ignite your sales team’s performance in the coming 365 days if you want to motivate them to work at a higher level.

    • Focus on Time Management – 

    Working in sales may rapidly become daunting, from prospecting and lead qualifying to cold calling and client meetings. But, amid the chaos, appropriate time management skills can help level out the creases and create a healthy structure.

    The necessity for proper sales strategic planning technologies has grown rapidly, and in-person business is reduced. Manual processes are prone to errors and obstruct your ability to make strategic quick decisions. And hence the need for further technological assistance. 

    • Improve Sales Productivity – 

    Maintaining your sales team’s motivation and drive to achieve their objectives should be a top priority. In today’s market, achieving a competitive edge requires identifying actionable insights, defining KPIs for your firm, and remaining current with your data. 

    You may improve sales strategy and performance by using data-driven planning and gathering insights. With a sales tracking software, you can always manage the performance of your sales team and scale up their productivity.

    • Celebrate Achievements – 

    While a year-round sales incentive program is beneficial, short-term sales sprints are an extremely effective strategy to boost performance during traditionally weak periods. 

    It’s essential to business success to deliver relevant, compelling, and timely short-term rewards. Also, choose recognition awards that are meaningful and presentable, strategic, and immediately gratifying.

    • Embrace New Technology – 

    It’s realistic to expect that the percentage of buyers asking to meet the salesperson can rise in the following year as communication technology advances. 

    As a result, it’s critical for salespeople to become familiar with the tools, apps, and procedures that clients prefer to use. Besides adopting new communication tools, it is crucial to leap into field Force Automation solutions to optimize sales further.

    Final Words:

    The start of a new year is a time for reflection, but it’s also a time to get ready for the year ahead. New Year’s resolutions may appear fabricated, but the core principle is goal-setting, which is critical to achieving a competitive advantage. 

    Take an effort to learn more about your Field Sales Team and celebrate their contributions. Only by embracing new technologies and diversifying your communication strategies can you stay on the cutting edge of your industry.To know more feel free to visit us at happisales.

  • A Business Perspective on the Benefits of Tracking People and Vehicles

    A Business Perspective on the Benefits of Tracking People and Vehicles

    Why Should You Track Your Employees?

    The ability of a business to be efficient, productive and also profitable is largely based on its ability to facilitate healthy workflows and processes for its employees to follow. However, sales processes come with a lot of unpredictability in terms of tracking employees’ movements, vehicles, and also productive time spent on selling a company’s products. Field sales tracking solutions aim to alleviate these issues, providing a comprehensive, easy to use method of tracking employees and assets in the field. If research surrounding the use of sales tracking software and field sales tracking is to be believed, the use of sales employee tracking apps can come with a multitude of benefits. It can therefore be a great advantage to any business that requires more transparency in its sales or delivery processes, ensuring that employees do not misuse company time and assets while they are in the field.

    What Can Field Sales Tracking Do?

    The many benefits that sales employee tracking apps and sales tracking software can bring include a consolidated database of sales activities and transactions that can help analytics. By having information on where, when and how sales employees are generating value for the company in the field, further optimization of sales processes can be facilitated by using field sales tracking software. This is in addition to more traditional benefits such as improved efficiency, productivity and the security of company assets. However, it is important for a business to address potential issues such as short-term costs of implementation as well as potential repercussions from employees who may see tracking software as a lack of trust in them. It is also advisable to check local laws and regulations regarding the use of tracking software.

    Simplicity and Convenience

    The benefits that field sales tracking software offer are made possible by a simple application of tracking applications that make use of the Google Maps service. The software simply relays information from a dedicated tracking device back to a central device or database, the former of which utilizes Global Positioning Software (GPS) to deliver accurate tracking information on employees and vehicles. This ensures that employees are accountable for their time in the field, but can also assist the company in creating workflows that minimize travel times and maximize the reach of its sales force. Having a dedicated sales employee tracking up can thus allow a business the flexibility to deploy its sales force in a manner that it sees fit, utilizing real-time information from sales tracking software to ensure that its sales processes are not only efficient, but also effective.

    Thus, the use of field service software can be a big advantage to a business that relies on its sales force to a large extent. It provides the advantages of optimization, accountability, transparency, efficiency and productivity of a company’s sales force while the only immediate challenges would be the cost of implementation and ensuring compliance with local laws and policies where the business operates.

    To know more about efficient employee tracking and automating your business, visit us at happisales.

  • A list of 7 business problems that sales force automation can help resolve

    A list of 7 business problems that sales force automation can help resolve

    Before we go to the real deal, one must understand the importance of a sales team to a business, more importantly, the process behind it. A business is a business when it can reach a point which works out the term “doing business”. Regardless of its funding, ideology, innovation, essence, team, players and probably a sales force automation system in place – it could still be considered an establishment. 

    Sales are when an establishment turns into a business!

    With that said, one of the most diligent works of a business is to convert its idea into a sale. Be it a B2B or a B2C, setting up a proper sales team – field sales and behind the desk support is an essential part of any working business model. But it does not come easy. Managing a team of 100 for a generic product or maybe even 10 while dealing with a niche market can be tricky.

    Team Morale

    Attrition levels

    Management ideologies

    Transparency

    Are all a part of the deal. The aforementioned are just the upper layers for the management to take note of while there are certain intricate points that would make the pillar foundations. 

    Here are a few of them and how they could be managed effectively with a sales force automation system!

    Planning & Execution

    One of the most important processes in a running business is the sales and revenue forecast for the upcoming financial year. One can often find businesses taking to the last quarter of the present year to take a dive into predicting the fortunes of the upcoming year. With all due respect to the marketing team, it is with no doubt that the entire team would have their hands full and put in the extra time needed to complete the sales part of the upcoming year. This is quite an important part, as the entire process of the business – be in production, procurement, distribution and so on highly depend on the charts to plan for their challenges ahead.

    The sales force tracker app is arguably the most helpful tool for the management team during this time period. The information collected such as – 

    1. Orders received
    2. Credit period,
    3. Customers requirements, 
    4. New leads, 
    5. Production units to match requirements 
    6. Raw materials procurement quantity., etc. 

    can all be mapped with utmost precision. Even though it may not bring 100% surety on the realised papers, it could still be better and more efficient than manual charting.

    Say no to manual inputs

    No more manual inputs. Any business and its transactions have been dependent on the ink and pen of the employees since the days of the kings. In such cases, the numbers and details are bound to have a few human errors. Even if not, it is without doubt time-consuming. Sales force automation takes this challenge very seriously. 

    Sales force automation can help eradicate such fallacies on a larger scale. Everything right from orders/sales coming in, personnel handling the order/sales, and cash flow received through such sales are tracked in real-time by the sales force tracker apps. This helps in providing in-depth high-quality information in automated real-time and avoid any possibilities of human error. With the inputs being automated and filed in lieu of the “order tree”, the need for any manual input is minimised if not eradicated completely(depending on the feature of your app).

    Manage your sales crew

    A Field Sales Mobile App can double down as a workforce management app as well. Assigning everyday tasks, tracking their status and having to understand the EOD status day in and day out can be done in a jiffy. Say no to status calls and morning meets. Manage your team on the go anywhere and anytime. 10 or 100, no matter the size of your crew, automation software got your back!

    Interdepartmental connect

    Running a successful business is a team effort. By team, it is not only the employees that matter but also the various departments pulling the core together in the same direction. 

    Imagine a production department having no idea what the marketing team has just sold for an order. Even worse would be when the production department had no means of power to match the new order. Such a scenario would be a disaster to the brand image. 

    Sales force automation brings a sense of transparency between all departments. The production team would have the exact number of commodities that they would need to produce for a said customer right on the day of the order. This would help them prioritise their schedules in advance rather than panic at a brief moment’s notice. Such a process would ensure a smooth running of the business line and could help deliver orders more swiftly.

    Real-time salesperson tracking

    Have no idea where your crew are?

    Are you uncertain about your team’s location? 

    Worried if they are okay?

    The sales force tracker app has it covered for you. The GPS tracking utility enabled in the app helps you track your team members effortlessly. Consider it more like tracking your Swiggy order, but a little more to track your team members. Before you go sceptical about the privacy concerns – we would like to share a few words to help you ease it out. 

    “It’s not stalking if they know” 

    Lead Generation, Client management and automated reports

    If you are here having made it through this essay, it would not be much of a surprise that everything right from procuring a lead to the invoice raised on the first billing would be tracked in the automation process. Even customer queries can fall right into the concerned RM’s task directly. This helps attend to customer needs and generate quick reports then and there. The next time your team tries to procrastinate his sales report, you would know what to do!

    And that’s that for starters. If you are really interested in reading more about the impact of sales force automation, try choosing a few more from our blog page. And if you are already interested in getting your sales team fully automated and reap its benefits, feel free to contact us at happisales – Your one-stop shop for all your automation needs!

  • 5 Ways How Field Force Automation Is Benefitting The FMCG industry

    5 Ways How Field Force Automation Is Benefitting The FMCG industry

    The Fast-Moving Consumer Goods or FMCG industry is a wide and dense one. Its distribution networks are so widespread that they need to be managed meticulously. This can be done perfectly well with the help of field force automation. Inventory control and monitoring, lead generation, customer management, order processing, and so many other important processes necessitate extensive monitoring. Carrying out these activities manually can be time consuming, tedious, and cause wastage of resources and revenue. 

    It is widely known that the FMCG business creates low-profit-margin, fast-moving items. Thus it is only natural that the business’s processes and operations be exactly as swift in order to maximize production and profitability. One popular name in the FMCG sector that has already successfully implemented the automation and reaping the benefits – none other than Unilever! 

    Automation is no longer simply about digitalization, as many companies have come to recognize. A company’s performance and profitability need to be improved with the help of innovative solutions. Being able to establish KPI improvements, drive and monitor them via something like a sales employee tracking app could be (and are) a game changer for organizations that are hungry for profits and compete in hyper-competitive industries. Some of the major drivers for distribution organizations are sales and distribution metrics such as salesman productivity, category management of brands and credit management. Being able to watch these metrics in real-time and steer them in the proper direction leads to sales and distribution excellence.

    Field force automation is a boon that has changed the face of several industries- and the effect has been much more significant in the case of the FMCG industry. Field sales app related software generally utilized by companies has not only improved visibility of operations, but the benefits of such software, if utilized appropriately, can extend itself to a wide range of benefits. Some of the changes brought about in the industry are discussed here – 

    1. Improved Productivity & Efficiency 

    Field force automation applications and software help FMCG businesses monitor, evaluate, and optimize a wide range of activities. With the automation being done in a way that has never been done before, it is possible to decrease wastage and theft, improve operations, and save money. It is therefore possible to avoid the time, effort and cost of manually recording data, as well as the possibility of inaccuracy. As a result, the procedure is made tremendously simpler and more efficient. 

    It has been noted that deploying the field sales app has upped the productivity by 25% in FMCG companies. There has not only been an improved productivity, the quality of the output has also gotten better with sales employee tracking app deployment. Better productivity and efficiency lead to higher number of deal closures/sales (discussed below) thereby adding to employee satisfaction which we discuss a little later in the article. 

    1. Better sales 

    One feature that stands out in the sales employee tracking app is that it provides straightforward access to comprehensive and astute analytical data for all operations. With the help of such software, it becomes very easy to understand what is selling, what is not, and why. This gives companies the freedom to promote popular products further in the market, and/or maybe discontinue products that are not popular in the market. We live in an era where consumer preferences determine how business is done, and a tool like this can be extremely beneficial to companies when it comes to making decisions. 

    With a data-driven approach, companies have the ability to work on the pain points and make changes to their approaches as necessary, thereby improving sales of products. As mentioned in the previous point, better productivity enables better sales.

    1. Optimum usage of resources

    Implementation of field sales mobile app software enables optimum use of resources. Let us check out this example – in the FMCG industry, a feature known as route optimization within the sales automation software aids in determining the most cost-effective path for sales people to serve their area.

    This type of route optimization system calculates the most logistically efficient method for covering stores in a region, as well as the amount of resources needed to cover all routes in a streamlined form for more face time than journey time – this ensures that sales professionals can visit as many locations as possible while getting enough facetime with merchants on a given day.

    Some of the leading organizations that have implemented this software are said to have experienced time and distance saving of up to 47% – this automatically saves a lot on the distribution cost.

    1. Problem solving gets easier and speedy 

    The primary goal of sales employee tracking app software is to connect managers with their field personnel smoothly and in real-time. This implies that if any emergency or issue arises on the field, it can be monitored and resolved promptly without the need for layers of needless and time-consuming red tape. This is a feature that is already widely utilized in pharmaceutical sales automation software – the FMCG industry could gain tremendously if there is widespread adoption in the industry. 

    Consider the following scenario: there has been a decline in sales of a specific product at a shop location. With the help of the sales employee tracking app, the store in-charge and their superior would be notified of the issue and both can resolve the problem in a proper way. 

    If we look at the daily schedule of a sales manager, he or she would rarely have the time to sit and study charts and dashboards. There are specific solutions that notify the senior management of possible issues and enable them to find solutions to the problems. This permits better handling of issues on the field so employees can engage better with their customers as well as the team members. There are several players in the automation market who can customize the tool to suit your needs and purposes. 

    1. Employee satisfaction 

    The biggest plus of field service software, by default, is the fact that it brings down the workload of the agents on the field thereby saving precious man-hours. Obsolete and tedious practices such as double-logging entries, passing through layers of red tape, having to report the same things multiple times etc., has become a thing of the past. Cutting these redundant processes out ensures that employees remain energetic, keeping them in high spirits, content, and ultimately more fruitful at their jobs. A happy employee keeps the customers happy and that is what as a business owner you would want, right? We have discussed this point in the preceding points – one thing leads to another and who wouldn’t want to have a win-win factor in their hands!

    As mentioned above, there are numerous field force automation software in the market today. All you need to do is find the one that fits your needs and that which can be customized to suit the requirements of your business. 

    Are you running an FMCG business? Want to improve the efficiency and productivity while making best use of resources? Try out Happisales! Get in touch with us to know how you can get one such system tailor made for your business!

  • Top 7 ways to improve sales productivity to improve productivity

    Top 7 ways to improve sales productivity to improve productivity

    Every sales head in any company dreams of skyrocketing sales just like how it happens in renowned movies like The Wolf of Wall Street or Rocket Singh, Salesman of the Year. But, what matters the most is how productive your sales reps are for you to achieve your sales target as a team. Do you measure your sales reps’ work with tracking software? Then, this would interest you even more. 

    The effectiveness of sales reps is measured by the number of successful face-to-face meetings they had with the prospects which is followed by signups or follow up meetings. It looks like a lot of time is involved here. 

    Having said that, how do sales reps spend their time? Has automation been any good for the sales force so that productivity is boosted? 

    YES! 

    How do Salesmen spend their time?

    Have you ever passed by the inbound sales team bay where there is a lot of pandemonium throughout the day? Believe it or not, a lot of conversions can begin or end here. As surveyed by Sales Insights Lab, 42% of the sales people say that the phone is the most prudent sales tool. But how does this impact sales?

    The quality of the data received is the pivotal factor that determines sales productivity in any organization. Void fields and redundant entries block the sales reps way further. 

    Followed by the first one, the sales reps are left with spending a lot of time to research about the prospects as there is insufficient data for them to proceed. 

    With accurate data, the task to-do by each salesman can be easily automated into a workflow. A lot of companies today do it through Field Service management Software.

    Believing that sales is the revenue avenue, a handful of globally renowned companies have been capitalizing on sales and marketing every year. Here’s a sneak peek to it. 

    On the other hand, intuitive CRMs and automation have eased Salesmen’s jobs that eventually contribute to revenue. Are you thinking of a sales force automation anytime sooner?Then this is all you should be knowing. 

    7 Ways to Improve Sales Productivity

    1. Power of Sales Tools

    A bunch of sales tools have proved effective and efficient, enabling sales reps to perform without wasting their time. A mobile CRM is one good example of a powerful sales tool which can also be a Field Service Software. How does this route help?

    Territory specific customer management – You get to organize your customers based on their territories and keep a track of customer interactions in a timeline. 

    Sales activity management – You can manage the activities of your sales reps like customer visits, calls and orders. This can help them achieve their monthly targets. 

    Order management – You can collect orders on the go, manage customer orders, provide discounts and a lot more.

    Collect payments -. Enables your sales reps to collect payments from customers with subtle reminders. 

    Customer complaint management – Your customers are your advocates. Resolve complaints with a seamless workflow before it impacts your business. 

    Impressive isn’t it? We provide all of these features and even more that can lead to a productivity spike in your sales team”. Check out Happisales, a Sales Tracking Software that could level up your business. It is a cutting-edge mobile tool developed exclusively for sales that gives you an edge over other applications.

    Preparing your sales team to get upgraded to such a mobile sales tool would be your first step towards being productive as a Sales Team. 

    2. Capitalizing on Training of Sales Representatives / Sales Team

    When you are prepared to upscale your sales team with Field Force Automation Tool, you are also set to invest in training them to use the product. Apart from technical training, as an organization you are also bound to train them on how to face customers and answer their queries. 

    Experts also recommend another strategy called individual sales training or one-on-one sales training that has actually worked wonders with productivity improvement .

    3. Task Automation & Time Management

    Automation is a time-saver in disguise. Speaking of it, there goes a list of tasks that can be automated when you are in sales. It is made possible using a tech savvy sales employee tracking app. Some of the time-consuming tasks that can be automated are: 

    1. Customer Data Entry
    2. Daily tasks for sales reps
    3. Follow up emails 
    4. Reminders to customers for payments

    For instance: With a field sales executive in the finance industry – (Non-banking sector per se) the maximum amount of time goes into collection of data, documents and payment dues. Automating this using a Field Force Help app saves his time therefore enabling him to be more productive. 

    4. Lead Scoring

    The sales teams have  always been ambitious to close the leads faster. Through Lead Scoring, you can easily evaluate potential leads. This can further avoid time consumption by your field sales executives with non-buyers. 

    Sales teams use traits, characteristics, demographics and historical data to evaluate and score leads. Most companies have this feature in their field assist application. It has helped sales teams make judicious decisions with prospects, understand their buyer persona and convert them based on the data provided. 

    5. Incentivizing Reps

    Employees in the sales team tend to earn more than the ones in the other teams. Sounds like a corporate myth? Ideally, sales employees get the perks of being incentivized. Rewards and recognitions help gain momentum and motivate them to perform better. 

    Gamification is a technique leveraged by big-league companies to empower sales employees and make them productive. 

    Try it and see your sales team perform better. 

    6. Referral

    Your existing customers are your brand ambassadors. Get vouched to have your brand name spread among their peers through traditional word of mouth. Leads that come through word of mouth would be more open to knowing what you offer. The possibilities of converting leads from referrals are higher compared to the ones that come from other channels. 

    With this, you can also put a smile on your existing customers’ faces by providing them with referral coupons and offers. This is another tried-and-tested method of improving sales productivity. 

    7. Alignment of Sales and Marketing

    Sales and Marketing teams in every company have always been rivals for the methods and approaches that are believed and practiced by each team. 

    Here are some tips to get the teams aligned and see them perform better. 

    To quote an example, the MQL or (Marketing Qualified Lead) is one that is considered by the marketing team through behavior and analytics who is likely to become a customer. This lead is sent to the sales team for them to pay more attention to the process of conversion. 

    The Sales Qualified Lead (SQL) is a qualified lead and a potential buyer / customer displaying interest towards the product or service. 

    Mostly, the difference of opinion between marketing and sales teams tends to arise when the sales team considers some of the MQL as low quality leads. In order to avoid the drift between the two and produce quality leads, you should have regular touch points with the teams. 

    If you are already trying these methods at your organization and looking for a technology change, then try Happisales, a software to aid you with tracking field service as a sale begins there. 

    Happi-Selling!