Technology Archives - SPOTIO #1 Field Sales Engagement Platform Thu, 27 Jun 2024 03:35:55 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 https://spotio.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/favicon-1.png Technology Archives - SPOTIO 32 32 Best Location Analytics Tools for Sales Teams https://spotio.com/blog/sales-location-analytics-tools/ Thu, 27 Jun 2024 03:35:55 +0000 https://spotio.com/?p=26085 Location analytics has the potential to completely revolutionize your sales process.

Once you have access to this kind of technology, territory management, route optimization, and activity tracking tasks will become easier and more accurate for your sales team.

Keep reading to learn what location analytics is, how to use this technology in a sales context, the benefits of location analytics for sales teams, and nine tools you can use for this purpose. Let’s take a look!

 

What Is Location Analytics?

When it comes to field sales, the term “location analytics” refers to the use of human movement to identify important sales-related trends, and extract insights from the available data to aid sales processes.

Field sales departments often refer to location analytics as “sales mapping”. Whatever you call it, this technology helps sellers visualize important information. When this happens, it becomes easier to make smart decisions that lead to sales, revenue growth, and ultimately, more success.

 

Sales Uses of Location Analytics

We know what you’re thinking, “That’s all great. But what does location analytics for field sales teams actually look like?” We’re glad you asked. Here are five important use cases:

 

Sales Mapping

Use location analytics to visualize your pipeline and understand where your sales come from. For example, prospects and customers can be represented as pins on a digital map. Said pins can then be color-coded to signify each prospect or customer’s place in your sales process. The result? Reps can look at the digital map on any internet-capable device and immediately know where to focus their efforts.

 

Route Planning

Location analytics can also be used to plan efficient routes between potential customers. Depending on technology used, reps can often input a collection of addresses into their location analytics tool at once. The app will then plan the perfect route to each destination. Some software will also track mileage for reps so that they don’t have to waste time on tedious data entry tasks and can focus on selling.

 

Territory Management

Location analytics technology makes it easy to cut territories and assign them to qualified reps. Where are your prospects? How can you divide them between your sales reps in an efficient and fair manner? And how do you make sure there’s no overlap between sales areas? Location analytics will help you answer these questions—in addition to monitoring individual territory performance in real time.

 

Sales Prospecting

According to recent research, more than 40% of sales professionals say prospecting is the most difficult part of their jobs. Location analytics technology simplifies the prospecting process. Reps can use it to quickly find leads in their territories that match their ideal customer profiles. Armed with a list of potential customers, sales reps can then work to close as many deals as possible.

 

Rep Tracking

Finally, location analytics for sales teams will help you keep track of your reps. Where are they? And how do they spend their time in the field? The right tools will give you this information. Once you have it, you can properly assess performance. For example, you’ll know if reps miss quota because they lack training or simply refuse to put in the required effort. You can then act accordingly.

 

Benefits of Location Analytics For Field Sales

Location analytics will help you improve your sales targeting efforts, enhance your sales strategy, make data-driven decisions, and increase customer engagement. Let’s dig deeper into each of these benefits:

 

Improved Sales Targeting

When you can access location analytics for sales teams, you’ll be able to identify high-potential areas. In other words, it will be easy to find territories with quality prospects that match your ICPs (Ideal Customer Profile). Just as important, you’ll be able to understand these customers on a deeper level. For example, you’ll have data regarding demographic information, which you can use to inform your sales strategy. Speaking of which…

 

Enhanced Sales Planning and Strategy

You wouldn’t drive from California to New York without GPS, would you? You’d almost certainly get lost along the way. Sales is similar. You need a plan if you want to meet quota and drive revenue. Location analytics will help you uncover key data points and identify trends. You can then use this information to adjust your approach to sales, which will lead to more opportunities, deals, and success.

 

Data-Driven Decision Making

Location analytics will also give you real-time data regarding where prospects are located and how your reps interact with them. This kind of information will help inform your general decision-making processes and coaching programs. It will also help you predict future results with greater accuracy. After all, when you know what’s happening right now, you can better guess what will happen in the future.

 

Increased Customer Engagement

Finally, access to location analytics will help your reps engage with customers in productive ways. This is because they’ll be able to personalize their marketing efforts based on where said customers live. (If selling solar panels, for example, you might contact prospects in Denver, CO during the summer months, when they’ll see a greater benefit from the product.) Personalization is a core tenet of effective customer relationship management. Get it right and sales will be much easier to come by.

 

Top 9 Location Analytics Tools for Sales Teams

Location analytics for field sales will make your team more efficient and successful. The question is, which tool should you use? Here are nine options you should consider investing in:

 

1. SPOTIO

G2 rating: 4.5 stars / 348 reviews

Best for: High-growth field sales teams

SPOTIO is the go-to tool for field sales teams—especially those that want to supercharge productivity and revenue. This is because SPOTIO is purpose-built with all of the features field reps need to succeed. Many of these features include location analytics tech, which provides visibility into sales activity, improves the sales process and increases rep productivity.

Key features:

  • Cut territories based on geographic boundaries or by drawing on a map
  • Generate leads that perfectly match your ICPs—all in just a few clicks
  • Plan efficient routes between prospects and track mileage along the way
  • View analytics to learn how different territories and reps are performing
  • Track your reps’ travel paths in the field and verify check-ins with GPS
  • Integrate SPOTIO with major CRMs, calendar apps, HubSpot and other systems

 

2. Maptitude

G2 rating: 4.7 stars / 137 reviews

Best for: Experienced sales reps

Maptitude will give your reps the ability to cut territories, optimize routes between prospects, and visualize sales data. Unfortunately, it’s not the most usable tool, which is why it’s suggested for experienced sellers.

Key features:

  • Identify where your prospects and customers are
  • Pinpoint common characteristics between buyers
  • Visualize all of these data points on a digital map
  • Create sales routes and reduce windshield time
  • View areas with high market share and growth potential

 

3. Salesforce Maps

G2 rating: 4.3 stars / 319 reviews

Best for: Existing Salesforce users

Salesforce is the biggest name in CRM software. But this tool does way more than simply help sales reps manage customer relationships. It can also be used to map efficient routes between prospects.

Key features:

  • Plot accounts, opportunities, and other Salesforce data on a digital map
  • Use filters to help prioritize outreach to specific prospects and/or customers
  • Adjust territories at any time to account for trends and to maintain performance
  • Build efficient routes between sales meetings to save time and boost productivity
  • Connect Salesforce Maps to many other Salesforce tools, or integrate with SPOTIO

 

4. CARTO SalesQuest

G2 rating: 4.5 stars / 75 reviews

Best for: High-tech sales teams

Carto is an in-depth spatial analytics software. When applied to the sales process, it enables reps to create effective territories and design efficient routes between prospects.

Key features:

  • Quickly create analysis procedures with a drag-and-drop interface
  • Build complex data visualizations inside your cloud data warehouse
  • Design your own location-based apps with comprehensive APIs
  • Optimize routes between locations to reduce costs and carbon emissions

 

5. Maptive

G2 rating: 4.7 stars / 34 reviews

Best for: Short-term field sales needs

Maptive is a popular sales mapping software. With it, users can turn their data into a “custom Google map in minutes.” The tool can also be purchased in 45-day increments, which benefits short-term sales needs.

Key features:

  • Create custom maps with personalized markers and views
  • Access Google Streets View from inside the Maptive app
  • Filter sales data by category, date, number range, and more
  • Get driving directions from one prospect to the next

 

6. GeoMetrx

G2 rating: N/A

Best for: Real-time U.S. demographics data

GeoMetrx is an intuitive tool that will help you locate demographic data in the United States. Learn everything you need to know about prospects in specific states, counties, and/or zip codes.

Key features:

  • Access demographic data with unparalleled accuracy
  • Create demographics, business, retail, crime, and other reports
  • Enjoy curated insights to help understand the data on a deeper level
  • Use an intuitive platform that makes it easy to tease out key insights

 

7. Esri ArcGIS

G2 rating: 4.5 stars / 528 reviews

Best for: Large organizations

ArcGis was designed to help you visualize, analyze, and understand your data. For sales, it enables reps to see where their prospects and customers are, then design efficient routes to meet them in the field.

Key features:

  • Map information to discover important trends
  • Visualize data on maps, charts, and infographics
  • Personalize your maps with colors, symbols, etc.
  • Design the most efficient routes to sales meetings

 

8. Geopointe

G2 rating: 4.3 stars / 282 reviews

Best for: Small businesses that use Salesforce

Geopointe is a top sales mapping app for Salesforce users. While Salesforce does have its own mapping solution (see above) Geopointe is easier to use and has fantastic customer support.

Key features:

  • Optimize the routes reps take between prospects
  • Find sales opportunities near pre-planned meetings
  • Enable reps to check in and out of stops in the field
  • Take sales notes directly inside the Geopointe app
  • Map customers and visualize your Salesforce data

 

9. HyperTrack

G2 rating: 4.5 stars / 19 reviews

Best for: Tracking productivity in the field

Use HyperTrack’s low-code / no-code solutions to “build logistics apps for the future.” Once your sales team is set up, reps will be able to plan routes and management will be able to track rep progress.

Key features:

  • Help reps plan the best routes to their various stops in the field
  • Use geofence technology to always know where your reps are
  • Integrate HyperTrack with Salesforce, HubSpot, and other tools

 

Boost Results With SPOTIO’s Location Analytics For Sales Teams

Your department will improve its productivity levels, decision-making abilities, and overall success when it commits to location analytics for sales teams. You just need to choose the right platform.

For most field sellers, the “right” platform is SPOTIO. Our app was specifically designed with you in mind. As such, it has all the features you need to plan efficient routes, track reps in the field, and collect location-based data. It can also be used to source leads, communicate with prospects, and build reports.

Book a free demo of SPOTIO today to see our industry-leading solution in action!

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7 Best Roofing CRM Software https://spotio.com/blog/best-roofing-crm-software/ Sun, 14 Apr 2024 11:17:49 +0000 https://spotio.com/?p=24380 If you’re a sales manager in the roofing industry, you know how competitive it can be. There are probably a dozen different companies vying for customers in your area—if not more.

Fortunately, the demand for your services is on the rise. Experts predict the need for residential roofing will rise 0.7% per year, reaching 164.1 million squares in 2024. You want to grab as big a piece of that pie as you can, which means investing in a roofing CRM.

In this article, we’ll explain what roofing CRM software is, how it can benefit businesses like yours, specific features to look for, and the best roofing CRMs on the market in 2024.

 

What’s A Roofing CRM?

A roofing CRM is a customer relationship management tool that helps roofers track leads, communicate with prospects, drive revenue, and otherwise manage the roofing sales process.

There are a ton of CRMs on the market. Some are entirely free but have less-than-ideal feature sets. Others have every bell and whistle you could ever want but require a degree in rocket science to operate effectively. The best roofing CRMs fall somewhere in the middle.

We’ll talk about and review seven specific CRMs in a later section of this article. For now, just know that this kind of software will simplify the sales process, help you close more deals than ever before, and manage your reps in an effective way that inspires retention.

Let’s talk a bit more about the benefits of CRM for roofing professionals…

 

The Benefits Of Using A Roofing CRM

We know what you’re thinking:

“Do I really need to invest in roofing CRM software? I already have so many other expenses.” We get it. But this kind of tool will benefit your company in multiple ways.

 

Automate Sales And Marketing

Every company wants to be more productive. Automation is one of the easiest ways to make it a reality. Once you invest in a quality roofing CRM, your reps will be able to automatically log prospect details, pinpoint their best leads, and send personalized emails and texts.

 

Manage And Nurture Leads

Where are your leads in the sales pipeline? A roofing CRM will help you answer that question. When you do, your reps will know exactly which prospects to focus on. (Hint: the ones that are most likely to buy right now.) Trust us. Your close rate will explode at this point.

 

Encourage Team Collaboration

Internal communication is a common issue in the roofing industry. A roofing CRM will help reps talk to each other, not just their prospects. This kind of tool will also keep sales, marketing, and customer service teams on the same page. How? Everyone will have access to the same data, will be able to share notes, and can otherwise collaborate in real-time.

 

Promote Rep Accountability

As a sales manager, you’re constantly wondering, “What are my reps doing? Are they spending their time wisely? How close are each of them to reaching quota?” A roofing CRM will help you understand what your reps do on a daily basis by showing you individual activity logs, notes, etc. Knowing you can view their actions will keep your reps accountable.

 

Get Activity And Performance Insights

Is your sales strategy working? You won’t know until you look at the numbers, which you can easily access inside a roofing CRM. Always know which actions your reps take and the results achieved. Then use this information to evaluate performance and update strategies. Even better, tools like SPOTIO will allow you to generate custom reports that only include the KPIs and metrics you care about. This makes the reporting process much easier.

 

Roofing CRM: 7 Features To Look For

You know what a roofing CRM is and why your company needs one. Before we start comparing specific solutions, though, let’s talk about the features your CRM should have:

 

Activity Management

Do you know what your reps do on a daily basis? You should!

Choose a CRM that tracks in-person visits, phone calls made, emails and text messages sent, etc. Bonus points if the tool reports on these things via easy-to-read dashboards.

Access to this information will help you determine why underperformance occurs. Are your reps slacking? Do they need better roofing sales training? Does your sales strategy need adjustment?

 

Sales Task Automation

Don’t let your reps get bogged down with tedious data entry tasks.

Choose a CRM that automatically logs information related to prospect interactions. If you can snag one that automates email and text message campaigns, too, you’ve found a real winner.

Remember, automation is one of the best ways to boost productivity. Don’t settle for a CRM that doesn’t include this feature. You’ll regret it in the end.

 

Customer Mapping

You work in the roofing industry, which means you probably manage a field sales team. Make sure the CRM you choose includes customer mapping features.

This will make it way easier for your reps to pinpoint buy-now leads, plan efficient sales routes, identify new areas to target, and otherwise manage their territories effectively.

 

Canvassing And Appointment Setting

Does your sales team include canvassers and closers?

Then you definitely want to make sure your roofing CRM software has canvasser-specific features. This will allow them to capture data easily, take notes, and schedule appointments.

Apps like SPOTIO take things to the next level by allowing users to then pass all of this information to closers with ease. That way, the transition doesn’t lead to lost sales.

 

Multi-Channel Communications

You might manage a field sales team, but if your reps don’t use the phone, emails, and text messages to communicate with reps, too, they’re definitely behind the times.

Make sure your CRM allows for these kinds of conversations. Ideally, the tool you choose will both facilitate multi-channel communication and help you track it. That way, you can use the data the app collects to evaluate reps and coach them to greater success in the future.

 

Reporting And Analytics

You can’t manage a sales team without data—at least not very well.

That’s why your roofing CRM of choice needs to have a robust reporting and analytics dashboard. Preferably one that tracks key metrics like rep activity and average deal size.

If the CRM you invest in allows for customized reports, even better. This will give you complete control over the reporting process, likely leading to better tactics and more sales.

 

Integrations

Your CRM is incredibly important. But it would be silly to think that it’s the only tool your sales team needs. That would be like asking your install crew to fix a roof with just a hammer.

With that in mind, choose a CRM that plays nice with others, i.e., integrates with the other software tools your team uses on a regular basis. Everything from email marketing to sales enablement to document management and distribution tools should count.

 

7 Best Roofing CRM Platforms In 2024

In the list below, we’ll take a close look at user ratings and key features of each roofing CRM so you can more confidently select the right solution for your business.

 

1. SPOTIO

Best for: High-growth sales teams

G2 rating: 4.4 stars / 239 ratings

SPOTIO is the leading CRM and sales engagement platform for field sales teams. Why? Because it’s been proven to boost rep productivity by a whopping 46%. It’s also super easy to use while still including top-level features that modern sellers need.

Key Features:

  • Generate high-quality prospects with SPOTIO Sales Intelligence. Quickly filter leads using 200+ data points to find folks who need roofing services now.
  • Cut territories and map prospects/customers on desktop or mobile devices. Then color code pins on your digital maps that represent custom data points.
  • Plan the most efficient routes between stops in the field. This will cut back on windshield time and boost individual and team productivity levels.
  • Automatically capture data while canvassing, set appointments in the field via the SPOTIO mobile app, and easily pass information to closers when needed.
  • Build and monitor multichannel communication sequences that include in-person and call reminders, as well as automated email and text sends.
  • Always know what your reps are doing. View their travel histories; see who they’ve called, emailed, and texted; and track their individual sales.
  • Create custom reports that only include the KPIs you care about. Save report parameters so that you can automatically generate them again in the future.

 

Discover how HomePro overcame rapid growth challenges and transformed their sales process with SPOTIO.

HomePro case study

 

2. AccuLynx

Best for: A complete roofing solution

G2 rating: 4.1 stars / 18 reviews

AccuLynx was specifically designed for roofing contractors, helping them grow their businesses with CRM, project management, and even finance tracking features. Unfortunately, some users claim the AccuLynx is difficult to use and doesn’t scale well.

Key Features

  • Manage leads, communicate with prospects, store documents, and send contracts with e-sign capability using the AccuLynx CRM functionality.
  • Keep track of roofing jobs, gauge how each project is progressing, and collaborate with team members via an in-app messaging board.
  • Run company finances with access to invoicing, payment processing, and commission tracking tools. Users can offer customers financing options, too.

 

3. HubSpot

Best for: Roofing companies on a budget

G2 rating: 4.4 stars / 10,088 reviews

HubSpot is one of the most popular CRM platforms in the world. One of the best things about it is the free CRM. Yes, you read that right. HubSpot offers a free, albeit limited, CRM to users. If you manage a small roofing company, it may be a good fit.

Key Features

  • Easily manage contacts. Either add them manually or have HubSpot pull them directly from employee inboxes and/or form submission forms.
  • View your entire pipeline at a glance. See how close each prospect is to a sale. Then use this information to forecast future results and plan cash flow.
  • Track various communications for each of your reps. See who they’re calling and emailing and whether those actions are generating positive results or not.
  • Access sales analytics inside HubSpot, too. Build custom reports for different people—reps, company leaders, etc.—while enjoying strong data security.

 

4. iRoofing

Best for: Estimating roofing jobs

G2 rating: 4.8 stars / three reviews

Next up, iRoofing. As you might expect, this is another software program that was specifically designed for roofing professionals. It really excels when used as a project estimation tool, allowing users to digitally visualize and measure roofs.

Key Features

  • Build a customer database to track your current prospects, schedule appointments with them in the field, and manage your roofing jobs.
  • Visualize roofs via the in-app roof simulator. It works with multiple manufacturers and will give you access to a huge selection of materials.
  • Measure roofs in minutes. Then easily turn these measurements into accurate project estimates based on the materials your customers want and/or need.
  • Streamline your process by ordering materials from your supplier inside the iRoofing app. Doing so reduces errors and increases accuracy.

 

5. JobNimbus

Best for: Boosting profitability

G2 rating: 4.6 stars / 60 ratings.

JobNimbus is used by 4,000+ roofers to organize leads, optimize sales, manage projects, and streamline billing. It’s great for small teams looking to boost profitability.

Key Features

  • Organize your leads so your reps always know who to talk to and when.
  • Optimize sales by sending the right messages to leads at the right times.
  • Manage projects from one location. Use the “Boards” feature, i.e., digital whiteboards, to see where sales, production, and cash flow stand.
  • Streamline billing processes with automated payment collection features, the ability to track past-due invoices, and a handy QuickBooks integration.

 

6. Pipedrive

Best for Sales pipeline visualization

G2 rating: 4.2 stars / 1,619 reviews

Pipedrive is used by sales teams in a variety of industries. It’s best known for its pipeline visualization features, which make it easy to see sales processes at a glance. Users can also update deals with drag-and-drop functionality, which is handy.

Key Features

  • Visualize your sales process so that you always know what’s going on inside your department. Easily updated deals with the drag-and-drop interface.
  • Use automation to streamline repetitive tasks, qualify new leads, schedule email sequences to send at predetermined intervals, and more.
  • Allow the Pipedrive sales assistant to access your team’s past performance and send you real-time sales tips. Doing so could help you boost results.
  • Generate customized sales reports to uncover fresh insights and highlight specific objectives. Track deals forecast future results, and more.

 

7. Salesforce

Best for: Enterprise-level operations

G2 rating: 4.3 stars / 13,597

You’ve probably heard about Salesforce—it’s the best-selling CRM of all time. It’s also one of the oldest, which means its creators have had years to add and improve features. If you go with this CRM for roofing, know that you’ll be able to do almost any customer relationship management task. But operating the tool is pretty tricky.

Key Features

  • Let Salesforce tell you more about your deals. Who are you competing with? What stage is the deal in? And how should you proceed? Salesforce knows.
  • Limit the tedious manual processes that your reps have to do every day. Use Salesforce automation to streamline workflows and boost productivity.
  • Get an accurate view of your entire pipeline. Then use this information to forecast future sales and manage cash flow effectively.

 

Which Roofing CRM Software Is Best For Your Business?

If you’re serious about growing your business, you need a roofing CRM. Fortunately, there are a bunch of great options available. You just have to decide which one is right for your team.

We’ll make it easy for you: give SPOTIO a try!

Our platform was specifically designed for field sales teams. As such, it has all of the features you need to connect with more leads, close more deals, and achieve more success.

But don’t just take our word for it. Sign up for a free demo of SPOTIO today. A member of our team will walk you through each feature and show you how it can be used to boost sales.

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Field Sales Automation Benefits and Top Tools Revealed https://spotio.com/blog/field-sales-automation/ Tue, 05 Mar 2024 23:49:39 +0000 https://spotio.com/?p=25879 Field sales is highly lucrative. It’s also time-consuming, which is why every field sales manager wants to empower their reps to become more productive. Field sales automation is the answer.
Once you invest in this kind of solution your reps will be able to streamline data entry processes, communicate with prospects in a timely manner, and close more deals.

But type the term “field sales automation” into Google and you’ll discover dozens of options. Which one is right for your sales team? We’ll help you answer that question!

 

What Is Field Sales Automation?

Field sales automation refers to the use of technology to optimize specific field sales processes. We call this kind of technology “field sales automation software” and it can help in many ways.

For example, you can use field sales automation tools to drum up leads, schedule meetings, plan routes between prospects, communicate with potential buyers, generate reports, and more.

All of these things will help your sales reps increase their productivity levels and focus on the things you actually hired them to do: close deals and drive revenue.

We’ll talk more about the benefits of field sales automation software in a minute. But first…

 

Types of Field Sales Automation Software

Field sales automation software is a broad category. You’ll find all kinds of different tools under this umbrella term. Some of the more popular ones include:

  • CRM Software: Short for customer relationship management, CRMs make it easy to store, organize, and use customer data. Many also include automation features so that sales reps can engage potential customers in more productive ways.
  • Route Planning Software: Field sales reps spend a lot of time in their cars, driving from one prospect to the next. Route planning software will automatically devise efficient routes between stops so that reps can spend more time talking to potential customers.
  • Sales Analytics Software: Data makes the sales world go ’round. The more of it you have, the better decisions you can make regarding your sales strategy. Some software will automatically collect sales data for you and present it in easy-to-understand ways.
  • Marketing Automation Software: Don’t be fooled by the name. Marketing automation software can be used by sales teams, too, and allows them to communicate with leads via email, text, social media, etc.—without having to type every message by hand.

 

What Are The Benefits of Automating Field Sales?

Field sales automation software will supercharge your outside sales team. How so? It will allow you and your reps to enjoy a few important benefits, such as:

 

Simplified Data Entry

You know what every sales rep hates? Entering data into CRM software. It’s just the worst, which is why reps often skip it. Field sales automation tools can collect a variety of data points for your team and enter them into your CRM of choice. Who did Rep A visit last week? Which prospects did they email and what was the result? Log these details automatically.

 

Reduced Admin Time

Field sales automation software can streamline other administrative tasks, too. Once you add this kind of tool to your company’s tech stack, your reps will be able to easily generate quality leads, manage their daily calendars, send contracts, accept e-signatures, and more.

 

Enhanced Messaging Efficiency

You manage a field sales team, but digital communication is still an essential aspect of your reps’ sales process. But sending emails and texts takes time. Fortunately, field sales automation tools can streamline this entire process. Use this kind of software to build customizable templates, then send personalized messages to dozens of leads at the same time.

 

Optimized Scheduling

Appointment scheduling is so tedious. Your rep suggests a time, their prospect suggests a different time. Ten emails later and the appointment still isn’t booked, tempers flare, and your company is on the verge of losing a sale. Automation will allow reps to set their schedule; then enable prospects to choose a predetermined time that works for them. No emails needed.

 

More Sales, Less Time

At the end of the day, field sales automation software leads to more sales in less time. How so? Your reps won’t have a mountain of admin tasks to complete, which means they can spend more of their on-the-clock hours closing deals. They’ll also be able to follow up with potential customers automatically, which will ensure that every lead gets the attention they require.

 

Top Field Sales Automation Software

So, which field sales automation software should you purchase for your team? We can’t answer that for you. But we can give you the information you need to make an informed decision.

Here’s a rundown of six popular field sales automation tools and their unique feature sets:

 

1. SPOTIO

SPOTIO sales enablement software

G2 rating: 4.5 stars
Best for: Growth-focused sales teams

When it comes to field sales, you can’t go wrong with SPOTIO. The tool has everything your outside sales team needs to close deals, including powerful automation features.

Key features:

 

2. LeadSquared

LeadSquared

G2 rating: 4.5 stars
Best for: Medium to large enterprises

Do you manage a field sales team for a large company? Then LeadSquared may be a good fit. As an added bonus, it includes features for marketing and service teams, which means multiple departments can use the same tool. This helps eliminate data silos and save money.

Key features:

  • Customize the mobile app to only show information your reps care about
  • Automatically distribute leads to reps based on the territories they manage
  • Receive location insights about where reps are now and where they’ve been
  • Create automated day plans to help reps prioritize the most important tasks
  • Have sales reports sent to your inbox so you can update your sales strategy

 

3. Numerik

Numerik

G2 rating: N/A
Best for: Motivating sales reps

Next up, Numerik. This field sales automation app claims to “work with reps, not against them.” It includes standard features like sales pipelines and to-do lists, but really excels at motivation.

Key features:

  • Track sales in real time so you can make adjustments on the fly
  • Use AI capabilities to forecast future sales with greater accuracy
  • Access leaderboards and achievements alerts to motivate reps
  • Receive sales reports in real time via a social media style feed

 

4. Perenso Field Sales

Perenso field sales software

G2 rating: N/A
Best for: Large product libraries

Perenso simplifies many aspects of the field sales process. Use this tool to streamline territory management, route planning, content distribution, field ordering, and reporting.

Key features:

  • Automatically design the most efficient routes between prospects
  • Easily display products on a phone or tablet and make sales in the field
  • Access all sales related content in the app and quickly email it to leads
  • Create easy-to-understand reports using drag-and-drop functionality

 

5. Skynamo

Skynamo field sales automation

G2 rating: 4.5 stars
Best for: Manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors

Skynamo is the field sales automation software that reps and managers in the manufacturing, wholesale, and distribution industries love. Why? Because it’s easy to use and powerful.

Key features:

  • Quickly access digital product libraries, view inventory, and submit orders from the field
  • Automatically track details like time on the road, distance traveled, and customers visited
  • Generate reports on autopilot and learn how to make your sales team more effective
  • Connect with Skynamo’s dedicated integrations team to easily connect all your apps

 

6. Unolo

Unolo

G2 rating: 3.5 stars
Best for: Field sales reps + service professionals

Looking for a single tool to power your field sales and service teams? Look at Unolo. This field sales automation app is stocked with powerful features for both kinds of professionals.

Key features:

  • Track your field employees in real time, or view detailed timelines of their whereabouts.
  • Create and assign beat plans that keep your reps working to reach team objectives
  • Build professional-looking invoices on the spot and accept orders while in the field
  • Allow reps to submit expense claims from the Unolo app; then monitor for trends
  • Identify sales targets for your reps to hit and track each rep’s progress toward them

 

SPOTIO Is The Top Tool For Field Sales Automation

Field sales automation software can make your reps more productive and help them close more deals. You just have to choose the right tool for your specific needs.

SPOTIO is a top option in this regard. Once you sign up to our platform you’ll have access to lead generation, appointment setting, route planning, multi-channel communication, and reporting features—all backed by powerful automation capabilities that boost team performance.

Request a free demo of our field sales automation tool right now to see it in action!

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Mobile Sales Enablement: Key Tools & How To Choose https://spotio.com/blog/mobile-sales-enablement/ Wed, 07 Feb 2024 00:22:10 +0000 https://spotio.com/?p=25806 Sales continues to evolve, but one thing will always stay the same: the importance of sales enablement, i.e. the process of giving sales reps the resources they need to close deals.

Think about it, without a quality sales enablement plan in place, your reps won’t be as effective as they could be, which will result in lackluster sales numbers and disappointing revenue.

Nobody wants that, do they? Of course not! But here’s the thing, sales enablement alone isn’t enough for field sales teams whose reps are always on the go. These professionals need something a little more personalized to their daily duties. They need mobile sales enablement.

In this article, we’ll explain what mobile sales enablement is, why it’s important, which mobile sales enablement platforms you should consider buying, and more. Let’s get to it!

 

What Is Mobile Sales Enablement?

Mobile sales enablement is the process of providing sales reps with the information and technology they need to make sales—no matter where they happen to be selling.

Field sales reps spend the majority of their time away from the office. They might drive around town to meet local prospects one day, fly across the state to meet a high-value prospect the next day, and fly across the country to attend a tradeshow or industry conference the day after that.

Obviously, field sales reps can’t take their desktop computers with them on these trips. And even laptops prove cumbersome in a majority of field sales scenarios.

What these professionals really need is a sales solution they can access on their phones or tablets. In other words, they need a mobile sales enablement platform.

 

What Are Mobile Sales Enablement Platforms?

A mobile sales enablement platform is a specific kind of technology that enables field sales reps to access sales content, communicate with prospects, distribute contracts, and otherwise stay organized in their day-to-day operations—all from the convenience of a mobile device.

This last bit differentiates these tools from the many others that sales teams use every day.

As mentioned earlier, most field sales reps spend the majority of their time outside of company HQ. They need tools that can travel with them. That way they can maintain peak productivity and close deals at a consistent clip. A mobile sales enablement platform is the answer.

 

Benefits of Mobile Sales Enablement Platforms

Think about it for five seconds and you’ll start to understand why mobile sales enablement platforms are beneficial. No, beneficial isn’t the right word. Transformative is more apt. Don’t believe us? Here are five benefits your team will enjoy once you invest in this kind of tool:

 

Improved Sales Content Management

Your prospects have options. How can your reps convince them to purchase from your company instead of your biggest competitor? Effective sales content can help.

White papers, for example, can clearly showcase your product’s unique advantages, while case studies can prove that other people or brands have used your products to achieve success.

A mobile sales enablement platform will allow your sales reps to quickly access these pieces of content and share them with potential customers on the spot. This will help your reps “strike while the iron is hot” as it were, and give them a leg up on pesky competitors.

 

Increased Communication With Prospects

As you know, most sales take time—especially if you sell expensive products and/or services. While it’s not unheard of, you probably shouldn’t expect to close a prospect on your first visit.

Instead, plan to nurture them for a period of time. The easiest way to do this is via emails and text messages, which the best mobile sales enablement platforms will help you do.

It doesn’t matter where you are—at a gas station, in an airport, or riding the subway home—you can use a mobile sales enablement tool to communicate with prospects and ensure your company is top of mind when they finally decide to pull the trigger and buy your offering.

 

Enhanced Sales Training and Coaching

Great sellers are great learners. Why? Because your company’s products, your target market, and must-know sales techniques are always changing. If your reps don’t stay on top of their game, they’ll get left in the dust.

The best mobile sales enablement platforms will keep your field sales reps informed and in tip-top selling shape by giving them access to sales training and coaching on the go.

They’ll be able to listen to audio lessons while they drive. Or read sales strategy documentation from their seat on the airplane. Or watch product demo videos when they check into their hotels.

This level of preparation will certainly lead to better results for your field sales team.

 

Boosted Customer Engagement

At the end of the day, mobile sales enablement platforms will improve customer engagement.

How could it not? When your reps are well-trained, have access to quality content at the drop of a hat, and can communicate with potential customers at any time of day, more sales are almost inevitable.

This is valuable because engaged customers are the bedrock of sales success. Don’t neglect it!

 

What To Look For In a Mobile Sales Enablement App

There are plenty of mobile sales enablement platforms out there. You need to choose the right app for your team. To help make that happen, look for solutions that include these five features:

 

User-Friendly Interface

If your mobile sales enablement platform is tough to use your sales reps won’t use it.

This is problematic for multiple reasons. First, your reps won’t have on-the-go access to sales content, training contracts, etc. which means they probably won’t close as many deals. Second, your department will have to pay for tools that collect digital dust. Neither situation is ideal.

Fortunately, there’s a simple fix: invest in a mobile sales enablement app that’s user friendly. This will help ensure your reps use it to its full potential, maximizing their chances of success.

 

Robust Search Features

Does your company sell a lot of products? Maybe it has a large content library.

Either way, buy a sales enablement platform that includes robust search features. That way your reps can easily find the information they need, exactly when they need it.

Imagine how many more deals your reps will close when they can answer questions like, “So, how does Feature X work?” with a statement like, “Let me show you.” Then they can quickly pull up a video on their phone or tablet that illustrates the exact feature the prospect asked about.

 

Offline Functionality

We’ll say it one more time: field sales reps don’t hang around the office much. They spend the bulk of their on-the-clock hours in their cars, on planes, and in prospects’ offices.

There’s no guarantee that they’ll have stellar WiFi in any of these places, which is why the mobile sales enablement platform you invest in needs to include offline functionality.

Let’s return to the above scenario: a prospect asks about a certain feature, your rep tries to pull up a video to showcase said feature, and… Well, they happen to be talking in a large warehouse with terrible cell reception so the video won’t play.

If only you’d purchased an app that could be used offline. Your rep might have made an important sale, boosting your company’s bottom line. Don’t miss these chances!

 

Sales Analytics and Reporting

Modern business runs on analytics. The sales enablement app you choose should track crucial information for you and make it easy to access, study, and even share the data when necessary.

Why is this so important in a sales enablement context? Analytics can help you determine when prospects read your emails and texts, so you can contact them at ideal times. Or which pieces of content to send to prospects. (Hint: the ones that get read the most and lead to more sales.)

While sales analytics and reports might not seem like a big deal, they can totally revolutionize the way your reps’ approach prospects, making analytics a must-have feature.

 

Integration With Other Sales Tools

Mobile sales enablement platforms are important, but they’re not the only kind of tool your sales department will use. As such, choose an enablement app that plays nice with other tools.

Check your preferred tool’s integration list to make sure it will connect to Salesforce, HubSpot, or whatever other tools your team uses. (Pro tip: if the app in question doesn’t feature a native integration with your other tools, you might be able to get away with a Zapier connection.)

 

Top 6 Mobile Sales Enablement Platforms

Now it’s time to actually review mobile sales enablement platforms. The six apps below are all top-rated solutions. Choose the one that best suits your needs. Let’s take a look:

 

1. SPOTIO

SPOTIO sales enablement software

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Best for: Field sales teams

SPOTIO was specifically created to help field sales teams increase productivity, close more deals, and achieve more success. To that end, SPOTIO is loaded with quality features…

Key features:

  • Boost productivity with territory mapping, route-planning, and task automation software
  • Store important documents like sales sheets and contracts with e-sign capabilities
  • Communicate with potential prospects via automated emails and text messages
  • Access detailed analytics to understand which sales enablement activities work best
  • Generate reports that only include the data you care about (like open rate of emails)
  • Integrate SPOTIO with top tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, and Zapier
  • Use SPOTIO anywhere you happen to be via our highly-rated mobile app.

 

2. Hubspot Sales Hub

HubSpot Sales Hub

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
Best for: Inside sales teams

HubSpot is one of the biggest names in business software. Its Sales Hub offering is particularly robust, enabling users to complete a wide range of sales related tasks. Unfortunately, it’s not the cheapest solution on the market. Expect to pay a hefty sum every month to access this tool.

Key features:

  • Store, distribute, and track all of your sales team’s content from one convenient location
  • Track your emails to see how they perform, then turn your top broadcasts into templates
  • Create and send sales quotes, collect e-signatures, and process customer payments
  • Access conversation-related data, generate reports, and easily forecast future sales
  • Integrate HubSpot with 1,400+ other tools in the HubSpot App Marketplace

 

3. Showpad

Showpad

G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
Best for: Sales and marketing alignment

Next up, Showpad, a mobile sales enablement solution that’s meant to “Empower sellers. Build trust. Win deals.” The platform includes a few key features that help it live up to this goal…

Key features:

  • Use an intuitive interface to quickly find the content you need, when you need it
  • Engage buyers with personalized and interactive presentations that increase sales
  • Access Showpad Coach to build training programs reps can learn from while traveling
  • View detailed metrics to understand how prospects interact with your team’s content
  • Login to Showpad on the mobile app, whether you happen to be online or offline
  • Integrate Showpad with CRMs, email platforms, marketing automation tools, and more

 

4. Salesforce Sales Cloud

Salesforce sales CRM

G2 rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars
Best for: Enterprise organizations

Salesforce is the most popular CRM in the world. In fact, the platform has a whopping 150,000 users! The question is, can this top-rated app fill your mobile sales enablement needs? The answer might be yes—if you have the money to afford its potentially expensive price tag.

Key features:

  • Connect with prospects via an email suite that includes data and automation tools
  • Templatize your quotes and automate contract approvals to streamline sales processes
  • Provide your sellers with relevant guides, videos, scripts, etc. to improve their sales skills
  • Access top-of-the line reporting tools that help you visualize your most important metrics
  • Salesforce also has a huge list of integration possibilities available to users

 

5. Seismic

Seismic

G2 rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars
Best for: Tech-averse sellers

Seismic is all about sales enablement, helping users manage content, engage buyers, build sales training programs, and more. Also of note, the Seismic interface is known to be extremely intuitive, which means users can be up and running with this program in no time flat.

Key features:

  • Store, maintain, and distribute your most important pieces of sales content
  • Onboard and upskill your sales reps with an in-app training and coaching platform
  • Learn about your buyers so that you can provide them with the right content at all times
  • Access data to understand which of your sales enablement efforts performs best
  • Integrate Seismic with 150+ other sales tools to streamline your department’s workflow

 

6. Highspot

G2 rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars
Best for: Unified selling experiences

Last but not least, Highspot is an award-winning mobile sales enablement platform that’s both easy to use and powerful. It also includes a few unique features, such as…

Key features:

  • Put the right content at your reps’ fingertips with effective content management tools
  • Prepare your reps for any and all selling scenarios with built-in sales training modules
  • Engage your customers with personalized emails, video content, and digital sales rooms
  • Receive AI-powered insights to learn which sales activities actually move the needle
  • Connect 100+ apps to Highspot to enable your reps in every phase of the sales process

 

Master Mobile Sales With SPOTIO

For field sales teams, mobile sales enablement platforms are essential.

Once you invest in one of these tools, your reps will always have access to the sales content, training, and prospect engagement solutions they need to close deals.

So, which enablement tool will you buy for your sales department? We’re biased, but if you manage an outside sales team, you can’t go wrong with SPOTIO. After all, our platform was specifically built to meet your needs.

Sign up for a free demo of SPOTIO today to learn if it’s the right tool for your field sales team!

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12 Best Solar Design Software Tools For 2024 https://spotio.com/blog/solar-design-software/ Fri, 02 Feb 2024 13:45:53 +0000 https://spotio.com/?p=24832 Running a solar business without solar design software is becoming increasingly difficult.

Once you add this kind of tool to your company’s tech stack, you’ll be able to create more accurate solar designs, lower operational costs, and better comply with regulations.

Of course, not every app in this category is created equal. So, the question is, what’s the best solar design software on the market? That’s what we’ll uncover in this article.

Keep reading to learn what solar design software is, the top 12 options available in 2024, the numerous benefits associated with this type of solution and more.

 

What is Solar Design Software?

Solar design software is specialized software used by engineers, architects, and solar professionals to design, plan, and optimize solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

Used properly, it will enable you to simulate different scenarios, calculate energy production, and forecast potential savings, making it an essential tool during the solar installation process.

While every solar design software is different, most include features like 3D modeling, shading analysis, weather and solar irradiance data integration, and electrical system design. They can also help generate material lists, create client proposals, and ensure compliance.

The use of solar design software will significantly increase the accuracy and efficiency of your solar systems, reduce costs and material wastage, and improve communication with clients and stakeholders. As such, it will play a critical role in the success of your solar projects.

 

Solar Sales Guide Banner

 

12 Best Solar Design Software Tools in 2024

So, what is the best solar design software for your company? We can’t answer that question for you. But we can review 12 top options so you can make an informed choice. Here we go…

 

1. Aurora Solar

G2 rating: 4.6 stars / 79 reviews

Aurora Solar is one of the most popular tools in the industry, allowing users to build accurate solar plans, send proposals and contracts, and otherwise simplify the solar sales process. It’s not the cheapest option on the market, but it’s definitely one of the best.

Key features:

  • Made to design residential and commercial solar systems
  • Build highly accurate solar designs without visiting the site
  • Visualize said solar designs with built-in 3D software tools
  • Streamline loan pre-approval with integrated financing
  • Create proposals for customers in addition to solar plans
  • Send contracts, complete with e-signature capabilities

 

2. OpenSolar

G2 rating: n/a

OpenSolar is another top solar design software. With it, users can build solar plans, generate proposals, and even accept payments. Even better, OpenSolar is free to use. The company makes money by charging its numerous partners to be a part of its platform.

Key features:

  • OpenSolar is completely free to use.
  • Create accurate 3D designs in less than two minutes
  • Automatically calculate material costs and apply for permits
  • Create and send customizable solar proposals
  • Help customers secure their loans with integrated financing
  • Enjoy in-app e-signature and payment processing capabilities

 

3. Helioscope

G2 rating: 4.5 stars / 10 reviews

Helioscope is a top choice for commercial solar companies. The platform includes all the features you need to design complex solar systems in as little time as possible, improving the ROI of your projects. Helioscope also offers custom pricing packages to fit any situation.

Key features:

  • Includes LIDAR technology to ensure accurate solar designs
  • Create CAD-quality designs with a surprising level of simplicity
  • Build custom sales proposals and financial analysis documents
  • Integrate Helioscope with popular tools like Salesforce and HubSpot

 

4. SolarEdge

G2 rating: n/a

SolarEdge is a large company that produces an array of hardware and software products for solar companies. Its Designer tool is made to “generate exceptional PV designs for maximized energy production,” a goal that it mostly delivers thanks to quality features.

Just know the SolarEdge software suite only works with SolarEdge systems. If you don’t sell or install SolarEdge products, you should definitely consider a different design tool.

Key features:

  • Maximize design accuracy with HD satellite imagery and AI-assisted 3D modeling
  • Quickly optimize your rooftop layout thanks to an irradiance map and shading analysis
  • Enjoy automated electrical design calculations to increase solar planning efficiency
  • Generate customer proposals, complete with energy simulations and ROI forecasts

 

5. Solo

G2 rating: n/a

Solo is a top-level proposal software that also includes solar design capabilities. It’s best for companies looking to simplify the proposal process rather than those who need to create a high volume of solar design plans. Still, for smaller solar companies, it’s a viable option.

Key features:

  • Deliver NABCEP and SONNEN-certified engineering documentation in 24 hours
  • Create custom solar proposals that are perfectly accurate 99.7% of the time
  • Streamline the financing process thanks to Solo’s many included lending partners
  • Solo integrates with SPOTIO, which will help field sales teams close more deals

 

6. Pylon

G2 rating: n/a

Pylon is one of the best solar design software because it’s powerful and easy to use. It also features a unique pricing structure. Rather than charging customers per month, Pylon charges customers per project, which might make it more affordable than other options.

Key features:

  • Enjoy high-resolution aerial imagery without having to pay extra fees
  • Access an award-winning 3D solar shading toolkit to track the shading impact
  • Analyze load profiles and interval data to understand customer consumption patterns
  • Create solar proposals with native e-signatures and a payment processing gateway

 

7. PVsyst

G2 rating: 4.9 stars / 11 reviews

Build a solar system with PVsyst using this simple, three-step process: first, specify the desired power or available area for your project. Second, choose your PV module. And third, choose your inverter. (Note: both PV modules and inverters are selected from the tool’s internal database and accessed via a drop-down menu.)

Key features:

  • PVsyst is a very user-friendly platform
  • Handle a variety of tasks that revolve around 3D shading, grid storage, and more
  • Pay less money for this software than many of the other top options on the market

 

8. PVSOL

G2 rating: 4.8 stars / 2 reviews

PVSOL is used by some of the biggest companies in the world to plan solar systems. Why? Because the tool gives users access to advanced features, such as 3D shading analysis, battery storage planning, simple map imports, and a whole lot more.

The one downside to PVSOL is the cost. It’s more expensive than many other tools in the solar design software category. Users must pay a one-time fee of 895 euros (2D technology) or 1,295 euros (3D technology), then between 161 and 233 euros a year for maintenance.

Key features:

  • Get a real-world representation of shading from surrounding objects near your project
  • Quickly plan battery storage by choosing batteries, inverters, and charging strategies
  • Create buildings and objects for your solar designs using floor plans and satellite maps

 

9. Photonik

G2 rating: n/a

Photonik is designed to be the most intuitive solar design software on the planet. To achieve this goal, the tool’s designers gave it a host of quality features. (More on these below.) Also of note, Photonik is free to use, which makes it especially enticing to budget-conscious teams.

Key features:

  • Draw strings and DC paths, then drag and drop icons into position to create site plans
  • Get easy access to string voltages so your designs match your inverter’s voltage
  • Create beautiful, accurate, easy-to-understand solar proposals in minutes

 

10. RETScreen

G2 rating: 4.6 stars / 11 reviews

With RETscreen, users can evaluate and optimize the technical and financial ramifications of any clean energy project, including the solar jobs your company sells and installs every day.

Key features:

  • Budgeting
  • Forecasting
  • Emissions Monitoring
  • Meter Tracking
  • Risk Management

 

11. SolarPlus V4

G2 rating: n/a

SolarPlus V4 is a one-stop shop for solar companies. Use it to design solar plans, create quotes, store prospect and customer information, and ensure compliance with all regulations. Just make sure you have the budget for this tool, as it’s one of the more expensive options.

(Note: SolarPlus V4 was specifically designed for the Australian market. If you operate in any other country, you might want to invest in a different tool that better caters to your area.)

Key features:

  • Design options for on-grid, hybrid, AC-coupled, and off-grid systems
  • Affordable mapping options via the MetroMap imagery integration
  • Top-level storage modeling, complete with financial analysis and proposals
  • An extensive product library with every component and brand on the market

 

12. BlueSol

G2 rating: n/a

Finally, we have BlueSol, a tool that allows users to design every aspect of their PV systems. Just as important, it can be used by solar companies in every country around the globe.

Key features:

  • Easily simulate the behavior of your PV systems with all its components
  • Get a precise view of operations thanks to the tool’s schematic representation
  • Enjoy integration with a CAD system to generate single-line electrical diagrams
  • Take advantage of 3D design features that simplify the design process

 

Benefits of Solar Design Software

Before you choose one of the apps above, let’s talk about why solar design software is so beneficial. Here are five important reasons to invest in this kind of tool:

 

More accurate solar system designs

Solar design software won’t benefit you if the plans it helps you create are inaccurate.

Fortunately, solar systems designed with this kind of software are usually more accurate than those designed by traditional, on-site methods because they eliminate the possibility of human error. Fewer design mistakes almost always lead to greater profitability.

 

Faster design turnaround times

As the name suggests, the right solar design software will make it much easier for your company to design solar systems. This will result in faster turnaround times.

For example, you can use this kind of solution to quickly analyze homes for solar viability. You can then use it to accurately measure rooftops, minimizing physical site visits for your installation team. Both of these things will help you complete jobs (and get paid) in less time.

 

Reduction in costs and material wastage

What about costs?

Yes, solar design software will cost your company money. Most solutions are SaaS products, which you’ll need to pay for on a monthly or yearly basis. Even so, they can save you cash.

As mentioned above, this kind of software will reduce the number of man-hours required to complete your solar projects. You won’t need to invest in many of the expensive hardware tools needed to complete solar installation jobs, either.

And because the designs you create will be so accurate, you’ll spend less on materials, too. All these things translate to cost savings—even when accounting for the price of the software.

 

Better design visualizations

Your customers want to know that the solar system you install in their homes will save them money. But they also want to know what it will look like before they sign on the dotted line.

Solar design software will allow you to visualize solar projects for customers. When this happens, it will be much easier for your company’s sales team to close deals.

Design visualization will help your installation team as well. They’ll be able to see exactly where panels go, which will help them complete installs as quickly as possible.

 

Compliance with regulatory requirements and standards

Last but not least, solar design software will help you meet all regulatory requirements. Use the software to build compliant systems and ensure the safety of your customers. At the same time, protect your business from fines, lawsuits, and other related costs.

 

Close More Deals With Solar Design Software

The best solar design software will help you create better, more cost-effective solar systems for your clients, which will lead to more sales and greater customer satisfaction.

Now you just have to choose which app you want to invest in. We encourage you to read back through the reviews above, conduct your own research, and settle on a tool that meets your needs. Once you do, greater success will be within your grasp.

Looking to improve your solar company’s sales numbers? Download the “Complete Field Guide For Solar Sales Leaders” to learn tips, tricks, and best practices your sales team can use to connect with more prospects, close more deals, and drive more revenue.

 

Solar Sales Guide Banner

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41 Best Sales Apps For Field Sales Reps In 2024 (By Category) https://spotio.com/blog/best-apps-for-sales-reps/ Tue, 23 Jan 2024 12:20:15 +0000 https://spotio.com/?p=4958 There are a lot of great sales apps out there, and each one has a specific use case. So how do you choose the best sales apps for your team? We can help you with that!

We reached out to our top clients and conducted extensive research to compile this list of the best sales apps. From medical to solar sales, and everything in between, these apps can help reps and managers across all industries boost productivity and hit bigger numbers.

Let’s take a look at the 41 best sales apps, key features, and use cases.

 

41 Best Apps for Sales Reps

There are a lot great sales apps out there, and each one has a specific use case. We’ve broken this list of apps into the following categories. Feel free to click the links below to jump to the apps you’re most interested in reviewing.

 

Best App for Door-to-Door Sales Teams

In some industries, door-to-door sales continue to be the best way to connect with prospects. And with the right technology, reps can zero-in on only the most qualified prospects before they begin canvassing.

 

SPOTIO

SPOTIO door to door sales app image

Mobile App: iOS | Android

SPOTIO is the #1 app for door-to-door sales and canvassing. With SPOTIO, you can filter prospect lists by more than 200 data points, including credit capacity, home square footage, and median home income. B2B salespeople can filter prospects by job title, company size, and annual revenue.

You can also cut custom territories and create permissions and hierarchies for each territory.
Sales agents can add notes about prospects, transfer appointments to other reps, and manage their Google and Outlook calendars from within the SPOTIO app.

G2 ranked SPOTIO #1 in their Field Sales category, and awarded us 2023 Best Software.

Pricing plans

 

Best Mobile Sales Apps for Reps


Outside sales reps spend their days meeting with prospects and touching base with clients. That’s why applications that can streamline communication and organize one’s day are important.

Whether it’s supporting administrative needs, simplifying the act of taking notes, or automating follow-up actions, these mobile apps make life easier for sales reps.

 

SPOTIO

Mobile App: iOS | Android

SPOTIO is an all-in-one sales engagement solution that offers a breadth of capabilities such as appointment scheduling, sales rep tracking, territory and customer mappingCRM integrations, route planning, custom reporting, and more. SPOTIO eliminates the need to manually keep track of your administrative tasks, giving you more time to focus on selling.

A key feature in the mobile sales app is the appointment setting capabilities. SPOTIO makes it easy to schedule meetings, add and share notes, and see each appointment on a map.

 

Slack

Mobile App: iOS | Android

Slack is a handy app for messaging and collaboration. With more than 8 million active users, Slack is an easy way to reach prospects, colleagues, and customers and move things along with real-time communication.

 

CamCard


CamCard

Mobile App: iOS | Android

With CamCard, you’ll never lose another business card. CamCard makes collecting contacts seamless by instantly reading business cards, converting them into a digital format, integrating the information into your phone contacts, and securely storing information. You can also export business cards to other members of your team.

 

Keynote

Keynote

Mobile App: iOS 

Keynote is an app for creating professional presentations on iPad, iPhone, and laptops. Keynote’s features allow you to interact with and edit presentations in real time and present in-person or via videoconference.

 

Evernote

Evernote

Mobile App: iOS | Android

Evernote gives users several ways to capture notes: speech-to-text, smartphone keyboard, smart stylus, and scanning. You can also upload images, add receipts, and mark up images and PDFs.

 

Quickvoice

Quickvoice

Mobile App: iOS

Quickvoice is a popular voice recording app with over 5 million users. It makes recording ideas, notes, meetings, and presentations simple. You can also record and schedule voice reminders — a helpful feature when you’re driving to your next appointment and not looking at your phone.

 

Skype for Mobile


Skype for Mobile

Mobile App: iOS | Android

Skype is one of the most widely used apps for making voice and video calls. Sales teams can use Skype for client calls, or for times when they need to communicate with each other internally.

 

Best Travel / Route Planning Apps for Sales Reps

For teams in the field, efficient travel is the key to closing as many deals as possible.

These top travel and route planning apps help users optimize their time and get around with ease.

 

SPOTIO Route Planner

Sales Routing. Route Planner. Sales Route Planner App

Mobile App: iOS | Android

With SPOTIO, managers can dramatically cut down windshield time by enabling reps to quickly find the most efficient sales routes, no matter how many stops.

In addition to the advanced route planning functionality, SPOTIO also bolts onto your customer relationship management platform. As reps visit prospects in the field, take notes, set meetings, and update customer information, your CRM will automatically update in real-time. This helps cut down time spent on data entry, further boosting rep productivity and sales performance.

SPOTIO’s route planner also automates mileage tracking and integrates with a number of different expense tools. This feature reduces tedious and time-consuming paperwork and gives reps even more time to focus on selling to new customers and nurturing existing relationships.

 

TripIt

TripIt

Mobile App: iOS | Android

For sales reps that travel by air, TripIt is an easy way to stay organized and avoid delays. Just share your travel plans with the app, and it will alert you if flights change, if better seats open up, and when it’s time to leave for the airport. TripIt stores every detail of your itinerary, from hotel check-in times to rental car reservations, so you never have to hunt for information.

 

Google Maps

Google Maps

Mobile App: iOS | Android

Google Maps makes navigating traffic stress-free by displaying live traffic patterns that help users avoid accidents and traffic jams. Google Maps also shows multiple options for routes and transportation, which creates flexibility, especially when navigating inner city traffic.

TripCase

TripCase

Mobile App: iOS | Android

The TripCase app helps design your entire trip. With TripCase, you can book flights, reserve cars, and set up lunch meetings. When you’re in a new city and in between meetings, you can use TripCase to explore local tourist spots and find restaurants.

 

Parkopedia 

Parkopedia

Mobile App: iOS | Android

 

Parkopedia is an app that helps users find the closest or most affordable parking. The app conveniently shows the price, number of available parking spots, and the distance to each lot. This instantly takes away the stress of competing for a spot in a busy city district.

Rome2rio

Rome2Rio

Mobile App: iOS | Android

Rome2Rio is an all-inclusive travel app that takes you from your doorstep to your destination. By train, plane, automobile, or even ferry, this app will cover any possible route to get to that sales meeting.

 

Best Prospecting Apps for Sales Reps


Prospecting is one of the most important aspects of sales. These top sales prospecting apps are designed to help teams generate, manage, and nurture leads.

SPOTIO Lead Machine

Lead Machine by SPOTIO

Mobile App: iOS | Android

Lead Machine is the top prospecting and lead-tracking app for B2B and B2C sales teams. It gives you the data you need to identify the right leads and disqualify bad prospects, saving time for your reps.

Just choose a territory to generate a lead list, and select filters to remove unqualified prospects.

 

LinkedIn Sales Navigator

LinkedIn Sales Navigator

Mobile App: iOS | Android

LinkedIn Sales Navigator includes sales tools that help you find the right prospects and build trusted relationships. You can save new leads to the app to begin receiving real-time sales updates and communicate with leads via InMail or messages.

 

Hunter.io

Web app

Hunter is an email verification tool that allows users to find prospect email addresses by providing a domain name. Hunter then searches its more than 50,000 domains on record, and verifies the deliverability of any email addresses it discovers.

 

SellHack

Web app

SellHack helps sales teams find email addresses for prospects and validate existing email addresses. You can bulk-upload contacts, and let SellHack do the work of finding and verifying contact emails.

 

BuiltWith

Web app

BuiltWith is a tool that scans a website and lists all of the tech powering the site. A sales rep can use BuiltWith to gain a deeper understanding of their prospect’s needs and determine how their product can help resolve those needs.

 

NerdyData

NerdyData

Web app

NerdyData is a search engine designed to find the code, backlinks, SEO tools, and licenses your competitors or your prospects’ competitors are using. This tool is great for SaaS sales reps to use before approaching prospects. NerdyData reports can be downloaded and shared with team members.

 

Best Appointment-Setting Apps for Reps

Appointment-setting apps can ensure a smooth handoff from prospector to closer, or reduce the amount of back-and-forth when trying to schedule a meeting. Let’s take a look at the two best apps for setting sales appointments.

SPOTIO

SPOTIO sales appointment setting feature

Mobile App: iOS | Android

SPOTIO’s sales canvassing features let reps access shared calendars and schedule appointments for team members. Appointment assignees can then access any details, history, and files attached to the appointment, ensuring no information is lost in the handoff from one rep to another.

Pricing plans

 

Calendly


Calendly app

Mobile App: Android

Calendly connects to your calendar and provides a link that you can embed in an email or on a website. Leads can then click on the link to see your availability and schedule a meeting or sales call.

 

Best Lead Management Apps for Sales Reps


Prospecting activities provide the leads, but proper lead management is required to complete conversions The following apps can help you nurture and manage your leads for optimal success.

SPOTIO Lead Management

Mobile App: iOS | Android

The process and method of lead management is what drives the success of a sales team. SPOTIO’s Lead Management tool allows users to capture interactions across emails, texts, calls, and in-person visits, accessible via separate tabs in a single view. The SPOTIO Lead Management smartphone app connects with your CRM, giving reps access to sales CRM data, even when they’re in the field.

 

HubSpot CRM

Mobile App: iOS | Android

HubSpot CRM is an app for managing your sales team and their activities in an easy-to-understand dashboard. With the ability to see individual performance, sales quota progress, and other key metrics, you can evaluate your sales team in real time.

 

Salesforce Sales Cloud

 

Mobile App: iOS | Android

Salesforce has a wide range of products for different business uses. Its Sales Cloud is specifically for sales teams and includes features for the management of contacts, leads, accounts and opportunities.

 

Best Sales Apps For Productivity


As sales teams look to maximize their time, these productivity apps offer a way to make the most of every minute.

SPOTIO Territory Manager

Territory mapping in SPOTIO

Mobile App: iOS | Android

SPOTIO’s territory management feature allows sales managers to track, assign/reassign, and adjust sales territories while in the field. SPOTIO shows managers precisely where their reps are and provides live information on their progress.

 

SPOTIO Autoplays

Mobile App: iOS | Android

SPOTIO Autoplays is a tool that allows users to create automated and customized activity sequences (Autoplays) to help reps know what their next best action should be for prospects.

When prospects are enrolled in an Autoplay, an automatic sequence tells reps who they should engage with, the best channel to leverage — call, email, text, visit — and when they should contact that person. It’s more than a task management app, because reps don’t have to plan and schedule their actions, thanks to SPOTIO’s automation.

 

SPOTIO Auto-Visits


SPOTIO auto-visits feature

Mobile App: iOS | Android

When reps have SPOTIO installed on their smartphone, the Auto-Visits feature uses geofencing to automatically log check-ins and check-outs, as well as the duration of the visit. With SPOTIO’s sales analytics, managers can see how time-on-site, new visits, and revisits impact close rates.

 

Any.do

Mobile App: iOSAndroid

Any.do lets users create and share tasks and task lists, and remove them when they’re complete. Lists can be collaborative, so Any.do is a good app when teams need to brainstorm next steps, but reps are working remotely.

Best File-Sharing Apps for Sales Teams

Sales reps need to be able to share and access files in a secure, cloud-based platform. The following apps can fulfill that need.

Dropbox

Mobile App: iOSAndroid

Dropbox lets teams share files remotely and protect files with passcodes, expiration dates, email verification, and approved viewer lists. Teams can also use Dropbox to collect digital signatures on service agreements.

 

ShareMe

Mobile App: iOS | Android

ShareMe is a file-sharing app that uses WiFi to transfer files between mobile devices and laptops at lightning-fast speeds. Only the person sharing files needs the app — recipients can access shared files via their web browser.

 

Best Sales Apps For Note-Taking And Recording

Note-taking apps and recording apps can save reps a lot of time and help them keep track of important information. Two apps are among the best for reps who rely on speech-to-text transcription.

Dragon Anywhere

Mobile App: iOS | Android

Dragon Anywhere is a mobile dictating tool with unlimited word input. It has a 99% accuracy in formatting and editing recorded notes. Documents made in Dragon are easy to share through email, Evernote, Dropbox, and other popular cloud-sharing services. You can also add client names and store them as custom words, so you’ll never have to worry about misspelling them.

 

Just Press Record

Mobile App: iOS

This sales app is perfect for the “idea people” on your sales team — they can push a button and record an unlimited amount of text, which the app transcribes into searchable text. Recordings are automatically organized into folders by date and time.

 

Best Sales Apps For Closing Deals

These sales apps help reps through the closing process, whether they’re looking to produce and execute a contract, or accept mobile payments.

SPOTIO (eContracts)

Mobile App: iOS | Android

SPOTIO’s mobile app for eContracts allows reps to get documents and contracts signed from their mobile device. No emailing back and forth and wasting time — close deals on the spot with fully integrated e-Contracts.

 

HelloSign

Mobile App: iOS | Android

HelloSign is an app for remotely collecting signatures of up to 20 people per document Reps can import PDF documents and share them for signing right from their mobile devices.

 

DocuSign

 Mobile App: iOS | Android

DocuSign is another trusted sales app for collecting signatures remotely. Reps love it for its easy-to-use interface and its notifications about the status of every document.

 

Proposify

Proposify mobile app

Mobile App: iOS

Proposify is a sales app that helps reps close deals faster by removing the tedious aspects of managing proposals. Create proposals using Proposify’s templates, save them to the cloud, and get faster sign-off with online signatures.

Best Apps for Sales Tracking

SPOTIO Sales Tracker

Real-time Activity Feed in SPOTIO

Mobile App: iOS | Android

SPOTIO provides sales operations teams with real-time visibility into what’s happening in the field. Know which activities drive the best outcomes and troubleshoot sluggish sales or underperforming territories.

SPOTIO’s My Reports feature makes it easy for managers to quickly build custom reporting dashboards that include only the most important sales activity and performance metrics.

Pricing plans

 

SPOTIO Sales Rep Tracker

Sales Rep Tracking. Location Tracking App. Rep Tracker.

Mobile App: iOS | Android

As part of one of the best sales apps on the market, SPOTIO’s Sales Rep Tracking app gives managers full visibility into what’s happening in the field to better monitor performance and gauge rep efficiency. With features such as rep travel history, real-time location, and visit verification, SPOTIO provides the details managers need to improve sales processes and performance.

 

HubSpot Sales Hub

With Sales Hub, you can monitor how deals are progressing, organize all sales activity in one platform, and accelerate sales cycles. You can also schedule appointments from within Sales Hub and connect with prospects via live chat.

 

Salesforce Sales Cloud

Sales Cloud has features managers need to drive growth, including forecasting tools, quick filters for managing pipelines, and automation for routine tasks. This app offers additional capabilities when partnered with other Salesforce sales apps and products.

Best Expense Tracking Apps for Sales Teams

Expensify

Mobile App: iOSAndroid

From receipt scanning to reimbursement, Expensify automates every step of the expense reporting process. Reps on the go can snap a photo of their receipt using SmartScan, and Expensify takes care of the rest.

 

Rydoo


Rydoo app

Mobile App: iOS | Android

With Rydoo, you can create policies — such as spending limits, or per-diem rates — and the app will automatically approve authorized expenses. You can also configure rules to allow for international travel/other currencies, and review Rydoo data to see where your team is spending the most money.

 

Which Sales Apps Are Right For Your Team?

With the right technology, you can automate processes, strengthen your sales pipeline, and close more deals. Once you start using sales apps, you’ll wonder how you ever functioned without them.

SPOTIO is the #1 sales app for outside sales managers that want to improve their processes and support their team’s sales goals. It integrates seamlessly with your CRM software, gives you actionable insights, and ensures leads never fall through the cracks.

See what SPOTIO can do for your team. Request a free demo today!

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SPOTIO and Solo Elevate Solar Sales Experience with Advanced Integration Features https://spotio.com/blog/spotio-solo-technology-integration-announcement-011624/ Tue, 23 Jan 2024 08:30:00 +0000 https://spotio.com/?p=25729 Dallas, TX – January 23, 2024 – SPOTIO, the leader in field sales engagement technology, and Solo, the all-in-one solar growth and proposal platform, are excited to announce an enhanced native integration that will redefine efficiency and effectiveness in the solar sales sector.

For modern outside sales teams, the technology they use in the field is becoming a critical component of future growth strategies and ongoing success. Field sales teams use at least three different systems on average in their day-to-day operations, according to SPOTIO’s most recent research data.

With this increase in technology adoption, the integration of technologies is crucial. It streamlines processes, improves data accuracy, and accelerates sales operations. The partnership between SPOTIO and Solo is a prime example of how synchronized technology can boost productivity and success in field sales.

Trey Gibson, Founder and CEO of SPOTIO, expressed his enthusiasm: “We’re excited about our advanced integration with Solo. The need for speed in solar sales is more demanding and necessary than ever. This update is not just a technical improvement but a significant advancement in operational efficiency. It simplifies processes and enables sales teams to move faster and more accurately than before.”

Tech Synergy for Solar Success
This integration introduces an instant trigger for the Solo integration upon logging a custom Task activity in SPOTIO, leading to unprecedented efficiency for sales teams. Rather than merely creating a customer profile in Solo, SPOTIO now automatically generates a detailed solar proposal. The real advantage lies in the two-way sync. When a proposal is created in Solo, a link is sent back to SPOTIO and is accessible in the “links” section for the record. This feature saves time, ensures accuracy, and speeds up proposal generation, revolutionizing solar sales.

The update’s standout feature is its native integration between SPOTIO and Solo, offering pre-configured compatibility, enhanced stability, and ease of use, leading to faster and more efficient outcomes.

“At Solo, we’ve understood that collaboration between technology providers in the solar sales market is not just a convenience; it’s a necessity for staying ahead in a rapidly evolving industry,” shared Solo’s Chief Revenue Officer David Wilson. “Partnering with forward-thinking providers like SPOTIO enables us at Solo to meet and exceed the needs of our current and future customers with greater efficiency and ease. This synergy is key to delivering exceptional value in the dynamic world of solar sales.”

About SPOTIO
SPOTIO is the premier field sales engagement platform designed specifically for field sales teams to increase pipeline growth, enhance productivity, and close more deals. SPOTIO centralizes field sales activities, offering organizations critical insights and visibility to drive revenue. Serving thousands of customers globally, SPOTIO is committed to propelling field sales teams to new heights. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, SPOTIO is a privately held company. For more information, please visit www.spotio.com.

About Solo
Solo is the industry-leading back-office solution for contractors and sales organizations, providing dynamic proposals, document management, CAD design, and engineering-as-a-service for the home improvement industry. Solo partners with a diverse group of best-in-class organizations to provide complementary technologies, solutions, and services designed to accelerate your business’​s ascent. The Solo platform has helped hundreds of solar companies optimize their operations and close more deals. To date, Solo has created over three million dynamic proposals, saved an estimated 150,000 hours of work, closed more than 100K deals, and permitted over 30,000 Plansets. For more information, please visit www.gosolo.io.

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Elevating Sales Efficiency: The Newest Features in SPOTIO’s Latest Release https://spotio.com/blog/new-features-january-2024/ Tue, 16 Jan 2024 08:00:18 +0000 https://spotio.com/?p=25724 For field sales teams, staying ahead of market headwinds and competitive threats means leveraging the latest in technology. As a field sales technology provider, this means that the team at SPOTIO is constantly looking for ways to innovate and introduce new capabilities to enhance the value for our customers.

To that end, we are very excited to announce one of our biggest releases yet! And with it comes some groundbreaking new features. These enhancements not only streamline the sales process but also bring a new level of integration and user experience. Let’s dive into the details of these exciting new features, perfect for boosting your sales strategy.

Native Solo Integration: A Game-Changer for Solar Sales
One of the standout features in this release is the enhanced Native Solo Integration. This innovative update allows users to trigger the SOLO integration instantly upon logging a custom Task activity. 

What does this mean for your sales team? Efficiency like never before. Instead of merely creating a customer profile in SOLO, SPOTIO now automatically generates a detailed solar proposal. The real magic lies in the two-way synchronization. Once a proposal is generated in SOLO, a link is sent back to SPOTIO and made available under the “links” section for the record. This seamless integration not only saves time but also ensures accuracy and speed in proposal generation. Check out the Solo integration knowledge base article here.

Task Management: Refined for Maximum Efficiency
The latest update revolutionizes Task Management in SPOTIO. The new requirement to fill out specific custom fields on a record before logging a trigger activity ensures that all necessary data is captured upfront. This precision in data entry paves the way for more streamlined operations. Moreover, introducing a new activity type that doesn’t require blocking off time on a user’s calendar is a significant boon for busy sales professionals. Additionally, the ability to bulk assign tasks to multiple records from map and list views is a game-changer, enhancing productivity. Check out the Task Management knowledge base article here.

Activity Enhancements: Tailored to Modern Sales Needs
Activity management within SPOTIO has received a substantial upgrade. Administrators can now classify activity types as either “In-Person” or “Virtual,” aligning with the current hybrid sales environment. The “Log Now” feature, available on both Web and Mobile platforms, adds another layer of convenience, allowing sales teams to record activities instantaneously.

New Map Filter Options: Visualize and Strategize
SPOTIO’s map interface now includes an innovative Custom Field option for “Currency.” This feature enables users to colorize and filter records based on Currency and Number Field Values, akin to the “Days Since Last Visit” feature. Such visual differentiation aids in better data analysis, allowing sales teams to strategize effectively based on financial metrics. Find out more about custom fields and filters here.

Shareable Filters: Collaborate and Conquer
The introduction of Shareable Filters is a significant step towards collaborative sales management. Admin and Manager users can create, save, and share custom filters by territory, team, or individual users. These shared filters appear in a new section, “Shared Filters,” located below “My Filters.” This feature promotes a collaborative work environment, enabling teams to share insights and strategies efficiently and enhancing collective performance. Click here for more information about how to set up Shareable Filters.

Location Sharing Privacy: Empowering User Control
Recognizing the importance of privacy, SPOTIO’s latest update introduces customizable location-sharing settings. Users can now set their preferred working hours for GPS tracking within the app. Moreover, Manager and Admin users can set their location sharing to “Never,” offering greater control and peace of mind. This feature is especially vital today, where privacy and personal space are increasingly valued. Find out more in this knowledge base article.

Streamlined Call Logging for Non-SPOTIO Numbers
The update brings a much-needed feature for users making calls from non-SPOTIO numbers. Now, after completing a call from a native phone number, the SPOTIO app will automatically prompt users to log the call’s outcome. This seamless integration ensures that every interaction is recorded and tracked, enhancing the overall data quality and reliability. Find out more in this article.

Updated API Documentation: User-Friendly and Informative
SPOTIO’s commitment to user-friendliness extends to its API documentation. The latest update features improved, easy-to-understand customer-facing API documentation. This enhancement enables users, particularly those with technical expertise, to better integrate and utilize SPOTIO’s features with their existing systems. Click here to access.

Updated Compass Icon: Navigate with Ease
A small yet significant update is the addition of a new compass icon in the Mobile map view. This feature allows sales reps to quickly see the map’s orientation and easily re-orient it back to True North. Such navigational aids are invaluable for field reps, especially when navigating unfamiliar territories.

A New Chapter in Sales Enablement
SPOTIO’s latest release is more than an update; it represents a significant leap forward in sales enablement technology. With features like Native Solo Integration, enhanced Task Management, Activity Enhancements, and new Map Filter Options, SPOTIO continues to set the standard for sales engagement platforms. These enhancements are designed not only to streamline the sales process but also to provide a more integrated and user-friendly experience. As sales teams adapt to the evolving landscape, SPOTIO is a pivotal tool in their arsenal, ready to drive success and efficiency in every interaction.

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7 Best Sales Forecasting Software (Including Key Features) https://spotio.com/blog/best-sales-forecasting-software/ https://spotio.com/blog/best-sales-forecasting-software/#respond Fri, 12 Jan 2024 10:36:59 +0000 https://spotio.com/?p=17892 Looking for the best sales forecasting software? Read on.

Sales forecasting software is an essential piece of technology for sales teams and business leaders.

Previously, Excel spreadsheets were the go-to tool for tracking and predicting sales. Nowadays, businesses prefer the reliability and accuracy of sales forecasting tools to provide real-time insights and trends in sales data.

In this guide, you’ll learn why sales forecasting software is essential for your business. Then, we’ll highlight what key features to look out for as we review the best sales forecasting software for you to consider in 2023.

 

Why is Sales Forecasting Software Important for Your Business?

There are two methods of sales forecasting:

  • Quantitative forecasting is the most accurate as it uses historical business data and trends.
  • Qualitative forecasting is subjective and uses market research, potential customer surveys, and expert opinions.

Sales forecasting software uses quantitative methods to analyze historical business data and trends – such as closed and won deals and win/loss records – and then produces an accurate report of expected sales revenue. Forecast reports compare sales targets with achieved sales versus expected sales.

Businesses need accurate sales forecasts to help allocate resources, hire new staff, increase quotas, and manage costs. Sales forecasting tools enable companies to predict future growth trends and help leadership formulate effective strategies to expand their business.

Sales forecasting software helps businesses answer these questions:

  1. What is our expected revenue? (Organized by salesperson, territory, or account.)
  2. How did actual sales compare to expected sales?
  3. Which method produces the most accurate forecast?

Furthermore, publicly-traded companies have to report an accurate sales forecast because they know investors are looking for success, reliability, and stability each quarter.

The sales forecasting software models are well-tested and robust, but users can adjust the models to tweak predictions and make them more accurate over time. Businesses can also modify the forecasts with “what if assumptions” to simulate sales behavior and market conditions.

 

Sales Forecasting Ebook banner

 

Main Types of Sales Forecasting Software

There are two main types of sale forecasting software:

  • Sales pipeline
  • Historical sales

Here are the key differences:

Sales pipeline forecasting software

Sales pipeline forecasting software analyzes your existing opportunities and calculates a win rate, so you know what priority to apply to them.

It considers variables such as:

  • What stage the opportunity is in
  • The estimated cost to close the opportunity (e.g. paying sales reps).
  • The average length of a sales cycle (i.e. how long it takes to close a sale).

The sales pipeline forecasting method focuses on pipeline management and calculates an historical win rate percentage based on:

  1. The value of an opportunity
  2. The age of the opportunity
  3. The sales reps working the opportunity

For instance, while you may be tempted to target the high-ticket items, the pipeline forecasting software focuses on the most winnable opportunities before moving on to the more risky deals.

Note: At-risk opportunities include those that have been sitting in the sales pipeline for too long or that have unrealistic close dates (i.e. a prospect has unreasonable expectations).

Sales pipeline forecasting software is best-suited to companies with a significant variance in their monthly sales.

Historical sales forecasting software

Historical sales forecasting software analyzes previous company performance to calculate a mean (or average) sales level you can expect for the following month, quarter, or year.

It focuses on historical trends, plus the seasonality of products or services being sold. However, it does not consider the opportunities currently in your pipeline.

The total value of an opportunity is dependent on the current period, and the software displays forecasts on a basic X-Y graph format with the period on the X-axis and the total value of the opportunity on the Y-axis.

Historical sales forecasting software is best suited to small businesses with little to no variance in their monthly sales.

 

Features to Look for in Sales Forecasting Software

Sales forecasting has come a long way since the days of Excel spreadsheets.

Today, there are plenty of sales forecasting tools available. Ultimately, the right forecasting tool for your business will add value rather than draining more time and money from your sales team.

However, when choosing the software that’s right for you, there are several essential features you need to look out for.

View pipeline activity

It’s essential that you can view pipeline activity to see how leads are progressing and identify potential bottlenecks that need addressing.

Import internal sales data

The forecasts you make are limited to the data your software can access. Ensure the forecasting software integrates with the tools you use to record sales, such as Excel, your accounting software, or an ERP system so that you can import all the internal sales data you require.

Integrate third-party sales data

Ensure the forecasting software integrates with third-party sales data and historical sales patterns, such as seasonal trends, to create more accurate forecasts that reflect the current selling environment.

Track progress against sales goals

Make sure the forecasting software can import your actual sales data from your accounting tools so that you can track progress against your sales goals.

Generate revenue projections

You’ll also want the ability to generate revenue projections for your subsequent periods by combining current sales prices with historical data to align revenue projections with demand forecasts.

Create reports

Check the forecasting software can create various reports, including final forecast reports, projected revenue reports, and forecast accuracy reports.

 

Best Sales Forecasting Software

In this section, we’ve included a brief overview of the best sales forecasting tools. When selecting the sales forecasting software for your business, check the “best for” section to see if it fits your budget, goals, and business size.

Where possible, we’ve included pricing details, but in some cases, you’ll have to contact the vendor for a custom quote.

Pipedrive

Pipedrive sales forecasting software

Pipedrive’s visual sales pipeline, insights, and reports prompt you to take action, remain organized, and stay in control.

The revenue forecast reports predict turnover and growth to help spot problems before they arise. And the recurring revenue reports show customer payments that come in multiple installments, so you can accurately generate revenue projections.

You can also customize reports to your business requirements to highlight winning patterns and pipeline bottlenecks for your team to overcome. Plus, the interactive dashboards allow your sales team and leadership to see how they are performing in real-time.

Pipedrive integrates with third-party software, such as Google Apps, MailChimp, and Zapier, and includes a powerful API if you want to make other connections.

Best for: SME and Enterprise sales teams

Pricing: Pipedrive has a selection of subscription plans, but you’ll need the Professional plan at $49.90/user/month (billed annually) for sales forecasting.

Free Trial: Free 14-day Professional plan trial.

Anaplan

Anaplan sales forecasting software

Anaplan’s sales forecasting software allows you to generate accurate, data-driven revenue predictions in real-time that improve decision-making throughout your organization.

You can forecast sales by geography, product line, or account, with any level of granularity – e.g. by city or state, by specific product SKUs, or by a particular set of accounts. Plus, you can also get a clearer picture of your sales pipeline health and use the Predictive Insights to help focus sales resources on the best opportunities to drive more consistent revenue.

Anaplan also combines third-party data with historical sales patterns, including trend and seasonality, to help you create more accurate forecasts representing the current selling environment.

Best for: Enterprise sales teams

Pricing: Contact Anaplan for pricing on their Basic, Professional, and Enterprise plans.


SPOTIO

SPOTIO field sales forecasting software

SPOTIO’s Sales Tracking Software makes field sales performance more predictable with clear insights and analytics, so you can make informed decisions and achieve your targets.

Without an accurate picture of sales performance, you’re left guessing as to whether or not your team is on track and where any gaps exist. But SPOTIO captures and tracks all the sales data that your business requires so that you get complete and accurate sales forecasts.

You also get comprehensive, real-time insights into the performance of your sales team. You can monitor critical sales activities, review pipeline metrics, and track revenue data at the rep, team, territory and organization levels. And then use the data to adjust plans and take action, so you hit your sales targets.

The platform’s My Reports feature also makes it easy for admins, managers and reps to generate custom reporting dashboards containing only the metrics and KPIs that matter most. 

SPOTIO integrates with your CRM, ERP, and 2,000+ other tools in your tech stack so that you can get a complete and accurate sales forecast and track progress against sales goals.

Best for: Field sales teams. SPOTIO is ranked #1 in the Field Sales category, and was a 2023 G2 Best Software Winner

Pricing: Get pricing for the plan that best meets your needs. 

Gong.io

GONG sales forecasting software

Gong’s sales forecasting software pulls data from each point of contact (calls, emails) with customers, then processes it through bespoke AI algorithms for deep analysis. The resulting trends and recommendations give sales reps clear guidance on what to do next and tell you where you stand on every deal.

You get total visibility into your pipeline, so you know exactly where each deal stands – next steps, decision-maker engaged, awaiting sign-off – and forecast accordingly. But you can also identify any risks – budget not discussed, deal stuck in a stage, decision-maker not engaged, competitor brought in – and adjust forecasts accordingly.

You can view all the real-time information you require on a specific forecast category, deal, product, or team on one convenient screen. Then, focus on the strategy and find a way to close the deal.

Best for: Sales leaders

Pricing: Contact Gong for a customized proposal.

Workday Adaptive Planning

Workday Adaptive Planning Software

Workday Adaptive Planning (formerly Adaptive Insights) lets you simplify and improve your sales planning and forecasting processes.

Data is automatically linked together in real-time, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual data entry. Sales, finance, and other business partners have access to the same data, making collaboration transparent and straightforward.

When you automate the sales forecasting process of data collection and eliminate version control issues, you reduce risks because everyone is always working with the same, current version of the data. Plus, users can’t accidentally break formulas or unlink sheets as they could in spreadsheets. As a result, everyone gains confidence in the plans and can talk about strategic business initiatives instead of the accuracy and version of the forecast model.

You can also make quick adjustments to unexpected events and use what-if scenarios to determine the best way to react.

Best for: SME and Enterprise sales planning teams

Pricing: Contact Workday Adaptive Planning for a customized plan based on your company size, plus the number of seats, package, and features you require.

InsightSquared

InsightSquared AI sales forecasting software

InsightSquared’s AI-powered sales forecasting software streamlines forecast submissions across your team, giving you more time to focus on decision-making. Plus, the AI-driven updates let you easily roll up forecasts across your team and ensure everyone is on track to hit the target.

You can slice-and-dice forecasts by segments such as region, line of business, or products — and break them down further by month or quarter. The flexible and comprehensive platform also maintains all change records and incorporates data from your complete sales history, so you can understand the gap between target and achieved sales.

InsightSquared’s forecasting reports hold sales teams accountable by visualizing progress. For instance, you can use the Forecast Summary report to spot issues and fill the gaps to improve accuracy across the board.

Pipeline review meetings also become a breeze because you have full confidence in your sales activity data. You can quickly identify which deals to pull forward, and which ones to pause. Plus, you also know which reps to coach as you can understand the reasons behind their sales figures.

Best for: Sales managers

Pricing: Contact InsightSquared for a custom quote based on user role.

Aviso Insights

Aviso sales forecasting software

Aviso’s predictive AI sales forecasting software delivers 98%+ accuracy, and is the only tool on the market to predict run-rate business.

Aviso’s unified forecasting combines human and machine learning with the most sophisticated global roll-up forecasting in the industry to help sales reps, managers, and VPs focus on what lies ahead and drive timely team actions.

It provides insights into all deals called in and out of forecast so that sales teams can see discrepancies and address disagreements accordingly. You can also change forecast views by product, segment, geography, or any other design point.

Aviso pulls data from your CRM and stores it separately so that you can create multiple views of the forecast, for example, by business units, product lines, or renewal dates. And by using AI and big data, Aviso can make predictions based on both sales and pipeline performance.

Best for: Sales leaders, managers, and reps.

Pricing: Contact Aviso for a custom quote based on your requirements.

 

Which Sales Forecasting Software Are You Going to Try?

All of these sales forecasting tools let you view pipeline activity, import sales data, track progress against your sales goals, and create custom reports.

If you’re running a field sales team, then sign up for a free demo of SPOTIO to see how the platform can help you monitor critical sales activities, review pipeline metrics, forecast sales targets, and track revenue data at the rep, team, and organization levels.

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16 Best B2B Sales Tools For Every Stage Of The Buyer Journey https://spotio.com/blog/b2b-sales-tools/ Wed, 20 Dec 2023 03:50:07 +0000 https://spotio.com/?p=25596 Want to succeed in B2B sales? You’ll need a thick skin, a winning strategy, and a relentless work ethic. A tech stack full of top-rated B2B sales tools wouldn’t hurt either.

We know what you’re thinking, “I already invest in a bunch of B2B sales tools. I really don’t want any more.” You’re not alone. According to Salesforce, 66% of sales reps say they’re drowning in tools. And 94% of sales organizations plan to consolidate tools within the next 12 months.

You don’t need more tools; you need the right tools. So, in this article, we’re going to help you build a B2B sales kit that actually works for you and your organization. Let’s get to it!

 

What Are B2B Sales Tools?

A B2B sales tool is any tool that helps sales reps close more deals.

Some B2B sales tools enable reps to store and organize customer data. Others automate communication between reps and prospects. Still others streamline social selling processes.

At the end of the day, the right sales tools for B2B will help you and/or your team become more efficient, connect with potential customers on a deeper, more personal level, and take your reporting procedures to a whole new level. Let’s talk more about these important benefits…

 

What Are The Benefits Of Sales Tools For B2B?

Why use the B2B sales tools we talk about in the next section? Because doing so will improve your sales processes. In fact, there are four benefits you’ll experience once you optimize your organization’s tech stack and invest in the right tools. Those benefits are:

 

Enhanced Efficiency

The best sales reps are often the most efficient. They know how to leverage their time more effectively than other sellers. B2B sales tools can help you achieve peak efficiency, too.

The right app will allow you to send email and text communications, schedule appointments, and generate reports automatically. When these things are handled for you and your team, you’ll be able to focus your efforts on higher value tasks, such as building relationships with leads.

 

Streamlined Communication

As mentioned above, the right B2B sales tools will improve your communication efforts.

You can use many of these apps to build full-fledged email and text sequences that send at predetermined times. Or ensure your follow-up messages never fall through the cracks.

Just as important, a stellar B2B sales toolkit will help you track your communication efforts. That way you always know which messages work, and can optimize your approach accordingly.

 

Refined Reporting

How many leads are in your pipeline? Which stage of the sales process are they in? And how many deals do you expect to close in the next week, month, and quarter?

You need to know the answers to the questions—and many others like them. B2B sales tools can help in this regard, too, allowing you to generate quality reports in a matter of seconds. You can then use the information gleaned to make better decisions in less time. Win!

 

Improved Sales Performance

All of the benefits we’ve mentioned so far—enhanced efficiency, improved communication, refined reporting—will lead to better sales performance for you and/or your sales team.

How could they not? If you can complete tasks in less time, communicate with leads, prospects, and customers more effectively, and quickly generate sales reports, better results are (almost) inevitable. You still have to do the work, of course. But your likelihood of success goes up.

 

The Complete B2B Sales Toolkit for Every Stage Of The Sales Process

There are a ton of B2B sales tools out there. Which ones should you use?

First, analyze your sales strategy. Then select tools that will aid you in each stage of your sales process, from preparation and research to following-up. Here are 16 ideas to get you started:

 

Stage #1: Preparation & Research

A strong sales process starts with extensive research.

You need to know the products and/or services you sell like the back of your hand. You need to be aware of current market trends and competitors, too. And, most of all, you need an intimate understanding of your target audience—who are they and why do they want your offerings?

The two B2B sales tools below will help you uncover key data points you can use to find leads and optimize your sales pitches..

 

B2B Sales Preparation & Research Tools

LinkedIn Sales Navigator: For networking and research

LinkedIn Sales Navigator

Key features:

  • Search LinkedIn’s database of 950 million professionals
  • Access over 40 advanced filters to identify the right leads
  • Receive buyer intent signals to improve your outreach efforts
  • Integrate LinkedIn with your CRM to quickly transfer information

 

Crunchbase: For business insights and company data

Crunchbase

Key features:

  • Easily monitor industry trends with real-time alerts
  • Identify qualified prospects within your specific territory
  • Access verified contact data to engage decision makers
  • Receive automatic lead recommendations that match your ICP
  • Create and store email templates to personalize your outreach
  • Connect Crunchbase to your CRM to quickly track your prospects

 

Stage #2: Prospecting

Now that you’ve done your research, you can look for potential customers.

This stage of the sales process is known as prospecting, and there are many B2B sales tools you can use to streamline your efforts in this area. We spotlight three of the best ones below:

 

B2B Sales Prospecting Tools

SPOTIO Lead Machine: For B2B field sales prospecting

Key features:

  • Sync SPOTIO with Google places to get instant data on businesses in your territory
  • Find quality leads with 200+ filters like business type, revenue, and number of locations
  • Import a list of current leads into SPOTIO, then use the platform to assign them to reps
  • Use colored pins on a digital map to represent different accounts and stay organized

 

Leadfeeder: For identifying potential leads visiting your website

Leedfeeder

Key features:

  • Learn who visits your website, who they work for, and your best marketing channels
  • Discover accurate contact information for prospects inside the Leadfeeder database
  • Filter contacts based on a variety of factors, including role, seniority, and location
  • Connect Leadfeeder to your CRM to store prospect data and assign leads to sales reps

 

Hunter.io: For finding email addresses associated with a domain

Key features:

  • Find email addresses by company name, individual name, or website
  • View confidence scores to understand which email addresses are least likely to bounce
  • Contact the professionals you find contact data for with Hunter’s built-in email sequencer
  • Connect Hunter to your CRM of choice and keep your prospecting efforts organized
  • Use the Chrome, Firefox, or Edge extension to find emails while you surf the web

 

Stage #3: Needs Assessment

A needs assessment is a powerful tool you can use to engage your prospects in conversation, learn more about them, and make informed decisions that improve your entire sales process.

For example, you might ask prospects questions like, “How do you see your business growing in the next 6-12 months?” and “How do you currently promote your business?”

Here are two tools you can use to create a needs assessment and learn about your audience:

 

B2B Sales Needs Assessment Tools

SurveyMonkey: For creating and distributing surveys

Survey Monkey

Key features:

  • Create beautiful, customized surveys that your audience will enjoy taking
  • Use AI to ask better questions that quickly reveal more detailed insights
  • Access 250+ templates to help you build a winning survey in less time
  • Choose to use sliders, star ratings, multiple choices, or 20+ other question types
  • Guide participants down custom survey paths with branching and logic features

 

Typeform: For interactive forms and surveys

Typeform

Key features:

  • Build web forms that include your company’s logo, colors, and unique style
  • Personalize your forms by adapting follow-up questions based on previous answers
  • Access Typeform’s template library and AI tools to create better forms in less time
  • Connect Typeform to your favorite CRM to automatically transfer data between apps
  • Create surveys and quizzes for your audience, too, in addition to custom web forms

 

Stage #4: Pitch & Presentation

At this point, you’ve studied your industry, found high-quality prospects, and learned about their individual needs. Now it’s time to pitch your products and/or services to them.

The best pitches are personalized and articulate value in a visual way. Here are two B2B sales tools you can use to craft presentations and effectively present your solutions.

 

B2B Sales Pitch & Presentation Tools

Prezi: For engaging and dynamic presentations

Prezi

Key features:

  • Elevate your virtual presentations by appearing on screen with your content
  • Create prospecting videos that can be sent via email and shown on social media
  • Access designer templates to help you make eye-catching videos in mere minutes
  • Build a brand kit inside Prezi to make sure you have quick access to brand assets

 

Slidebean: AI-powered presentation design tool

Slidebean

Key features:

  • Use Slidebean’s AI functionality to build a stunning presentation in seconds
  • Choose from 120 different templates to ensure your presentation is top level
  • Easily invite other team members to collaborate with you on your presentations
  • Access analytics to learn who viewed which slides and how long they viewed them for

 

Stage #5: Objection Handling

This is one of the most important stages of the sales process—but it’s not easy to navigate.

Common objections include, “I’m not ready to make a decision,” and “I need to think about it,” and “I don’t have the budget.” Top sellers know how to overcome these excuses.

Top sellers tend to use B2B sales tools that help in this area, too. The two solutions below will simplify your objection handling efforts by giving you access to accurate data.

 

B2B Sales Objection Handling Tools

Gong.io: For conversation intelligence and analysis

Gong

Key features:

  • Understand exactly what works with your go-to-market initiatives and adjust accordingly
  • Receive AI-powered insights in real time to improve your decision making processes
  • Supercharge your sales coaching efforts to help reps overcome objections more reliably
  • Connect Gong to your other sales tools, including your CRM, to streamline workflows

 

Chorus.ai: For recording and analyzing sales calls

Chorus

Key features:

  • Automatically record and analyze sales calls to pinpoint top objections
  • Receive real-time insights to determine why you won or lost a specific deal
  • Use data to improve your sales coaching processes and help reps close more
  • Connect Chorus to your current tech stack and benefit from true sales intelligence

 

Stage #6: Closing

This is the stage of the sales process where prospects become customers.

The best sellers in the world have enviable close rates. There are many reasons for this. Top sellers are often excellent communicators, know how to build meaningful relationships with leads, and can convey value in simple terms. But many of them use B2B sales tools, too.

Below, we share two important tools you can use during the closing stage to win more deals:

 

B2B Sales Closing Tools

DocuSign: For electronic signatures and agreements

DocuSign

Key features:

  • Create, store, and manage multiple sales contracts with the click of a button
  • Accept e-signatures and boost productivity while improving the customer experience
  • Use AI to analyze your contracts, find hidden revenue opportunities, and much more
  • Protect all of your agreements with enterprise-grade security and compliance controls
  • Connect DocuSign with your favorite B2B sales tools, such as a CRM or meeting app

 

Pandadoc: For document management and e-signatures

PandaDoc

Key features:

  • Create quotes, proposals, and contracts from one convenient location
  • Accept e-signatures and reduce the time it takes to close deals and get paid
  • Manage all of your contracts in one place to boost productivity and peace of mind
  • Enjoy top-level security features, so your contracts are always locked down tight
  • Collect payments directly from the PandaDoc contracts that you create
  • Connect PandaDoc to your CRM, accounting software, and other must-have tools

 

Stage #7: Follow-ups, Repeat Business & Referrals

If you spend all of your time looking for and selling to new customers, you’re missing out on a ton of potential revenue. Repeat customers are often the most profitable. Don’t neglect them!

Make sure your sales process includes a follow-up stage. That way you can consistently score new sales from old customers and increase your referral count.

These three tools will ensure your follow-up, repeat business, and referral game are on point:

 

B2B Sales Cadence Tools

SPOTIO: For sales sequence automations

SPOTIO Autoplays

Key features:

  • Build multi-channel sales sequences and stay top of mind with your audience
  • Create a library of sequences that you (or your colleagues) can use in the future
  • Automate emails and texts to send at ideal times and boost your team’s close rate
  • Access your follow-up sequences from anywhere, on any internet capable device
  • Integrate SPOTIO with many other B2B sales tools to minimize data entry tasks

 

Mailchimp: For email marketing and follow-ups

Key features:

  • Automate complex email marketing campaigns and nurture leads effectively
  • Access drag-and-drop functionality to build eye-catching emails in less time
  • Enjoy top deliverability and ensure your messages always reach their targets
  • Analyze your email marketing metrics to understand what works and what doesn’t

 

ReferralCandy: For managing referral programs

ReferralCandy

Key features:

  • Access professionally designed templates to increase sign-ups
  • Promote your referral program across online and in-person channels
  • Automate your referral program so that it runs seamlessly on autopilot
  • Track many important metrics, like sales generated from referrals
  • Connect ReferralCandy to your online store to simplify operations

 

SPOTIO Is An All-In-One B2B Sales Tool For Every Stage Of The Sales Process

Most sales reps agree: they have too many B2B sales tools. This is why a whopping 94% of sales organizations plan to consolidate their tech stacks within the next year.

As we established in this article, B2B sales tools aren’t the problem. Sellers just need to invest in the specific solutions that will improve their unique workflows.

For many reps—especially those in the field sales space—SPOTIO is a must have app.

Once you invest in SPOTIO, you’ll be able to generate leads, cut and manage territories, set appointments, map customers, automate a variety of tasks, build multi-channel communication sequences, track activities, and generate customer reports—all with a single tool.

Sign up for a free demo of SPOTIO to experience the power of our platform for yourself!

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