In our increasingly mobile world, mobile applications have become an integral part of people’s lives—both personally and professionally. In fact, people are so tied to their phones and tablets that they literally get into walking accidents while using them (including one man’s memorable encounter with a bear).
When used safely, mobile sales solutions make sense for salespeople who are often away from their desk but still need the tools to manage information and maintain customer relationships.
Those that use mobile sales tools have a clear advantage over those that don’t:
–State of Sales Report, Salesforce
The good news: These days, salespeople have their pick of mobile apps to help them work from the field. These apps perform many useful functions, such as navigation, travel management, expense tracking, invoicing and long-distance collaboration.
Here are five mobile sales solutions we think are especially cool because of their multi-functionality. What’s more, when used in combination, they support the full range of field sales activities:
Geolocation
Geolocation uses GPS functionality to track and analyze customer locations. Sales reps can use it to optimize navigation to and from customer locations. What’s especially cool is that, because geolocation apps let sales reps visualize their sales territory, they can see whether they have a lot of customers in a particular area. This helps reps easily see where their markets are concentrated.
What’s more, some apps even offer functionality that helps reps acquire new leads in hot territories.
For example, savvy businesses can use geospatial data to tailor content and offers based on location-specific customer behavior (e.g., check-ins or location-based social media posts).
Here are a couple examples:
Devices(s): iOS, Android, Windows
Devices(s): Any iOS device
Documents and Presentations
Apps that allow you to access and share documents and presentations via mobile devices are extremely useful to sales reps in the field. They cut down on equipment needed to present sales pitches (like bulky laptops).
What’s especially cool is that many of these apps offer ways for reps to track who is viewing sales materials and for how long they visited. This is a great way for reps to gauge engagement and guess how ready a customer is to purchase.
With this information, reps can focus their efforts and attention on those most likely to buy.
Here are a couple examples:
Devices(s): iOS, Android, Windows
Devices(s): iOS, Android, Windows
Order Taking and Invoicing
The faster a sales rep can process a customer’s order, the better. Also, the less paperwork the process involves, the less headache for sales reps. Thankfully, there are apps that make it easy for sales reps to send orders and invoices to customers.
What’s especially cool is that these apps can also help customers make on-the-spot purchases. Many offer reps the ability to showcase products in full color display, making it an attractive way to show customers their options.
Some also can capture customer signatures directly from the mobile device.
Here are a couple examples:
Devices(s): iOS, Windows, web browser (OS-agnostic)
Devices(s): Any iOS device
Expense and Travel Management
Salespeople who spend a lot of time in the field need to track travel expenses such as food and mileage. Those who travel frequently may need to make travel arrangements and manage itineraries from the road. Fortunately, there are mobile apps for all of that!
What’s especially cool is that these apps utilize the mobile device’s other functionality (e.g., cameras or GPS) to make expense tracking even easier for on-the-go reps.
For example, reps can simply take pictures of receipts and upload them to their expense reports, and can automatically track trip mileage.
Here are a couple examples:
Devices(s): iOS, Android, Windows
Devices(s): iOS, Windows, web browser (OS-agnostic)
Collaboration and Networking
Apps that provide a platform for collaboration keep sales reps connected to other team members and informed, despite being in the field.
What’s especially cool is that, according to Salesforce, 60 percent of sales professionals say that collaborative selling has increased productivity by more than 25 percent.
In other words, successful teams create a collaborative culture in which sales reps share information and learn from one another. These mobile apps make collaboration possible from virtually anywhere.
Here are a couple examples:
Devices(s): iOS, Android, Windows
Devices(s): iOS, Android, Windows
Next Steps
These are just a few of the many mobile sales solutions available. For help choosing the best tools, here are some steps you can take to narrow down your options and get more information
- Read user reviews of top mobile CRM software to see how other businesses have solved their own needs using mobile sales software.
- Email me at andrewfriedenthal@softwareadvice.com for more information. I’m happy to help you figure out what your own sales automation needs might be and to connect you to one of our expert software advisors for a free, no-obligation consultation!
