Fraudulent Calls are Outside Sales #1 Enemy

Fraudulent customer calls are a serious issue for sales. When outside sales reps are deployed to perform their daily customer rounds, it is expected that they will visit the locations they are supposed to, as well as present certain products and sometimes perform other tasks, such as performing surveys and collecting relevant information.

However, once the sales reps are on the field, it becomes difficult to actually monitor their location and activities, especially in larger teams. It is a lose-lose situation: The reps have to take time from actually selling to call the office or fill out reports, and sales management needs to assign extra personnel to help with taking these calls and transcribing reports.

A sales tracking solution is the ideal tool for this scenario, since it fulfills the duties of the extra personnel mentioned before.

With a sales tracking solution, sales managers can prevent fraudulent customer visits by monitoring the location of field reps, as well as have instant access to relevant sales call information and verify that the appropriate product presentation was performed at the correct customer location, for instance.

There are even more advantages to implementing a state-of-the-art sales tracking solution: Some of options available on the market allow management to create automatic notifications of certain events, such as a call on a specific key customer or a request for equipment maintenance.

VisitBasis is a comprehensive sales tracking solution. It improves communication between sales management and the field so outside reps can have all the tools they need to succeed at their fingertips while keeping management informed of rep’s locations and activity. And there is no need to invest in new hardware since the free VisitBasis mobile app works on most smartphones and tablets.

Sign up today for a free VisitBasis trial or schedule a demo!

 

 

The Importance of Customer-Facing Time and How to Increase It

Customer-facing time is an essential part of sales. By interacting with customers, outside sales reps and marketing agents can better understand their needs and wants, leading to better sales outcomes (quantity and/or satisfaction) and eventually to more customer-centric products.

In retail, increased customer face time with a store manager means that the salesperson will have a better grasp of the peculiarities of each point-of-sale and will build sales orders that will lead to improvements in product turnover ratios and less out-of-stocks.

However, customer-facing time is increasingly considered a rare luxury and many are the threats to it: Endless team meetings, traffic delays, scattered sales territories, email overloads, reporting and paperwork, etc.

An outside sales software can be instrumental in increasing customer-facing time. By implementing an outside sales software solution, sales managers are able to see several improvements that can lead to increased customer-facing time, such as the following:

• Better territory management
  With an outside sales software, sales managers can visualize territories on a map, and plan them in order to minimize travel distances.
• Less travel time
  Besides territory mapping, a state-of-the-art outside sales software will also offer route optimization capabilities, calculating the shortest daily route for each rep.
• Less paperwork, reporting and emailing
  An outside sales software with mobile app will allow sales reps to access product collaterals, place orders, fill out forms, take pictures, verify equipment, and make visit notes, among others, all in their mobile devices, while giving managers access to the information collected in real time.

VisitBasis is a complete outside sales software solution that delivers all the tools your reps need to succeed at their fingertips. The VisitBasis App is available for unlimited downloads on Google Play or App Store.

See today what an outside sales software solution can do for your organization – try VisitBasis for free!

 

Solving Information Loss in Merchandising Once and For All

Information loss used to be an inevitable consequence of retail merchandising. With many field reps performing a number of tasks on each one of the stores in their individual territories, it is easy to see how the amount of data collected on the field grows exponentially and is, therefore, increasingly difficult to handle and more subject to information loss.

Mobile merchandising software is the ideal solution to information loss in retail merchandising. When businesses implement a mobile merchandising software solution, they prevent information loss in the following stages of data processing:

 

• Data collection
  It is easy to see how information can get lost in traditional pen-and-paper merchandising. With mobile merchandising software, field reps perform tasks such as filling out forms and taking pictures in their mobile devices, leading to less misunderstanding and mix-ups.
  
  
• Data transcription
  With mobile merchandising software, there is no data transcription. The information goes directly from the rep’s mobile device to data storage, meaning that there is no information loss due to time gaps between data gathering and transcription or due to issues such as miscommunication between rep and transcriber.
• Data storage
  A state-of-the-art mobile merchandising software uses Cloud storage. Cloud technologies such as Google Cloud are the safest choice when it comes to data storage, simply because of the safety layers that these systems provide in addition to the worldwide data access allowed by them. This means that there is no data loss because of hard-copy file misplacement or system failures.

VisitBasis is a complete mobile merchandising software solution that runs in the Cloud. It is made for both Android and iOS tablets and smartphones, is extremely easy to deploy, and you can try it completely free. Just register at www.visitbasis.com, download free VisitBasis App on Google Play or App Store and solve merchandising information loss once and for all.

 

Beating the Competition, One Store at a Time

As strategists can tell us, knowledge is the most important thing if one wants to beat the competition.

For consumer product goods (CPG) and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCC), the battle for the customer’s wallet happens at the point-of-sale level, and this is why store audits are so important.

A store audit app will not only help field reps to more efficiently collect competitor information, but also allows brand and category managers to get faster access to this information and act swiftly to take advantage of opportunities and/or to prevent losing market share.

Among other benefits, a store audit app will provide the following competition monitoring tools:

• The ability to schedule and plan regular visits in order to get the right competitor information at the right time.
• Full customization of task forms and surveys, so the field rep will collect the exact information needed.
• The power to capture photos, so not only pricing, and shelf count and position can be analyzed, but also packaging and seasonal displays and promotions.
• A state-of-the-art store audit app will also allow for instant notifications of specific tasks so, for instance, a category manager can be notified when a field rep performs a task called “competitor price drop”.

VisitBasis Store Audit app is a complete retail audit solution that offers all the elements needed to perform mobile POS audits and surveys in one package.

Stay on top of your competition! Learn more at www.visitbasis.com. VisitBasis Store Audit app is available at Google Play and App Store and can be downloaded for free for an unlimited number of users.

 

Promotion Optimization Institute Report Acknowledges VisitBasis as an “Affordable, Rapidly Deployed” Solution to Retail Execution

Miami, FL – VisitBasis, the startup mobile retail execution solution provider from Hallandale Beach, FL, has been included among the 20 representative providers of retail execution technology evaluated by the Promotion Optimization Institute (POI).

The POI Retail Execution Vendor Panorama 2016 report is a detailed analysis by the POI of the retail execution technology market and its vendors, including Accenture, SAP, and StayInFront, among others.

VisitBasis is evaluated in the report as being “a low cost and largely do-it-yourself solution with a global footprint” and “a starting point for affordable, rapidly deployed, and integrated on your own… merchandising solutions”.

“We feel that the POI Retail Execution Vendor Panorama 2016 captured the essence of what VisitBasis aims to bring to mobile retail execution: Simplicity and affordability, with global reach”, says Sergey Gorbunov, VisitBasis CEO. “As we continually improve our application, we will use this document as a roadmap to further providing exceptional mobile retail execution solutions. It is an honor to be included in a report by such an industry-leading organization.”

The complete POI Retail Execution Vendor Panorama 2016 report can be downloaded at http://poinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/POI-Retail-Execution-Vendor-Panorama-2016-FINAL-1.pdf.

For more information on the Promotion Optimization Institute, visit www.poinstitute.com.

About VisitBasis Tech, Llc.
VisitBasis is a B2B software-as-a-service (SaaS) company specialized in the development of cost-effective, cutting-edge and comprehensive mobile solutions that aim to increase sales and reduce costs, improving the bottom-line of businesses that rely on field professionals. The key benefit of VisitBasis app is to optimize retail execution, merchandising, field marketing, mobile data collection, retail audits, territory management, sales rep planning, tracking sales, mobile staff management, electronic product catalog, sales enablement, among others, especially in the consumer product goods (CPG) and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industries.

Motivating Field Sales Reps in the Mobile Age

Behavior psychology tells us that there are two types of motivation, extrinsic and intrinsic, and that people perform better when a balance between both types is reached.

Sales rep is the classic example of a profession that relies a lot on extrinsic motivation, since the rewards for a job well done are basically financial incentives and praise.

A sales force automation app can help managers achieve a more even balance between both types of motivation. By implementing a sales force automation app, field sales teams can achieve the following:

• Less anxiety and stress
  With scheduling and planning tools, sales force automation apps make it easier to plan customer visits. With a sales force automation app, field reps also have anytime access to product collaterals, so they will never be empty-handed when the opportunity comes to present another product to a customer.
• More personal time
  A state-of-the-art sales force automation app will offer tools such as route optimization, saving travel time and costs, and real-time monitoring, virtually eliminating off-hours reporting.
• Piece of mind and satisfaction of a job well done at every sales call
  With a sales force automation app, by the time a sales rep steps out of the customer’s door and closes a visit, this sales rep will be certain that management knows that the visit has been performed at the right location, products were presented, messages were conveyed to the office, and orders were placed.

VisitBasis is a complete mobile field sales solution, as it is a cloud-based enterprise data collection software for managing, scheduling, and monitoring field team activities in real-time. It allows field sales managers and supervisors to oversee all stages of the outside sales process, from assigning territories, calls and tasks to retrieving up-to-the minute results through VisitBasis online dashboard, reports and analytics.

Let us show you how easy it is to increase your field rep motivation and revenues using the VisitBasis App – schedule your demo today or sign up for a free trial. 

 

What to Look for in a Mobile Retail Audit Solution

Recurring retail audits – or follow-ups, as they are also called in the industry – are the backbone of CPG (consumer product goods) field marketing. Field reps perform regular visits to stores to verify whether their assigned products are in-stock, are being displayed according to the category planogram, or are appropriately priced, for instance.

Mobile retail audits have revolutionized the industry. Before, field reps had to use the traditional clipboard and carry mounds of paper around, then transcribe the information onto a computer. With mobile retail audits, reps can perform their assigned tasks on their smartphones and tablets, saving a tremendous amount of time and paper.

However, to fully fulfill the needs of field marketing teams, mobile retail audit solution must be able to:

• Provide planning and scheduling capabilities that allow for change of plans, such as a rep covering another’s territory during vacations, for instance.
• Capture not only alphanumeric answers but also photos and signatures in customizable forms.
• Work online and offline, so reps can perform the mobile retail audits even if there is no cell phone coverage or WiFi.
• Track the location where field reps performed their assigned tasks to prevent fraudulent check-ins.
• Notify management and other stakeholders of mission-critical tasks or visits, such as when an out-of-stock has been detected or a key location has been visited.
• Provide an instant analytics tool that allows for unlimited periodic reporting on mobile retail audits.
• Work seamlessly across Apple and Android mobile devices so field reps can use their existing equipment.

VisitBasis is a complete mobile retail audit solution that provides all of the above benefits, among many others. See today how VisitBasis can help your organization implement mobile retail audits: Sign up for a free trial or schedule an online demo.

 

The Special Merchandising of Specialty Stores

Specialty stores and gourmet retailers pose unique challenges when it comes to merchandising. Shoppers know they are paying a premium when shopping at these locations, so they expect higher product presentation standards.

A mobile visual merchandising software can be instrumental when sending out field reps to specialty stores. A state-of-the-art mobile visual merchandising software provides field marketing teams not only the ability to perform in-store activities that include pictures, but also the following:

• Features in mobile visual merchandising software allow field reps to refer to the custom planogram for each store location without having to sort through mounds of paper, increasing planogram compliance. A recent study from National Association of Retail Marketing Services (NARMS) found that retailers who achieve planogram compliance can realize a 7.8% increase in annual sales.
• Some mobile visual merchandising software on the market also provide integration with automatic notification tools. These tools allow automatic messages to be sent to stakeholders when a certain task is completed or when a specific location is visited, which means that mission-critical issues such as out-of-stocks or can be dealt with much faster.
• Because of automated data analysis, mobile visual merchandising software also allows for periodic reporting. This makes it much easier to detect issues such as consistent irregular product condition at a specific key location, so operations can deal with it accordingly.

VisitBasis was designed by merchandisers, for merchandisers. It is a complete mobile visual merchandising software solution that allows you to quickly and easily implement a cost-efficient point-of-sale data collection system with no need for technical knowledge.

Schedule today a VisitBasis Merchandising software demo, or sign up for a free trial!

Watch the below video how VisitBasis Mobile Visual Merchandising Software integrates with a chat solution that allows for instant notification of issues such as out-of-stocks, price discrepancies, and irregular product condition:

 

Mobile Data Collection in Retail and Its Surprising Real-Time Benefit

Mobile data collection apps have revolutionized the way retailers, CPG manufacturers, and sales and marketing companies perform merchandising and other activities at the point-of-sale.

Not that long ago, in order to perform and report in-store activities, field reps relied on the almost-anecdotal process comprised of paper and digital camera and then had to transcribe everything onto computers, sometimes long after completing the actual activity.

With a mobile data collection app, field reps can capture and synchronize answers, pictures and signatures on the spot, translating into more accurate information reaching management, faster.

Surprisingly, the real-time characteristic of mobile data collection apps has led to one additional benefit: Because the focus is no longer in the data collection itself, since it becomes second-nature on a mobile device, field reps can now shift their attention to customers and store managers.

This focus-shifting by-product of mobile data collection apps translates into better relationships with target audiences and decision-makers, with more meaningful information-gathering and, therefore, potentially increased sales and market share.

VisitBasis Mobile Data Collection App allows creating custom task templates for every in-store activity, from planogram checks to customer surveys, and helps you streamline your data collection so your field reps can increase their customer-facing time and be more productive. VisitBasis Mobile Data Collection App is available for both Android and Apple mobile devices, so field reps can keep their own devices and shorten the learning curve.

Sign-up today for a free trial of VisitBasis Mobile Data Collection App!

 

Overcoming the Challenges of Existing Retail Audit Systems

In order to provide documented verification of adherence to corporate standards – safety, branding, etc – retailers rely heavily on periodic audits that normally include tools such as checklists, compliance surveys and multi-level standard tasks.

Most systems developed to perform these audit are “homemade”, meaning that they are a combination of paper forms and somewhat-automated applications developed in popular spreadsheet or word processing software. In addition to being cumbersome and wasteful, these existing systems can cause the loss of critical information and/or significant time between the detection of an issue and its resolution.

Retail audit apps are the ideal solution to this scenario. By implementing a retail audit app, retailers can use smartphones and tablets to automate the periodic audits required to comply with corporate standards.

A retail audit app will not only automate the data collection by allowing custom forms, checklists, surveys, and tasks, but also makes it possible for managers and supervisors go get real-time access to data, significantly speeding-up critical decision-making. State-of-the-art retail audit apps will even provide time and GPS verification, authenticating the time and place where the audit was performed.

VisitBasis Retail Audit App provides all the tools necessary to setup and execute retail audits, from custom checklists, questionnaires, and multi-level tasks – that can include pictures and signatures – to real-time access to audit data and authentication.

Try VisitBasis Retail Audit App today! Sign up for a free trial or schedule an online demo.