Time is money, and this is especially true of door-to-door.

Finding the most efficient routes and maximizing daily reach is crucial for sales teams. 

Traditionally, route planning meant relying on manual processes—mapping out stops, checking distances, and guessing about traffic conditions. However, sales route planning software has redefined this process, offering tools to boost efficiency and significantly reduce costs.

I have compared sales route planning software with traditional manual planning, exploring how each approach impacts time, expenses, and productivity.

Let’s see which option saves more time and money.

1. Time Savings: Real-Time vs. Manual Adjustments

Sales Route Planning Software: Real-Time Adjustments

Sales route planning software optimizes routes based on real-time traffic, weather, and location data. It recalculates paths as needed, avoiding high-traffic areas and minimizing delays. This allows reps to focus on selling rather than constantly checking maps and adjusting routes.

• Quick Adaptability: The software instantly provides alternative routes if a lead cancels or traffic builds up.

• Daily Time Savings: According to eLogii, sales teams using route planning software can reduce travel time by up to 28%, enabling them to reach more prospects daily.

Manual Planning: Limited Flexibility

With manual planning, reps rely on pre-determined routes and outdated data, which can lead to wasted time in traffic or inefficient detours. Changes due to traffic or unexpected cancellations often require on-the-spot re-routing, disrupting schedules and reducing productivity.

• High Time Costs: Adjusting routes manually mid-day can consume valuable selling time.

• Inconsistent Efficiency: Reps may need a streamlined path system to avoid long detours or backtracking.

Verdict: Sales route planning software wins for real-time adaptability, saving valuable hours and maximizing sales opportunities.

Want to save time on the road? Try D2D CRM’s route planning features and keep your team moving efficiently!

2. Accuracy and Reliability: Data-Driven vs. Guesswork

Sales Route Planning Software: Data-Driven Efficiency

Using powerful algorithms, sales route planning software leverages up-to-date data to map the most efficient routes. By factoring in traffic, distance, and time, this software generates precise paths that increase productivity and save on fuel costs.

• Enhanced Targeting: Data-driven insights mean reps can prioritize high-value leads, improving their chances of conversion.
• Proven Accuracy: According to Intellias, teams using route planning software report up to a 70% improvement in route accuracy compared to manual methods.

Manual Planning: Guesswork and Inaccuracies

Manual planning often involves “best guesses” based on static maps, with no access to real-time data. This can lead to inaccuracies, causing reps to miss potential leads or spend extra time on the road. Inconsistent data leaves room for error, leading to lost opportunities and added expenses.

• Increased Error Margin: Manual planning often results in lower accuracy without real-time insights.
• Risk of Missed Leads: Reps might miss out on leads due to inefficient routing or unaccounted delays.

Verdict: Sales route planning software provides data-driven accuracy, significantly reducing errors and maximizing lead coverage.

Experience the precision of data-driven routing with D2D CRM’s sales route planning and watch your accuracy soar!

3. Cost Efficiency: Lower Operating Expenses

Sales Route Planning Software: Reduced Costs

With efficient routing, sales route planning software can help reduce fuel and maintenance expenses by minimizing unnecessary mileage. By cutting down on travel, teams save on gas, wear and tear, and vehicle upkeep.

• Fuel Savings: According to GoFleet, optimized routes can reduce fuel expenses by up to 20%—a substantial savings for teams covering large areas.
• Maintenance Cost Reduction: Less driving means less vehicle wear, reducing maintenance costs.

Manual Planning: Higher Fuel and Maintenance Costs

Manual planning often leads to longer travel times and fuel consumption without optimized routes. Frequent detours, missed stops, and traffic delays result in more fuel used and increased vehicle maintenance expenses, impacting the bottom line.

• Higher Fuel Consumption: Axiomq stated that manual planning can increase fuel costs by 20% due to less efficient routes.
• Increased Maintenance: Extra miles and traffic delays add to vehicle maintenance needs, impacting budgets.

Verdict: Sales route planning software provides clear cost-saving advantages, reducing fuel and maintenance expenses.

Ready to cut costs? See how D2D CRM can optimize your routes and decrease operating expenses.

4. Productivity: Maximize Lead Engagement

Sales Route Planning Software: Higher Productivity

With optimized routes, sales teams can visit more leads quickly. Fewer driving hours allow reps to maximize customer interactions, leading to higher conversion rates. A report by Elogii reveals that sales representatives spend only 28% of their sales on actual sales. Sales route planning helps reduce travel time, allowing reps to spend more time with prospects and increasing daily lead visits.

• Increased Lead Engagement: By reaching more doors, reps have more opportunities to engage with potential customers.
• Improved Conversion Rates: Efficient routing frees more time for quality interactions, boosting sales conversions.

Manual Planning: Lower Productivity Potential

Manual planning limits a team’s productivity potential, as reps can only visit a limited number of leads per day. With time spent adjusting routes or waiting out traffic, face-to-face interactions have less time left, resulting in fewer conversions.

• Reduced Lead Reach: Manual planning may mean fewer daily visits, lowering overall conversion opportunities.
• Lost Selling Time: Frequent adjustments reduce the time available for prospect engagement, impacting productivity.

Verdict: Sales route planning software is the clear winner when it comes to maximizing productivity and ensuring reps can engage with more leads daily.

5. Scalability: Ease of Growth with Software

Sales Route Planning Software: Seamless Scalability

Sales route planning software allows you to scale your operations as your team grows. With automated route assignments and easy data access, sales managers can seamlessly add new territories, onboard new reps, and expand their coverage.

• Simplified Territory Management: As teams grow, software allows easy management of new territories without overlap or confusion.
• Efficient Onboarding: New reps can start with optimized routes from day one, ensuring consistency and productivity across the team.

Manual Planning: Limited Growth Potential

Manual planning becomes increasingly complex as a team grows, with more routes to plan and higher chances of overlap. Scaling can quickly become sustainable with an automated system, slowing growth and reducing overall effectiveness.

• Time-Consuming Expansion: Adding new reps or territories requires time-intensive adjustments, impacting team efficiency.
• Risk of Territory Overlap: Manually managing multiple territories can result in overlap, reducing productivity and causing customer confusion.

Verdict: Sales route planning software is essential for growing teams for scalable, organized expansion.

The Bottom Line: Software Outshines Manual Planning Every Time

Manual route planning may have been the norm, but sales route planning software brings efficiency, accuracy, and cost savings that manual methods can’t match. By automating routing and providing real-time insights, route planning software empowers sales teams to perform at their best while lowering costs and boosting productivity.

Here’s a quick recap of the benefits of switching to software:

• Save Time: Software reduces travel time by up to 28%, allowing more time with leads.
• Increase Accuracy: Achieve 70% higher accuracy in route planning with data-driven decisions.
• Cut Costs: Lower fuel and maintenance costs by up to 20%.
• Boost Productivity: Maximize lead reach with 28% more daily visits.
• Scale Easily: Expand your team and territories effortlessly with automated tools.

With D2D CRM, your team can say goodbye to outdated planning methods and adopt a more productive, cost-effective sales approach. Start optimizing your routes and see firsthand how sales route planning software can elevate your sales process!