Integrating Maps within Dynamics 365 CRM for Upscaled Business Goals

Every business generates a plethora of data every minute. This data is analyzed, organized, and secured to the optimum for reporting, interpretation, and other usages in Microsoft Dynamics 365. 80 % of this data has a location component associated with it. This is where the mapping and data visualization power of Maplytics, your preferred Location Intelligence app comes into the limelight.

Maplytics, a preferred, 5 star rated geo-analytical mapping app on Microsoft AppSource for Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM / Dataverse (Power Apps). It empowers users across verticals with Geographical Data Visualization, Optimized Routing, Automated Scheduling, Radius Search, Territory Plotting, and so on by enhancing their sales, sales territory mapping, and other business processes. Its seamless integration with Microsoft Dynamics 365 strengthens the Business data with geo-coded intelligence.

Let’s walk through the benefits of having Maplytics with an example of a cold beverage giant which assists them in plotting Client records based in selected countries, states, cities, territories, etc. along with their relevant details such as the revenue generated in previous years, the nature of the industry, recorded purchases, and so on. However, it doesn’t stop there; Maplytics has a lot more exciting features, applications, and multiple uses helping all departments be it Sales, Marketing, Field Sales, or Field Service Reps, and Managers. Let us get acquainted with the widely popular ones-

Plot Records- Dynamics 365 CRM records can be plotted over the Map with respect to their location, region, territory, etc. Plotted records can be used for better business decisions.

Radius/ Proximity Search- If the current location of an on-field rep is provided and if he intends to find a retailer within the radius of 5 miles or kilometers around him, he could provide his desired number and the proximity of existing/potential retailers within that circle could be searched using maps within the Dynamics 365 CRM. He could even plot them based on the number of hours/ minutes required to reach them from his current location.

Along the Route- The records/ Clients that fall in defined proximity and along the plotted, optimized route can be searched and added on to the existing route within Dynamics 365 CRM. If a rep is on his plotted route and has some spare time to accommodate an additional Client Meet, he could search for an available Client on his route and meet him.

Optimized Routing- If a sales rep has been allotted 4 restaurants, to pay a visit to, this feature helps in plotting an optimized travel route within Dynamics 365 CRM that is shortest in terms of the distance he’ll have to travel and the time taken to travel. It also helps in finding possible traffic-free and toll-free routes.

POI (Point Of Interest) Locations- Places such as Cafes, Hotels, Airports, etc. along a route or near a Client can be searched and plotted on maps within Dynamics 365 CRM specifying a particular location. The rep could conduct his meetings at such places.

Auto Scheduling- Appointments for a day/s can be auto-scheduled using maps within Dynamics 365 CRM. The schedules can be updated in case of ad-hoc changes. This way both the reps and the managers are pre-planned and ready for the appointments.

Real-Time Tracking– The resources/ field reps can be tracked when on the field in real-time. Their routes over the map can be monitored and saved within Dynamics 365 CRM for future use. This prevents waste of time and un-trapped moves.

Check-In/ Check-Out- The on-field professionals can check into a meeting while being on the field and check out from the same once done. This can be done when the reps are within a specific distance of the meeting location and thus helps their managers in monitoring their availability, activity, and spare time. If enabled by the managers, the reps get an option to apply for pending Check-Ins/ Check-Outs days after the completion of the meetings.

                 

Territory Management- Territory Management, a powerful feature, is used to sort and plot data based on Territories. The ease of the feature aids multiple users to create and manage multiple territories within in dynamics 365 CRM based on the record required, categories selected, physical shapes drawn, altered, or edited existing marked territories, and so on. One can create, draft, align and edit territories as per one’s business needs within Dynamics 365 CRM. Auto creation of territories is one of the upgraded benefits.

An organization can mark multiple territories to plot and manage multi-level territories popularly termed as hierarchical territories. Thus, in case there are any child territories created and associated with the selected territories, those too will get plotted along with the dynamics 365 records on the map along with the selected territories. If Austin Texas has a child territory of Wimberley, it too shall be plotted when Austin shall be selected.

Detail Map- The Detail Map is used for plotting the dynamics 365 CRM records on a Road Map or in an Ariel View. In Detail Map, the Beverage Company’s sales team can plot Records of the Clients based on the selected Data Source, Category, Proximity from the Current Position or Overlay.

Heat Map- Heat Map is a visual data analytics tool that displays actionable insights through a visual representation. The user can visualize the data in the form of colored boundaries, pie charts, or column charts.

Land Area Mapping- Users are able to assign specific land regions to the records to build optimal territories within Dynamics 365 CRM. These regions can then be visualized on the map to understand the coverage of the area for each of the records.

Mobility across Devices- Maplytics can be accessed from Dynamics 365 CRM/ Power Apps and Dynamics 365 Sales App for Phones and Tablets using a dashboard for the Detail Map. The current GPS Location can be picked up for advanced auto-scheduling.

Truck Routing-The routes of Trucks/ Trailers delivering goods can be optimized, plotted, traced, and tracked with the specifications of the vehicle in the record within Dynamics 365 CRM. A truck carrying deliverables can be routed and traced for safety and quick clearances.

Multiple language support- Maplytics is a multi-language solution. It is currently available in seven different languages namely English, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, Turkish, and Arabic.

Census data visualization- The Census data is visualized on the Map to help the users take strategic decisions for an entire country or a region keeping their business goals and plans in mind.

Security Template- A selective access to Maplytics actions is provided to the users by System Admin or Maplytics Admin. The functions editable for the Managers may not be for the Reps.

Personalization – A user can configure the zoom levels, current location, origin, and destination, etc. as per his preference. The same can be saved and re-used.

Overlay- The users can mark and view Dynamics 365 CRM records along with the shape/excel files and the existing territories plotted on the Map. An overlay record can also be converted into a different territory.

Shape Operations- The users can perform Binary Operations on the shapes drawn on the Maps. By these operations, the overlying shapes could be eliminated, intersecting shapes could be highlighted, and overlapped shapes could be merged as one, and so on.

Dashboards- With the help of Dashboards, one can visualize and analyze the geocoded Dynamics 365 CRM data and insights. The Dashboard view for Maplytics can also be customized.

If directional and geo-coded data in maps is the key to the future, Maplytics within Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM is the prime solution. Do have a look at our Video Library to further understand the features of Maplytics along with the latest additions from the latest release. Also, write to us your mapping needs at crm@inogic.com  and get a free demo and Q/A session scheduled especially based on your location intelligence requirements.

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