How Powerful Can Live Location Tracking Be in Field Force Management Software?

Get to know the benefits of live location tracking in field force management software. Discover how it helps streamline field operations like task and attendance management.

As a manager, collaborating with your staff and monitoring their job progress is easier to do in an office setting. But what if you have to manage a team of field executives?

Here field force management software comes into play. It uses GPS technology to track employees’ location and activities in real time. This can help you provide real-time assistance and assign tasks based on your employees’ location. You can even streamline attendance management.

Dive in to know just how powerful live location tracking can be in FFM software.

Why Do You Need Live Location Tracking in Field Force Management Software?

What is the job of a field manager?

Well, it involves assigning tasks to employees and monitoring their progress. The manager tracks his teams’ attendance, productivity, total orders placed, expenses incurred, etc.

However, in the case of field employees, all these operations have to be carried out remotely. And that isn’t possible without precise location tracking. Wondering why?

Well, which scenario is better – assigning a task to an employee who is 100 miles away from a task site or one who is 10 miles away? The answer is obvious! The employee who is closer to the client site.

But how would you know where your employees are without GPS tracking?

Sure, you can use obsolete methods like calling or texting your staff. But these methods consume unnecessary time and your employees might not share honest updates.

On the other hand, live location tracking makes field employees’ task allocation a cakewalk. It lets you assign tasks based on the staff’s proximity to customers to ensure faster service. Location tracking can even simplify attendance management and prevent time theft.

However, live location tracking in field force management software benefits employees and managers differently. Read on to learn how!

Benefits of Live Location Tracking in Field Force Management Software

a) For Managers

It can be challenging for managers to oversee their field teams remotely. But this can be solved if managers have complete visibility of their field staff’s activities. This way managers can track their agents’ whereabouts, what routes they take, and how they spend their time. Here’s how live location tracking can be beneficial for managers.

Secure Attendance: With live location tracking, managers can know if executives were actually where they say they were at specific times. Therefore, there can be no scope for miscommunication or time theft.

Live Field Updates: Managers can use live location tracking data to get automatic updates on executives’ whereabouts. They can also check employees’ total sales output, and whether they have been fulfilling appointments and attending meetings.

Easy Task Scheduling: Managers can use location tracking to assign geo-verified tasks. They can assign tasks in advance, upload them in bulk, or assign them based on an employee’s proximity to the client.

b) For Executives

Field force management software also offers several benefits to field employees.

Safety: FFM software is always monitoring employees’ location. Therefore, if they face any trouble in the field, they can request aid immediately. Field employee tracking apps are equipped with an SOS button which can be used by field staff if they need urgent assistance.

Reduced Efforts: 

FFM software gives high priority to accessibility and ease of use. No matter your field employees age or experience, they can easily get used to the no-code and intuitive UI of apps like TrackoField. They can conveniently mark accurate attendance from remote locations and upload visual proof for authenticity.

Field executives can also reduce reliance on paperwork to file orders or take customer feedback. They can even upload expense invoices, customer signatures, documents, or media files on the software.

Proof of Work: When their location is tracked in real time, employees can rest assured that all their work and transit are being noted. Therefore, they will not have to worry about their efforts going unnoticed by their managers.

Employee Profiling: Long-term locational tracking allows managers to have a look into what operational areas executives are familiar with. Therefore, each employee gets to work in specialised areas for better field impact.

c) For Organisations

The biggest benefit real-time employee tracking offers is to the organisation as a whole. After all, if managers and employees thrive, the organisation automatically will, right? Here are some reasons why organisations need field force management software:

Secure documentation: With automation, everything in an organisation will be documented and verified. Therefore, whatever information is stored in the database will be absolutely true, aiding in further management.

Increased Productivity: With managers and executives getting to reduce their interaction, and time wasted in understanding locations, the amount of productivity in the field is bound to increase.

Track The ‘Impossible’ Through Fool-proof Employee GPS Tracking Systems

Here are a few ways in which field force management software like TrackoField makes real-time tracking fool-proof and tracks much more than just employees’ task and location data in the field.

1. Automated Task Management

Location and time tracking can greatly enhance the task management process. FFM software offers a smart task management module that allows managers to:

• Allocate tasks based on staff availability and proximity to a client.
• Assign tasks to employees either in bulk or on an ad hoc basis.
• Authorise their teams to self-allocate tasks.
• Adjust task priority with a deadline over a calendar. And track all task’s status with location and timeline checks.

Software like TrackoField also has the option to upload voice notes, images, or documents. This way managers can explain task details to employees thoroughly and prevent any miscommunication.

2. Geocoded Location Tracking

Instead of just looking at locations on a map, managers can view the geocoded location using GPS tracking software. Therefore, you see not just the address but the exact coordinates for where executives are at that moment.

Managers can fetch the live location, addresses, active status, and distance live simply over a map. Or via a special street view option for a more 360-degree view. Managers can also playback the exact routes their employees took during their day and check how many halts they took and for how long.

3. Battery and Network

Other than executives’ location, field force management software allows managers to check the battery and network status of their employees’ devices. You can trace what condition your staff’s devices are in and notify them promptly. This also deters staff from using bad networks and low batteries as an excuse for their performance issues.

4. Offline Tracking

Even if your executive’s device is not under the network coverage area, our software will still collect data. Whether executives are unreachable or have turned off their devices, TrackoField can track them. In case the device goes offline, the task and attendance are still recorded and synced once the network is restored.

5. Location-Based Attendance Management

Attendance management can be exceptionally simplified thanks to real-time location tracking in field force management software. Managers can use it to set up geofences around a site and ensure that staff only marks in once they are present at the task site.

The software also records the employee clock-ins with geo-verified addresses and precise times. Managers can also demand visual verification from employees in the form of selfies. The software lets employees upload selfies with accurate timestamps and geo coordinates. Managers can demand visual verification from employees for added security.

6. Historical Records and Data Analysis

Field force management software collects employees’ location, task, and order data which can be analysed to gain better insight into field operations. The software also has a route history playback feature, where managers can replay their agents’ itineraries for fact-checking. They also get access to 20+ analytical reports like:

• Target vs achievement reports
• Task completion reports with timeline & location check
• Actual vs on-duty working hours
• Distance travelled reports

Summing Up

Employee location tracking software can be a game-changer for your business. Not only does it help you gain insight into your employees’ activities and how they spend their time during work, but it also helps improve task status tracking and sales order management. Live location tracking in field force management software can help you better schedule your field teams’ tasks, monitor their progress in real-time, and ensure employees’ safety.

Software like TrackoField even allows employees to be tracked offline. It can also display their battery and network strength. Doesn’t that sound incredible? Imagine how much money you can save by eliminating manual paper-based attendance, reducing time theft, and improving your staff’s performance.

But to do that, you need to act fast! Schedule a demo of TrackoField today to get a glimpse of the many benefits of geo-verified tasks, locations, and sales tracking.

FAQs

• What are the benefits of live location tracking in field force management software?

  Real-time location tracking is one of the key features of field force management software. It offers benefits to both managers and employees. Field managers can use live location tracking to:
  - Get better visibility of field employees.
  - Monitor employees’ job progress in real time.
  - Better guide their staff and provide quick assistance.
  - Gain real-time insight into their employees’ activity.
  Field employees can also avail benefits like smooth collaboration with team members and managers. Plus, they get to use an integrated map for quick navigation and don’t have to worry about errors in attendance.

• How does live location tracking in field force management software work?

  Field force management software uses GPS to triangulate an employee’s location. The software tracks staff in real time and lets managers view their live location on a map-based dashboard. It allows field managers to:
  - Track their staff's location and activities in real time.
  - Track employees even when their device is offline.
  - View battery and network strength of employees' devices.
  - Playback the routes employees take during their day.
  - Set up geofences for accurate attendance marking.