If you run a field sales team, you know the pain: getting reps to log check-ins, track visits, and keep activity records up to date. It’s tedious, nobody likes it, and the data’s often spotty. But you need it to hit quotas, spot trends, or just prove your team’s actually out there working. If you’re using Badgermaps for routing and territory management, you’ve got some options for automating check-ins and activity tracking—if you know where to look (and what to ignore).
This is a clear-eyed guide to making Badgermaps do the grunt work, so your team can focus on selling, not paperwork.
Why Automate Check-ins at All?
Let’s be honest: manual check-ins don’t work. Reps forget, fudge the data, or just see it as busywork. Managers waste time chasing down missing reports. Automating this stuff isn’t about “digital transformation”—it’s about making sure the right info lands where it should, without anyone having to think about it.
If you’re still on spreadsheets or texting in updates, you’re working too hard.
Step 1: Get Clear About What You Need to Track
Before you tinker with settings or integrations, decide what “activity tracking” actually means for your team. Do you care about:
- Every location visited?
- Meeting length and outcomes?
- Notes or follow-ups?
- Just a GPS breadcrumb trail?
Don’t automate noise. Pick the data that actually helps you coach reps or manage accounts. Write it down—this will save you time later.
Pro tip: Ask your reps what they hate about current check-ins. Automate that first.
Step 2: Know What Badgermaps Can—and Can’t—Automate
Badgermaps is solid for route planning, territory visualization, and basic check-ins. But out of the box, it’s not a full-blown CRM or activity tracker. Here’s what’s built-in and what needs help:
What Works (Built-in)
- One-tap check-ins: Reps can tap a button to log a visit, add notes, and snap a photo.
- Timestamp & location: Each check-in records the time and GPS location.
- Activity export: You can export visit data as a CSV for reporting.
What’s Lacking (Needs Workarounds)
- No automatic check-ins: Badgermaps won’t auto-log every stop just because you drive by (privacy and battery life are real concerns).
- Limited reminders: There’s no nagging “Did you forget to check in?” feature.
- No deep CRM sync: Notes and check-ins won’t magically appear in Salesforce or HubSpot without extra setup.
So, you’ll get partway there with Badgermaps alone—but for real automation, you’ll need to wire up some integrations or use third-party tools. More on that below.
Step 3: Set Up Check-in Templates and Reminders
Badgermaps lets you customize what reps log at each check-in. This stops them from skipping fields or forgetting to add important notes.
- Log in as Admin.
- Go to your team’s settings.
- Find the “Check-in Fields” or “Activity Tracking” section.
- Add or edit the fields you want—like “Meeting outcome,” “Next steps,” or “Photo proof.”
- Save changes.
Now, every check-in prompts reps for the right info. You can’t force quality notes, but you can make it harder to skip the basics.
Pro tip: Keep it short. The more fields you add, the less likely reps will bother.
Step 4: Use Mobile Notifications and Calendar Sync
Most reps live on their phones, not laptops. If you want check-ins to happen, make it as easy as possible.
- Enable push notifications: Badgermaps can remind reps to check in when they arrive at a pin (location). It’s not perfect—sometimes GPS lags or the app isn’t open—but it helps.
- Sync with calendar: Encourage reps to add appointments to their calendar and Badgermaps. Some calendar tools (like Google Calendar) can trigger reminders to open Badgermaps when an event starts.
Don’t expect miracles here, but you’ll catch a lot of “oops, I forgot” moments.
Step 5: Automate Data Export and Reporting
Here’s where real automation kicks in. You want check-in data to land in your CRM or reporting tool without manual exports.
Option 1: Use Badgermaps’ Built-in Integrations
Badgermaps offers integrations with a handful of CRMs (Salesforce, Zoho, Microsoft Dynamics). The features vary, but typically:
- Check-in data can sync to the corresponding account/contact.
- Notes and photos may come over, but formatting can be wonky.
- Setup requires admin access and a little trial and error.
What to watch out for: Custom fields sometimes don’t sync cleanly. Test before you roll out to your whole team.
Option 2: Use Zapier or Similar Automation Tools
If your CRM isn’t directly supported, or you want more control, use Zapier or Make (formerly Integromat):
- Export check-in data: Have Badgermaps email you a CSV daily/weekly, or pull it from their API if you're technical.
- Zapier watches your email or a folder: When a new file arrives, it parses the data.
- Zapier pushes new rows into your CRM, Google Sheets, Slack, etc.
It’s not “set and forget”—you’ll need to babysit the process a bit, especially when Badgermaps changes file formats. But it works.
Pro tip: Start simple—just get check-ins into a shared Google Sheet. Once that’s solid, automate syncing into your CRM.
Option 3: Build Your Own Integration (if you have a dev)
Badgermaps has an API. If you have a technical person, you can:
- Pull check-in and activity data directly, in real time.
- Push it wherever you want (your CRM, BI tool, etc.).
- Set up custom triggers, dashboards, or alerts.
This is overkill for most teams, but worth it if you have complex needs or lots of reps.
Step 6: Train and Audit (Don’t Skip This)
Automation only matters if it’s used right. Teach your team how and why to check in the new way:
- Run a quick demo. Show how fast it is.
- Explain what happens with their notes—no black holes.
- Make it clear which fields are mandatory.
- Spot-check data weekly. If you see gaps, ask why. Usually, it’s a workflow issue, not laziness.
Ignore: Fancy “gamification” features. Most reps just want to get it done and move on.
Step 7: Keep It Lean—Don’t Over-Engineer
It’s tempting to set up all kinds of triggers, dashboards, and color-coded charts. Resist. Start with:
- One simple check-in per visit.
- Basic notes and next steps.
- A weekly report you actually read.
If you automate too much, you’ll end up with a mess nobody trusts. Add complexity only when you’re sure it solves a real pain.
What to Ignore (For Now)
There’s a lot of noise out there about “AI-powered sales automation.” Most of it is vapor. Stick to what works:
- Don’t expect Badgermaps to predict your pipeline or replace your CRM.
- Avoid third-party “activity tracking” apps that promise magic—they usually just drain batteries or creep out your team.
- Don’t automate check-ins based on GPS alone unless everyone opts in and understands privacy trade-offs.
If you want fancy analytics, pull data into your BI tool after you’ve nailed the basics.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate Fast
Automating check-ins and activity tracking in Badgermaps isn’t rocket science, but it does take some setup—and a reality check about what’s actually possible. Start small, focus on the core info you need, and don’t get distracted by bells and whistles. Your team (and your sanity) will thank you.
If you hit a snag, ask Badgermaps support—they’re usually responsive. Or, just go with the lowest-tech solution that works, and build up from there. The goal isn’t “full automation.” It’s “no more chasing your team for updates.”