If you spend your days driving from one sales call to the next, you already know: wasted time on the road is money down the drain. This guide is for field salespeople, managers, and anyone tired of staring at Google Maps and wondering if there’s a better way to plan their visits. We’ll dig into how Spotio’s route optimization tools can actually help you get more out of your day—and call out where the tech is useful, where it stumbles, and what you should ignore.
Why Route Optimization Matters (and Where Most People Screw It Up)
Field sales isn’t just about who you visit—it’s about when and in what order. The difference between a good and a bad route can mean hours wasted in traffic, last-minute cancellations, and a lot of frazzled nerves.
Here’s what usually goes wrong: - Relying on gut instinct: Picking stops based on habit instead of distance or priority. - Underestimating drive times: Google Maps might say 15 minutes, but that’s rarely true after 3 pm. - Ignoring visit quality: More stops aren’t always better if you’re rushed and distracted.
Route optimization isn’t magic. But if you use the right tools and don’t overthink it, you can keep your days tight, focused, and productive.
Step 1: Get Your Accounts in Order
Before you even touch the route planner, make sure your account data is up to date. Spotio works best when it knows where your prospects and customers actually are.
What to do: - Import your leads, existing customers, and any key notes into Spotio. - Double-check addresses—bad data means bad routes. - Group accounts by territory, priority, or other tags that matter to you.
Pro Tip: Don’t dump every possible lead into your route. Focus on what you can realistically visit in one day.
Step 2: Set Your Goals for the Day
This is the step most people skip. Don’t just ask “What’s the fastest route?”—ask what you actually want out of the day.
Consider: - Are you targeting new leads, checking in on key clients, or mixing both? - Do any stops have time windows (e.g., “only available after 2 pm”)? - Are there “must-visit” accounts vs. “nice-to-have” ones?
Why it matters: Route optimization isn’t just about distance—it’s about hitting the visits that move the needle.
Step 3: Build Your Route in Spotio
Now, the fun part. Here’s how to actually use Spotio’s route optimization feature without getting bogged down:
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Select Your Stops
In the app, choose the accounts you want to visit (drag and drop, or check them off). You can select from a map or a filtered list. -
Set Start and End Points
Default is usually your current location, but you can customize if you’re starting from home, the office, or somewhere else. -
Add Time Windows (If Needed)
For appointments with fixed times, enter these so Spotio doesn’t schedule you across town when you should be next door. -
Hit “Optimize Route”
Spotio will crunch the numbers and spit out the most efficient order. -
Review and Adjust
Don’t just accept the route blindly. Look for: - Long detours that don’t make sense
- Clusters you could save for tomorrow
- Traffic choke points at certain times
Don’t Get Sucked In: If you’re spending more than 10 minutes tweaking the route, you’re probably overthinking it. The perfect route doesn’t exist.
Step 4: Take It On the Road—But Stay Flexible
Spotio’s mobile app lets you follow your route, check in/out at each stop, and update notes on the fly. Some things to keep in mind:
- Traffic Happens: Spotio isn’t Waze. If you see a nasty backup ahead, reroute with Google Maps or Apple Maps.
- Cancellations: If a prospect flakes, you can re-optimize your route mid-day.
- Add-On Stops: If there’s extra time, Spotio makes it easy to add nearby accounts and re-optimize.
What Works Well:
- The map view is clear and easy to use.
- It’s simple to mark a visit as complete and move on.
- You can see notes and past activity at each stop.
What Doesn’t:
- Real-time traffic data isn’t always up to par.
- The route optimizer can get confused if your data is messy or if you have lots of tight time windows.
Step 5: Learn and Iterate
The first route plan is never perfect. That’s fine. After a week or two, you’ll spot patterns—some stops always cancel, some routes always run long.
How to get smarter: - Use Spotio reports to see which days and routes work best. - Track how many visits you’re actually completing vs. planning. - Adjust how many stops you book in a day based on reality, not wishful thinking.
Ignore the Hype:
No tool will turn a three-hour drive across town into a five-minute hop. Don’t get caught up in promises—just use the data to get a little better each week.
Common Pitfalls (and How to Dodge Them)
- Trying to cram too much in: More stops usually means rushed conversations and more reschedules.
- Messy data: Bad addresses or outdated info will wreck your routes. Clean it up or you’ll waste your time.
- Over-automating: The tool can’t know that the receptionist at Company X always holds you up. Use common sense.
- Ignoring your gut: Sometimes your intuition about a route is better than what the algorithm spits out—trust it.
Keep It Simple, Get Results
Spotio’s route optimization is a solid tool if you use it with a clear head and good data. Don’t chase perfection—aim for routes that make your day smoother and help you hit the goals that matter. Start simple, make small tweaks, and let the process work for you. All the tech in the world won’t help if you’re cramming your day full or ignoring reality. Plan smarter, not harder—and remember, sales is about people, not just pins on a map.