Field force management software plays a growing role in distribution businesses. These tools are updated constantly, so there are many to choose from, at many prices and with many feature sets.
1. What is FTrack field force management software?
Not long ago, only large corporations could afford their own sales and trade marketing software. Today, even a company with 10 to 20 employees can have a powerful management tool at a competitive, flexible cost.
FTrack gives marketing and sales directors a full view of their field staff and the programmes running at each outlet, and keeps the office and the field team on the same information. The result is faster work, better efficiency and higher productivity across the whole system.
FTrack (Field Tracking) manages outlets and field staff, automates parts of selling, and controls inventory, incoming goods and other changes in the market. For a business, it means every stage of selling is well managed and the workflow runs efficiently.
In short, field force software is built to manage sales staff who work in the market: their tasks and performance, the support they need, task assignment for sales, sell-in and sell-out teams, and the running of trade programmes (promotions, rewards, loyalty points and displays).
2. Why FTrack matters for businesses in Vietnam
In recent years, the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted supply chains, hitting manufacturers and distributors hard. Things have improved, but rising raw material prices still weigh on transport and production.
Digital transformation will keep gaining ground as businesses try to limit the effect of the wider economy on their results. That is why more companies adopt ready-made software to manage their distribution systems and the staff who work in the field.
3. FTrack’s key features
Staff management
FTrack simplifies field supervision with real-time GPS: managers see when a rep arrived at a store, their photos, their conduct and their route. They can also view KPIs and sales by rep and by region, in summary or in detail, and act in time.
- Set routes in the order they should be covered, so reps do not stray from the plan or skip stores.
- Update each day’s route list on time, so every rep has a clear plan.
- Give reps extra tools and information to help them sell.
Programme management
Every in-store programme comes ready-made, modelled on how leading corporations manage theirs. Pick a programme and run it.
Merchandising and displays
- Choose the right products to put on display.
- Filter the products that qualify for display in each store.
- Allocate, monitor and manage display materials at each outlet.
- Photograph displays directly on a mobile device.
Ready-made programmes include display scoring, shelf share and stock, POSM installation and condition, promotions and gift redemption, surveys, asset management by QR code, and selling and sampling.
Promotions and gift redemption
- Set up many kinds of promotion, loyalty and display schemes.
- Plan and manage budgets.
- Apply promotion codes to one person or to a group.
- Measure results quickly and accurately.
- Read clear reports that show how the business is performing.
Outlet management
Keying reports into Excel lists is outdated. With one click, FTrack gives managers the full picture of every outlet. It maps each outlet’s coordinates and classifies outlets by custom criteria, so managers can see a brand’s coverage clearly and plan better for weaker areas.
Real-time dashboard
KPIs are compiled in real time as charts by programme, by region, and by each level of management and staff. Senior managers get the latest view of the work and the market; for more detail, they open the detailed report and filter down to a single outlet or a single call or visit.
4. Other features
Works on slow or no internet
When the connection is unstable, the app works offline. Field staff carry on with their tasks and the data syncs later.
Location spoofing protection
FTrack combines several techniques to detect faked locations, including random checks, real-time tracking and location and device management, so managers can follow the work closely.
Only photos taken in FTrack
The system can be set so that staff may only upload photos taken through the FTrack app, not pictures already on the phone, which stops old photos from being submitted in reports.
5. When do you need field force software?
- Sales staff who regularly go out to meet customers.
- Market development staff who travel far.
- Delivery staff.
- Field staff working outside the office.
- Staff who install or set up products.
6. Which businesses is FTrack for?
FTrack suits businesses of every size, from small and medium companies to large ones, with many employees and many distribution channels. It fits manufacturers, sellers and distributors with large sales, PG or BG teams in the field, especially:
- Businesses still managing with paper ledgers and forms.
- Businesses that want to add more outlets.
- Businesses with complex distribution channels that need a dedicated solution.
7. Who uses the system?
FTrack covers the whole supply chain, from manufacturers, distributors and agents to stores and retail outlets. The people who work in it directly include:
- Sales directors, marketing directors and leadership.
- Sales accountants, warehouse keepers and sales staff.
- Sales supervisors.
- Regional managers where they exist: RSM, ASM, TSM and NSM.
8. Scope
Scale: the whole business. Corporations, large enterprises and small and medium businesses can all use FTrack.
Industries: fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and chemicals, building materials, agricultural supplies, household goods and furniture, electronics and appliances, and sanitary equipment.
