{"id":1660,"date":"2018-04-19T05:51:12","date_gmt":"2018-04-19T05:51:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loginextsolutions.com\/blog\/?p=1660"},"modified":"2026-02-05T06:36:25","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T06:36:25","slug":"route-planning-for-field-agent-management-and-optimization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.loginextsolutions.com\/blog\/route-planning-for-field-agent-management-and-optimization\/","title":{"rendered":"Are You Still Using Static Route Planning for Field Agent Management? Let\u2019s Go Dynamic!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are You Still Using Static Route Planning for Field Agent Management? Let\u2019s Go Dynamic!<\/h1>\n

Static planning is a yesteryear function. Wake up to new-age dynamic route planning for your field agent management. Most of Fortune 500 companies are maximizing the value of their active field agents using intelligent planning and optimization. It’s the most appropriate tool at the hand of managers to reduce costs and improve efficiency.<\/p>\n

Field workforce management is more about accuracy and consistency than anything else. To create a sustainable and optimized permanent journey plan for all the field agents, companies require the support of intuitive and smart planning and routing engines. Subsequent results from the plan may be seen in higher efficiency and conversion (or successful task completion) rates while increasing field workforce utilization and reducing resource moment costs.<\/p>\n

Just to put things in perspective, a permanent journey plan (PJP) is the schedule of tasks and activities which a field professional such as a sales agent, field technician, medical representative, etc. would follow for maximum efficiency (such as more visits per day with optimum service time and strategic outlet-agent mapping for highest productivity).<\/p>\n

LogiNext\u2019s field workforce optimization<\/a> solution incorporates multiple constraints and requirements to create the perfect PJP which is cost-effective and efficient<\/strong> in terms of resource utilization, revenue mapping across outlets, and field agent performance tracking. There are multiple factors which form the basis for creating the optimum PJP for any field agent. Let\u2019s look into some of these factors and how they affect the overall plan.<\/p>\n

\"Easy<\/p>\n

Territory Mapping<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It is important to identify territories and outlets in terms of revenue and potential. These territories can be mapped in a clear geofence within LogiNext\u2019s<\/a> system. The categorization of these territories or outlets would shape the strategy used to handle them. Here the strategy means which field agent must visit which outlet at what time and at what frequency. This takes into account the revenue or business importance each territory or outlet holds.<\/p>\n

Optimized Visit Scheduling<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Once the territories are mapped as per requirement, the visit schedule, also known as a beat plan or PJP, are created. The factors driving this plan may be optimizing service time (time spent at each visit), increasing overall visits per day, or reducing the total distance traveled in a day. The focus of the planning could be improving reach or penetration within territories or creating a systematic schedule which ensures regular and timely visits to all outlets (or meetings).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Planning focus<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nBenefit<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Optimal service time<\/td>\nField agents spend adequate time at each outlet or meeting to ensure higher conversion and better relations.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Increased visits per day<\/td>\nHigher number of visits resulting in maximum coverage in areas that are spread out<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Reduced distance traveled per day<\/td>\nOptimized routes for shorter travel time with an added benefit of developing clustered territories (visits in close proximity to each other).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Timely and regular visits<\/td>\nVisits planned at regular intervals to sustain revenue and order cycles across territories, product categories, and field agents. This also helps in sustaining the relationship with customers (clients).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Preferred time slots<\/td>\nVisits planned as per the preferred time slots as suggested by clients\/outlets. Many outlets keep specific time slots for interacting with field agents and representatives.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Overlap avoidance<\/td>\nMultiple field agents shouldn\u2019t visit the same client\/outlet. The company may want that each outlet is visited every Monday, visited exclusively by one category-expert agent, or something else, and such a PJP should not intersect with the PJP of another field agent. Such overlap (or mirroring) can be avoided using machine-learning backed planning.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Field Agent Allocation<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As the territory and outlets have been mapped based on revenue, potential, ease-on-interactions, categories catered, and so on, LogiNext\u2019s<\/a> system identifies the field agents which are best suited for each PJP. A company would want to:<\/p>\n