Quick Guide to Mobile Route Planning

Introduction

Mobile route planning is a crucial tool for sales professionals needing to optimize travel across multiple locations. This guide explores the features of the route planning in the Pipeline mobile app, for both Android and iOS.

Understanding Route Planning

1. Purpose and Functionality

Route planning simplifies travel logistics by optimizing routes to cover multiple destinations efficiently. It's ideal for salespeople managing frequent trips.

2. User Interface and Navigation

a. Map Interaction

• Users can navigate a detailed map interface, which shows their current location with a blue dot.
• Pinch and zoom gestures allow users to explore different areas and view multiple locations simultaneously.

b. Location Details

• Locations imported from CRM systems are visualized on the map, enabling users to understand the location data better.
• Both People and Companies are shown on the map. 

3. Route Optimization and Creation

a. Optimized Routing

• The app utilizes advanced algorithms to calculate the most efficient route based on selected stops.
• Users can adjust route priorities, ensuring critical stops are appropriately sequenced.

b. Editing and Customization

• Routes can be modified on the go by adding or removing stops. Adjustments ensure flexibility in response to changing business needs or travel conditions.

4. Compatibility

a. Platform Accessibility

• Available on iOS and Android platforms, ensuring broad compatibility and accessibility.
• Seamless integration with Google Maps enhances user experience, leveraging Google's robust mapping and navigation capabilities.

Guide

1. Selecting Locations for Route planning

• You can navigate to the map view to display the companies or people you want to plan the route. You can use the filters to narrow down the results. 

• Click on the route planning icon located on the left top of the map view
• Now you can select the locations you want to visit. Please select a minimum of 3 locations and a maximum of 10 locations to create an optimized route. You may click on "see more" to expand the location results.
• Select the locations you want to visit. You can also pan the map, or use filters to find the exact company or person you want to visit. 
• Clicking on "Next" will open up the confirmation screen. Here you can:
  • select the name for the route
  • confirm the locations, or remove any location by clicking on the red delete icon
  • select an initial location or final location out of all the locations selected. This feature will allow you to create a route with a preselected start and end location. Please note that if you select an initial location (or a final location), you must select a final location (or an initial location)
• Clicking on "save" (right-top) on the above screen will create the most optimized route. Clicking on the Start route will redirect you to the Google Maps route with multiple stops. 
• You can access the saved routes by clicking on the Saved maps and route icon on the map view. Clicking on any saved route will take you to the route details page, and here you can edit any saved routes.

Conclusion

Mobile route planning streamlines travel management, offering efficiency and productivity benefits for sales professionals on the move. This guide equips users with the knowledge to leverage the app effectively, ensuring optimized travel routes and enhanced operational performance.