Jan/Feb 2006

New functionality has been added to the PTV Sales&Service application for sales planning and sales force management from German developed PTV.

A key feature now included is its Area Maker, which allows users to create sales areas on the basis of street or road sections and address objects independently of pre-defined borders such as postcode areas or municipalities.

This new type of area definition is said to be particularly helpful when print media has to be distributed via local newspapers. By visualising the actual delivery areas, customers can identify the impact of media campaigns.

Sales representatives can now transfer itineraries from the Sales&Service system to mobile devices, guiding them to the different destinations. Not surprisingly, it is possible to link the system to PTV's own map&guide fleet navigator, turning it into a mobile navigation solution.

Another new function helps take account of fixed customer/sales representative allocations in order to balance the sales load evenly among the sales force. And an area planning feature allows users to display and analyse changes in customer assignments. Results are presented in tables demonstrating the possible impact on sales.