Managing a field sales team is tricky. You need to know what your sales reps are doing while on the clock.
Are they visiting the assigned region or zone?
Do they spend quality time with clients?
Are they taking detours or longer scenic routes?
Using the best GPS-tracking apps for sales reps can help alleviate these fears.
The best sales rep tracking software allows you to stay on top of your outside sales reps’ activities from the comfort of your office. You should be able to track your sales reps' locations in real time, recreate driving routes, as well as track mileage and time spent with clients.
To help you choose the best sales rep tracking software for your business, we tested 7 GPS tracking apps for sales reps and ranked them according to how well they perform on various fronts such as GPS location tracking, time and mileage tracking, and route planning.
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Best GPS tracking apps for sales reps: At a glance
If you’re short on time, here’s a sneak peek of the 7 best GPS tracking software apps for sales.
Timeero — Best GPS software app for tracking field sales mileage, time, and location
AllGeo — Good for sales rep location tracking
Outfield — Good for sales route planning
B2Field — Good for mileage and location tracking
Badger Maps – Best route optimization for sales
Lystloc - Great for building client relationships
TWIB - Great for simplifying field sales operations
7 GPS tracking apps for sales reps: An in-depth look
We’ve highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of each GPS tracking app below to help you choose an app that will best help your outside sales reps hit their quotas and metrics.
1. Timeero – Best overall GPS tracking app for sales reps
Pros:
Segmented tracking: Replay driving routes to verify locations visited and length of visits.
Automatic mileage tracking: Generate IRS-compliant mileage logs for accurate reimbursement and tax claims.
Real-time GPS location tracking: Sales rep's locations are updated every other minute.
Offline mode: Timeero continues tracking without internet access and syncs data upon reconnection.
Ease of use: It only takes a few minutes to figure out theTimeero mobile app.
Affordable: Timeero is an affordable tracking solution for sales teams.
Cons:
Add-on tool: Segmented tracking is offered as an add-on tool.
Timeero instills accountability and efficiency in your sales processes to improve team performance. The app gives you a 360-degree view of field sales rep activity, allowing you to monitor locations visited, time spent with each customer, routes taken, and mileage covered.
Segmented tracking
Timeero's Segmented Tracking feature is a game changer for outside sales teams in different industries. It provides a detailed breakdown of your sales rep's daily activity, including:
Locations visited with the exact time and length of each visit with clients.
Distance traveled between locations, including the duration of each.
Segmented tracking in action
Segmented Tracking lets you measure your sales team's key performance indices (KPIs). Suppose your sales force is prospecting across a region. It can be challenging to confirm whether they visited the locations they claim, especially if the addresses were not predefined. It can be even more difficult to determine if they are spending quality time with prospects.
Traditional apps require sales reps to clock in or check in when they reach a prospect’s location and out as they leave. This way, timestamps and GPS points are used to authenticate each visit.
However, this traditional process is not without its flaws. It’s prone to human error, and the manual approach can divert attention from primary tasks, impacting overall productivity.
Segmented tracking’s hands-off approach solves both problems, allowing you to derive more insights from your sales rep tracking data. The sales rep will clock in once, prospect the entire day, and clock out at the end of their shift.
The app segments the sales rep’s trip based on their stops. You can see where they stopped, how much time they spent with each customer, the distance between locations, and the total mileage covered. It also breaks down the rep’s time into driving and idle time during the day.
You can use this information to:
Determine the average time to nurture a client or complete a sale
Set benchmarks and KPIs for future evaluation of sales reps
GPS location and time tracking
Timeero’s real-time GPS tracking provides accurate location data. When you click “who’s working,” you are shown a map with pins representing each rep's location. You can zoom in to view granular details such as the total time the sales representative has worked.
If you ever doubt the reasoning behind a sales rep’s missed visit, route replay will help set the record straight. This feature recreates the sales rep's journey after clocking in. You can click on each breadcrumb to see where the rep was at a specific time of the day and the speed at which they traveled.
If your workforce frequents remote or dangerous areas, knowing their location enhances employee security. For example, if you spot a sales rep stuck in the same location in the middle of nowhere, you can reach out to them to check on their well-being and status.
Mileage tracking
Timeero uses motion detection technology to record mileage when the vehicle exceeds the predetermined speed threshold. The app doesn’t track mileage when the sales rep is walking or stuck in traffic.
This enables you to reimburse sales reps fairly and compute IRS tax deductions more accurately. If you pay salaried sales representatives to drive a certain number of miles, Timeero allows you to see how long they drove and calculate their reimbursement based on the agreed-upon rates.
The suggested mileage feature assists in route planning. It analyzes a sales rep's initial visit and suggests a shorter route for subsequent visits. This reduces drive time, allowing your sales rep to spend more time with potential clients. Taking shorter routes also reduces fuel and vehicle maintenance costs.
Timeero pricing:
Includes a 14-day free trial. Pricing starts at $4 per user each month.
2. AllGeo – Good for sales reps needing location tracking
Pros:
GPS location tracking – Tracks employee location automatically or via text message.
Sales rep time tracking – Records timestamps when a sales rep enters and leaves the customer location.
Mileage tracking – Uses automatic mileage tracking for easy recording.
Cons:
No route planning – Doesn’t enable reps to plan or optimize their routes during the day.
AllGeo tracks a sales rep's GPS location, but its most notable strength is time tracking. Before you can track the team’s field activities, you must create geofenced client sites. The app doesn’t auto-suggest location addresses; you have to type the exact address or add precise longitude and latitude details.
GPS time and location tracking
AllGeo records timestamps when the employee arrives and departs an assigned customer location. The zero-touch approach used by AllGeo saves your rep the hassle of constantly clocking in and out during every customer visit. The tracker isn’t as refined as Timeero’s segmented tracking tool, but it helps determine the time each rep spends with assigned clients.
There are two ways to track a sales rep’s location.
Monitor Tab - displays the last known location of the sales representative. You don’t get a turn-by-turn route with this option, but you can generate breadcrumbs reports to see the places a sales rep has visited, including when they were inside and outside of geofenced zones.
Text Message - a link is sent via text that captures the worker’s time and location data. This method is not the best option because reps must remember to read their text messages.
Mileage tracking
AllGeo’s mileage tracking is entirely automatic. By default, the app automatically tracks mileage during the sales rep's working hours (9 AM - 5 PM), whether they start a shift or not. You can adjust the tracking range to accommodate worker schedules.
Sales managers can set different clock stages to prevent the app from tracking private and commuter mileage.
AllGeo pricing:
Includes a 14-day free trial. Pricing starts at $5 per user each month.
3. Outfield – Good for sales route planning
Pros:
Route planning – Enables reps to plan and optimize routes.
Team activity tracking – Records the time an employee checks in at a customer location.
Deal pipeline management – Lets sales rep manage the lead nurturing process.
Cons:
No real-time GPS location tracking – Doesn’t track real-time location of sales reps.
Outfield is a CRM and sales gamification app geared towards improving sales team performance. The web app presents a steep learning curve for first-time users, but the mobile applications are easier to use.
Route planning
Outfield's standout feature is its route planning and optimization tool, available on mobile only. This functionality uses historical data and real-time traffic updates to suggest the best route. It helps sales reps avoid snarl-ups and arrive at customer locations on time.
Creating routes via smartphone is pretty simple. Navigate to “places,” tap “view route,” and select the assigned locations by tapping respective pins on the map. Lastly, click “route” at the bottom of the screen to generate an optimal route. Edit the route manually or use the “optimize” button, and that’s it.
Activity monitoring
Outfield can track the sales rep's time spent at a customer location, but it’s a hassle. When a sales rep enters the geofence, Outfield sends a notification, prompting them to check in. Similarly, it notifies them as they leave the geofenced area, requiring them to check out.
Reps can take pictures, attach them as proof they have visited the client, and even add notes about their meeting. Outfield records the check-in and out times and computes the total time spent at a location.
While the Outfield time and location tracking features work, there are caveats. The time recorded will only be accurate if the sales rep remembers to clock in and out.
Thankfully, the app flags check-ins and check-outs outside the geofenced zones, allowing you to investigate each case.
Thanks to the chat feature, the sales team can keep in touch through private or group messages while still in the field. Beyond that, Outfield gamifies sales with a head-to-head matchup and leaderboard for reps.
Outfield pricing:
Includes a 30-day free trial. Outfield uses a quote-based pricing model.
4. B2Field – Good for mileage and location tracking
Task tracking – Records scheduled, complete and failed tasks.
Cons:
Software has a learning curve, especially if the users are less tech-savvy.
Comparatively pricey – It’s fairly pricey compared to other GPS trackers.
B2Field is a workforce management app that enables you to track field sales teams. It lets you create geofenced client addresses called “places.” You can create tasks using these addresses and assign them to your sales reps. B2Field has a CRM module that allows you to link client addresses to geofenced areas or create geofences using customer data in the CRM.
Real-time GPS location tracking
B2Field notifies a sales rep when they enter or exit a geofenced area. Rather than clocking them in or out, the app notifies them and records the timestamp. You can determine the time they spent with a client by calculating the difference between entry and exit time stamps.
The ‘map’ displays a mobile sales rep’s location, which is refreshed in real-time. With a detailed report of their movement, you can see when a sales rep is at a standstill if they’re moving, and where they’re headed.
Mileage tracking
B2Field has three mileage tracking modes: walking, driving, and special. In the walking mode, B2Field recorded mileage when our speed was as low as 1 mile per hour. However, when we switched to the driving mode, it recorded mileage for speeds exceeding 4 miles per hour.
Unlike Outfield, B2Field doesn’t allow you to add all customer locations to the system to create one optimal route. Instead, you can only select one location and hit the direction icon on your mobile app to find the best route. You must repeat that process for all the other places you visit, which makes the process tedious, especially if you have to visit multiple customers daily.
The trip reports feature provides details such as routes the rep took, stops, mileage, and duration of trips. You can also create site visit (POI) reports to verify whether your sales reps have visited places they say they visited.
B2Field pricing:
Includes a 7-day free trial. Pricing starts at $20 per user each month.
5. Badger Maps – Best route optimization for sales
Pros:
Powerful route planning tool – Helps you plan routes by customer type or category.
Easy to create customer locations – Easy to create places since there’s no boundary created by geofencing.
Ease of use – The mobile and desktop apps are easy to use and navigate.
Cons:
No geofencing – Can’t create geofenced locations to prevent inaccurate clock-ins.
No offline mode – Works only with a stable internet connection.
Badger Maps works best for teams that need help optimizing routes related to customer meetings. Its web and mobile apps are easy to use for all, including total beginners. The only issue is that it doesn’t work without the Internet and isn’t apt for outside sales teams in remote areas.
Route optimization
Badger Maps offers different ways to create optimal routes. Take, for example, a pharmaceutical sales rep who needs to visit dentists in town or on one side of the city. The rep can import data from your CRM or upload a CSV or Excel file.
Badger Maps uses the data to create dentist addresses as pins on a map. Using the Lasso or radius tool, the rep can highlight a territory they want to tackle. Badger Maps will create a list of all dentists within the highlighted region.
The rep can edit the list accordingly and click “create route.”Badger Maps creates an optimal route based on the dentists' locations. The rep can edit the route to their liking and save it. The rep can open the save route on the smartphone and click “Go” to use it for navigational purposes.
Badger Maps pricing
Includes a 7-day free trial. Pricing starts at $58 per user each month.
6. Lystloc – Great for building client relationships
Pros:
Accurate mileage and location tracking
Streamlined task management capabilities
Comprehensive data collection and reporting tools
Cons:
Web portal and the mobile app may not be intuitive for first-time users
Limited project management capabilities compared to dedicated project management tools
Lystloc is a valuable tool for sales teams prioritizing accurate mileage and location tracking. While its web portal and mobile app may take some time to master, Lystloc offers a range of features that can significantly benefit sales operations.
Time and location tracking
Lystloc's time tracking capabilities enable the analysis of sales rep performance and identification of areas for improvement. Sales reps are not required to select a specific task when clocking in, as the app records their work hours in the background.
Lystloc offers a geofencing option to improve time tracking accuracy that helps verify reps’ location or restrict check-ins.
Lystloc's location tracking is indispensable for managing sales teams in the field. By visualizing sales rep locations on a map, sales managers can optimize routes to minimize travel time and maximize customer visits.
This provides sales managers valuable data to monitor time spent on sales activities versus travel time and identify potential time management issues.
The app also allows managers to verify customer visits and monitor sales rep activity in real-time to provide timely support and ensure they adhere to the schedules.
Mileage tracking for accurate reimbursement
Lystloc automates mileage tracking and provides detailed route information, helping sales managers analyze travel patterns and identify potential cost-saving opportunities.
They can also verify mileage claims to prevent fraudulent activity and gain valuable insights into sales rep travel habits for territory optimization.
Task management and reporting
Sales managers can use Lystloc to create and assign tasks to their sales representatives, effectively structuring their daily activities and customer visits.
Although it may not offer comprehensive project management functionalities, Lystloc’s task management features are well-suited for assigning sales calls or client meetings to individual reps.
Managers can also use Lystloc to track the progress of sales tasks, such as product demonstrations, and monitor the completion of sales-related activities like lead follow-ups or contract deliveries.
Another great addition is customizable forms, which allow you to gather detailed information from your sales team in real-time.
These forms can be tailored to your specific needs, capturing data such as customer orders, expenses, and meeting notes.
Lystloc also offers a robust reporting feature, Lystdata, which provides comprehensive data analysis and visualizations to track sales performance and identify trends.
Lystloc pricing
Lystloc offers a 7-day free trial. The basic plan starts at $3 per user each month.
7. TWIB – Great for simplifying field sales operations
Pros:
Location Tracking. Track employee locations and time spent at customer sites.
Expense Management. Manage and track sales expenses with ease.
Offline Mode. Continue working and recording data even without internet access.
Cons:
Limited Customization. May have limited options for customizing reports.
TWIB is a user-friendly sales app that simplifies field sales tracking and enhances team productivity. It offers a range of features designed to streamline field sales operations and provide valuable insights into sales activities.
Real-time location tracking and sales visit verification
TWIB's GPS tracking capabilities allow managers to monitor the real-time location of their sales reps, visualize their movements on a map, and verify customer visits.
The app also lets sales reps capture detailed information about each visit, including photos, notes, and customer feedback.
Task management and reporting
TWIB allows managers to remotely assign tasks to sales reps, track their progress, and monitor completion rates, providing a clear overview of team activities.
The app also facilitates seamless communication between managers and field reps, with features like instant messaging and push notifications for important updates.
Using the app, you can get detailed reports and analytics on various sales activities, including sales visits, expenses, attendance, and overall team performance. These reports offer valuable insights into sales trends, individual performance, and areas for improvement.
Managers can use this data to make informed decisions, optimize sales strategies, and track progress toward goals.
Another workflow TWIB simplifies is expense reporting. Sales reps can easily submit expense reports and track approvals, all within the app. This eliminates the need for paper-based expense tracking and reduces administrative overhead.
TWIB pricing:
TWIB offers a 14-day free trial. Pricing is quote-based, starting at $4 per month/user when paid yearly.
Is it legal for a sales company to track its salespeople via GPS?
Yes, it’s legal for your company to track salespeople with GPS. However, you must adhere to specific laws and regulations. Before implementing the GPS tracking system, you must inform your sales reps and obtain their consent.
You should also create an employee GPS tracking policy outlining the purpose and scope of tracking. Remember, you should track sales employees during work hours only and comply with the underlying federal and state data protection and privacy laws.
Find the best GPS tracking app for mobile sales teams
The best GPS tracking apps for sales build a culture of transparency and accountability. Newer sales reps will be more inclined to produce high-quality work, knowing that they are being monitored throughout their day. GPS tracking helps managers monitor sales operations and establish performance benchmarks to pinpoint reps who aren’t pulling their weight.
With that being said, all GPS tracking apps aren’t built the same — some are more apt at tracking location, while others excel at tracking mileage. What will work best for you depends on your most pressing needs.
If you need an app that can track GPS location, time, and mileage, Timeero ticks the right boxes. It enables you to monitor field team activity and determine their time with each client. Start a 14-day free trial today to get a first-hand feel for Timeero's capabilities.
GPS tracking for sales reps: FAQs
How do I track a salesman’s location with Timeero?
Ask the sales rep to install Timeero on their smartphone. You will be able to see their real-time location on the web without leaving the office.
How does GPS Tracking improve sales rep performance and accountability?
GPS tracking encourages sales reps to be where they need to be throughout the day. Monitoring through GPS tracking helps ensure reps complete assigned tasks at the right time. These practices can significantly improve their performance.
What are the benefits of using GPS tracking to manage a sales team?
GPS tracking systems help monitor sales team locations and optimize routes, improving efficiency and productivity. Other benefits include increased employee safety, reduced costs, and accurate reimbursement.
Andjelka is a skilled researcher and writer with 6+ years in digital marketing, specializing in SaaS and B2B content. With a background in sociology, social work, and journalism, she crafts strategy-driven content that resonates with audiences. Outside of work, she enjoys yoga, swimming, and relaxing with her cats and Leonard Cohen’s music.