Due to the very nature of consumer goods, the competition in the FMCG market is always cut-throat. If your product is not available in the store, the customer will easily substitute it with an alternate brand. Ensuring product availability and accessibility to customers is, therefore, absolutely essential. Sales resources play a critical role in reaching out to retail stores, refilling stocks, and generating revenues for FMCG companies. A systematic sales and distribution network planning could go a long way in establishing a strong brand presence in the market.

The Key Pain Points in FMCG Sales and Distribution

  • Manual Sales Beat Planning: Although a lot of FMCG players are now automating mundane activities such as daily/weekly sales plans, some players still struggle with manual sales beat planning. Manual sales beat planning leads to inaccuracies in determining the right prime shelf space and the right time for stock replenishment in retail stores. This leads to inefficiency in sales visits to retailers.

  • Unorganized Distribution Networks: A key element to successful retail distribution is delivery planning and distribution networks and routes effectively. Many FMCG companies plan retail distribution volumes and frequencies just right, but often overlook the importance of planning the most optimal distribution routes. Unorganized network planning causes delays in distribution processes and unnecessary extra miles driven.

  • Ineffective Utilization of Sales Resources: Optimum utilization of sales resources is one of the most significant challenges FMCG companies face. The lack of proper sales beat plans and assigning duties to sales reps without considering factors such as local knowledge, historical information, language preferences, and preferred areas and hours of operation impacts sales performance and leads to underutilized potential of sales reps.

Download Case Study

Utilizing Sales Reps Effectively in your FMCG/CPG Supply Chain

India’s leading FMCG conglomerate dealing in over 20 product categories was facing similar challenges in their distribution supply chain and partnered with Locus to improve sales serviceability and utilize their on-ground resources better. Locus solutions were deployed in the FMCG player’s supply chain to bring more order in sales and distribution planning and simplify resource allocation and management.

Locus provided a comprehensive suite of solutions that helped them achieve better sales performance, manage sales efficiently, and automate periodic sales beat planning.

With the help of a proprietary analytics engine and keeping historical data into account, Locus provided insights such as Median Transaction Time and Median Revenue at each store to plan beats smarter. Locus’ geocoding capabilities further help logistics managers in planning distribution network routes automatically with greater accuracy.

Locus also provided a salesman scoring and reporting platform based on old sales beats, historical data such as experience, total revenue generated, an assortment of goods sold, and familiarity with retail stores for distribution. This allows the company to assign sales duties to the right staff in the right regions.

Solutions Offered

  • Locus FieldIQ: Locus’ smart permanent journey planner for optimal sales beat planning and higher sales productivity

  • Analytics & Insights: Historical data consideration and predictive analytics to improve logistics planning and resource utilization

  • Network Optimization: Tailor-made Network Optimization solutions for supply chain enterprises on the basis of flow, inventory, and location, and model.

  • Permanent Journey Plan: Smart and efficient permanent journey planner that takes into account business rules such as type, category, and classification of retail outlets.

  • Dynamic Distribution: On-demand retail distribution and secondary-mile fulfillment with due consideration of traffic hours, road constraints, and factors like retail outlet timings.

  • Smart Geocoder: Locus’ proprietary geocoding engine that can convert the fuzziest of the addresses into precise geographical coordinates

Business Sector

FMCG/CPG

Performance Improved

  • 12% Increase in serviceability ratio
  • 20% Reduction in beat length
  • 11% Reduction in total number of beats

How Locus can add value in your FMCG/CPG Supply Chain

E-commerce
  • Route Optimization and dispatch process automation, respecting real-life constraints to bring in efficiency, transparency, and consistency in fulfillment operations

  • Network Optimization and omnichannel distribution support including same-day doorstep deliveries to the customers

  • Real-time fleet tracking solutions with predictive alerts for logistics managers and customers

  • It enables in controlling business constraints around SKU bifurcation, outlet timings, regulatory constraints, etc. for the dynamic dispatch planning.

  • Intelligent sorting of shipments and optimal fleet mix to choose (one-time & daily dynamic) for efficient retail fulfillment

  • Intelligent ranking of salesmen on skills, experience, familiarity, and preference for a locality or region

  • Automated sales beat plans to ensure less on-road time and more in-store time spent by sales representatives to increase sales

Locus Helps Businesses Globally Achieve Their All-Mile Goals

Route Optimization-icon
Route Optimization
Network Optimization-icon
Network Optimization
Control Tower Application-icon
Control Tower Application
Parcel Sorting-icon
Parcel Sorting
Sales Beat Planning-icon
Sales Beat Planning

Latest Case Studies

  • How to eliminate human dependency in Retail/FMCG Sales Beat Planning

    CASE STUDY

    How to eliminate human dependency in Retail/FMCG Sales Beat Planning

  • Streamlining the FMCG Distribution Supply Chain with a Comprehensive TMS Solution

    CASE STUDY

    Streamlining the FMCG Distribution Supply Chain with a Comprehensive TMS Solution

  • How to optimize various legs of the FMCG supply chain?

    CASE STUDY

    How to optimize various legs of the FMCG supply chain?

  • How Locus Enhanced End-to-End Operational Efficiency for this Indonesian Manufacturing Giant

    CASE STUDY

    How Locus Enhanced End-to-End Operational Efficiency for this Indonesian Manufacturing Giant

  • Optimizing Indonesia’s Growing Cold Chain Businesses

    CASE STUDY

    Optimizing Indonesia’s Growing Cold Chain Businesses

  • Enabling unparalleled on-site customer service at scale

    CASE STUDY

    Enabling unparalleled on-site customer service at scale

  • How to increase operational efficiencies in E-commerce

    CASE STUDY

    How to increase operational efficiencies in E-commerce

  • How to increase visibility for on-demand pharma companies?

    CASE STUDY

    How to increase visibility for on-demand pharma companies?

  • Enabling customer satisfaction through smart logistics in E-grocery

    CASE STUDY

    Enabling customer satisfaction through smart logistics in E-grocery

  • How to reduce manual shipment processes for courier services?

    CASE STUDY

    How to reduce manual shipment processes for courier services?

Know More About LOCUS Services?

Schedule a demo with one of our industry experts

Schedule a meeting with Locus

How can Locus help manage your logistics?

  • Locus’ proprietary geocoding engine converts the fuzziest of the addresses into precise geographical coordinates thereby helping your on-ground executives locate addresses easily.
  • Digitize all your operational variables such as fleets, delivery persons etc. to come up with the best route plan every day.
  • Track your orders in real-time with the Locus Live Dashboard. Locus’ all-mile delivery app Locus On The Road (LOTR) helps delivery partners process orders.
  • Visualize and tweak your scheduled plans via three key metrics— geography, time, & vehicle (fleet)—with a birds-eye view of your entire operations.
  • Build your own reports and analyze important parameters that you need to make key decisions.

Join Industry Leaders:

68m+ miles

Reduction in distance traveled

12m+ kgs

Reduction in GHG emissions

$330m+

Savings in logistics costs
brand logos
strip-left-pattern
strip-right-pattern