Maplytics is a powerful, location-based tool that enhances the capabilities of Dynamics 365 CRM by offering deep insights through map visualizations. This series of tutorials introduces a variety of ways to master its features, benefiting field service, sales teams, and more. Below is a comprehensive summary of the Maplytics video guides, explaining how to effectively use its features to increase productivity and streamline CRM operations.
Tutorial 1: Visualizing Dynamics 365 Data on an Integrated Map
The first tutorial covers the basics of integrating mapping features into Dynamics 365 CRM. It demonstrates how to efficiently visualize CRM records using various plotting methods, including:
- PCF Detail Map Control View: This feature allows users to manage map views through PCF controls for a more personalized display.
- Plotting Records by Location, Region, and Drawing: Learn to geographically represent CRM data based on location, region, or custom-drawn shapes, offering a dynamic way to explore your data visually.
- Lasso Tool & Mass Actions: The Lasso tool enables users to select specific regions directly on the map, while Mass Actions allow for batch updates or planning visits. This tutorial is essential for businesses looking to plot and manipulate data seamlessly on a map to drive actions based on location-based insights.
Tutorial 2: Searching Dynamics 365 Records Based on Geographic Parameters
Building on the foundations from Tutorial 1, this video dives deeper into search operations. It explores advanced geographic search techniques, focusing on:
- Proximity Search by Time: Plot CRM records within a specific time range, ideal for targeting leads or accounts within a certain driving or walking time, allowing for more precise engagements.
- Multi-Search Options: In addition to proximity searches, this feature enables users to search by region, drawing, or territory, leveraging Maplytics’ multi-faceted search capabilities to target accounts or leads more effectively based on their geographic location.
Tutorial 3: Plotting & Categorizing Dynamics 365 Records on Multiple Entities
This tutorial demonstrates how to categorize and plot records from multiple entities simultaneously. Users can view various entities—such as leads, accounts, and opportunities—on a single map, providing a more holistic view of data. This feature is invaluable for users who need to track and visualize multiple data points, enhancing their ability to categorize information and identify trends across different records.
Tutorial 4: Creating Efficient Routes on Maps within Dynamics 365
This video marks the beginning of the Route Optimization chapter, introducing techniques for optimizing travel routes within Dynamics 365. The key highlights include:
- Creating Routes Using Multiple Parameters: Users will learn how to optimize routes by considering variables such as travel time, distance, and traffic conditions, ensuring that field teams operate at maximum efficiency.
- Turn-by-Turn Navigation: This feature allows field technicians and sales reps to easily navigate routes that have been pre-configured, improving punctuality and reducing travel time. By optimizing routes, businesses can increase productivity in the field, minimize delays, and enhance customer satisfaction.
Tutorial 5: Increasing Route Efficiency on the Go
The fifth video in the series continues the focus on Route Optimization, demonstrating how field workers can adjust their routes in real-time while on the go. This tutorial highlights:
- Dynamic Route Adjustments: This feature enables reps to modify their routes in response to unforeseen circumstances, such as last-minute client changes or traffic delays. Real-time adjustments can significantly boost productivity, making this feature especially useful for businesses that deal with time-sensitive deliveries or client visits.
Tutorial 6: Using Scheduled Routes on Mobile with Dynamics 365 Sales App
In this tutorial, Maplytics introduces mobile functionality for managing routes, allowing field teams to access and adjust their schedules directly from the Dynamics 365 Sales App. The key features covered include:
- Accessing Scheduled Routes on Mobile: Reps can view pre-scheduled routes using popular mobile mapping applications such as Apple Maps, Waze, or Google Maps, ensuring they stay on track regardless of their location.
- Mobile-First Approach: With mobile access becoming increasingly important in modern field operations, this feature allows users to manage their routes, schedules, and client visits directly from their mobile devices, providing a seamless experience for reps working in the field.
Tutorial 7: Scheduling Appointments Automatically within Dynamics 365
The final tutorial focuses on the Auto-Scheduling capabilities of Maplytics, showing users how to automatically schedule appointments for multiple records at once. This functionality saves significant time and helps field reps stay organized. Highlights include:
- Planning Recurring Appointments: This feature enables users to schedule regular meetings or visits based on client availability, automating the process of arranging recurring interactions.
- Pre-Planned Appointments for Field Reps: By automatically scheduling appointments based on time and location, Maplytics ensures that reps’ schedules are optimized, helping them avoid conflicts and maximize productivity in the field. The auto-scheduling feature is a game-changer for field operations, providing a structured, time-efficient way to handle client interactions and appointments.
Get #ProAtMaplytics: Using Templates
This tutorial introduces the concept of creating and saving templates for regular map visualizations, making frequent tasks more efficient. Key takeaways include:
- Creating & Saving Templates: Users can design and save frequently used map views, including customized filters, as templates. This enables quicker access to specific map visualizations.
- Default Template Plotting: Once templates are saved, records can be automatically plotted using the pre-configured settings. This feature significantly reduces repetitive setup for users who frequently need to visualize similar data sets, making it easy to load the desired map view with a single click. The ability to quickly load templates enhances productivity and helps users focus more on data analysis and decision-making.
Get #ProAtMaplytics: Using Configurations
This video focuses on how users can customize and configure default settings in Maplytics to improve efficiency and enhance the user experience. It covers:
- Setting Default Parameters: Users can pre-set commonly used values such as starting location, destination, and route optimization criteria. By setting these defaults, the need for manual entry in future searches or route planning is minimized, resulting in streamlined operations and faster execution of tasks.
This feature is particularly useful for field service teams and sales reps who repeatedly use the same locations or parameters. Automating these settings saves time and ensures consistency in map visualizations and route optimization.
Get #ProAtMaplytics: Using PCF Control Configuration
In this tutorial, Maplytics focuses on leveraging Power Apps PCF (PowerApps Component Framework) Control for quick data visualization. This is ideal for users who require rapid access to maps within presentations or during field operations. The tutorial highlights:
- Configuring PCF for Quick Access: By setting up PCF controls, users can swiftly load map data in Dynamics 365 CRM without needing to configure each map individually. This is especially useful in high-pressure environments where quick access to data is critical, such as sales pitches, field services, or when managing large amounts of location-based information.
Using PCF controls streamlines the entire process of accessing and visualizing CRM data, enhancing operational speed and efficiency.
Get #ProAtMaplytics: Using Category Configuration
The final video in this series focuses on using Category Configuration for organizing follow-up tasks. This feature is particularly beneficial for users needing a structured way to manage recurring appointments. Key aspects include:
- Category-Based Planning: Maplytics allows users to set up categories based on follow-up requirements, making it easier to organize and plan appointments. This is especially useful for field reps who have to prioritize visits based on follow-up dates or other criteria.
By following these video tutorials, users can unlock the full potential of Maplytics within Dynamics 365, improving field service efficiency, enhancing sales and customer management, and maximizing the use of location intelligence.
What’s More?
Maplytics is like water that can be molded into any role. It makes map integration within Dynamics 365 look seamless. Radius Search, Route Mapping, and more have become super easy to use. To get more acquainted and experience it first-hand, one can write to crm@inogic.com To investigate the product further, with a personalized demo within Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM / Dataverse get in touch with the team. For applied knowledge, do visit our Website or Microsoft AppSource. One can hop on to the detailed Blogs, Client Testimonials, Success Stories, Industry Applications, and Video Library for a quick query resolution. You can check out our technical tutorial video series #KnowYourMaplytics here and for fun Tips & Tricks about Maplytics have a look at our series #ProAtMaplytics here. Technical docs for the working of Maplytics are also available for reference.
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