Ross Mann

Custom Google Maps

Applications for Sales Staff

I. Overview

This E-Learning module is drawn from an online course providing lessons on creating a custom map with Google’s My Maps. The maps are for sales staff and provide a rapid means of mapping prospects and determining which tax benefits and state incentives prospective clients may qualify for.

II. The Problem

The firm is an approved installer with several publicly funded incentive programs for businesses that offer %40-70 incentives for Energy Efficiency improvements. Some programs are only available for businesses located in Universal Enterprise Zones in the state of New Jersey. These tax preferred development zones are scattered throughout the state and are typically based upon boundaries defined by census and income tax data. Thus, one cannot rely on municipal boundaries, county lines or other boundaries alone to determine whether a business is within the tax-prefered UEZ and eligible for these generous incentives.

III. The Solution

After a brief video on how to export a list of current prospects in their district from the company CRM, learners will also be introduced to ArcGIS.com, a resource for a wide variety of public geographic data that is available for download. We will locate a map of Urban Enterprise Zones in the state of NJ. These steps will then be practiced with a screen capture exercise providing step by step guidance and feedback for every step. A second short video will present the steps required to create a Custom Google Map with multiple layers. Learners will then practice the steps required to import multiple layers in a Custom Map. These layers will include both the UEZ Zones and our client’s prospects. With this new Custom Map, sales staff can immediately pull up their new map and determine what funding streams may be available for prospective clients.

IV. The Results

Upon completion of this concept course, sales staff will be able to quickly determine which funding programs prospective and existing clients are qualified for. The sales staff could also benefit from the accessibility of the data via mobile apps and the flexibility of the My Maps platform, allowing staff to add additional layers (up to 10) which could help them rapidly determine which sites among a clients’ portfolio may qualify for the state funding program.

A final project would also demonstrate a learner’s ability to Apply the lessons in the module and Analyze the resulting graphics. Some other Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that could be used to measure the effectiveness of this training in any workplace include:

1. Number of prospects identified within UEZ zones.

2. Number of salesperson contacts with prospects who qualify for the UEZ funding.

3. Number of program applications for the incentive program.

4. Total sales volume for the UEZ programs.