I’ve worked in field marketing for many years. My time working in the space, at various positions, for top companies like Beats By Dre (Apple), Whirlpool, and others have provided me a great amount of experience. In fact, that experience ultimately translated itself into the formation of Outfield. This app was originally designed to address the specific needs of [field marketing](https://www.outfieldapp.com/field_marketing_software) agents who were responsible for driving brand affinity and sell-through at various retail outlets. While we designed really good tools to improve the operations of field marketing, there were some opportunities left on the table that we decided to pursue.

Now that we’ve evolved into one of the world’s leading [Gaming CRMs](https://explore.outfieldapp.com/what-is-a-gaming-crm), we are in a much better situation to address some of the unique opportunities that were once out of reach. This blog is meant to briefly cover some of those areas where field marketing apps have fallen short and how Gaming CRMs are innovating to address those gaps.

More specifically, we’ll dive into how Gaming CRMs can service the internal needs of field marketing agencies, while also expanding the agency’s value offering to their clients. Both are important to the sustainability of the agency.

For those who are familiar with the space, it comes at no surprise to say that an agency’s client drives the parameters for the partnership. After all, they are hiring the agency to be a solution to some business need. That being said, it is up to the agency to fulfill those needs. If they come up short, they risk losing the account to a competing agency. This means that agencies should always be on the lookout for incremental ways that they can extend value to their clients, and avoid being viewed as commodities. Here, I‘ll list several ways that Gaming CRMs can assist in that process.

For The Client

**1\. Having The Ability To Share Clearly The Performance Of Your Program**

One great aspect to CRMs built primarily on gaming technology has to do with their inherit focus on performance. The many dashboard views, analytics, user attributes, etc. offered through these services are put to the forefront for all to view. The ability to clearly define and track company metrics along with individual performances is critically important. The investment companies are making to have this kind of knowledge base is significant. There’s no wonder why companies are willing to allocate large amounts of resources to business intelligence software like Power B.I. and Tableau.

Of course agencies should want to track the performance of their field marketing programs. What’s even more valuable is having the ease to share and discuss performance metrics with their clients on a regular basis. In this way, agencies are proving their value to clients who are often searching for new and legitimate reasons to continue writing checks.

**2\. Hold Reps Accountable To The KPIs Put In Place By You And Your Client**

**![Example of Gaming CRM features](https://9307172.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/9307172/goal-tracking-software2-e821e6aa63bd736b20f94ea5280dbe9a7ada9a90b1292f4346d43f28ba585366.jpg)**

Vendors are typically responsible for certain metrics put in place collectively by company staff and their clients. When administered properly, those metrics are meant to disseminate down to the program executioners. Field marketers, for example, are responsible for a certain number of visits within their territory over a given period of time. Moreover, within those visits, they usually have KPIs they are required to meet. Examples include number of demo days, table display events, endcap compliance audit visits, etc.

In my experience a challenge that can often be found in these processes, however, lie in the improper dissemination of the individual rep’s goals. In a perfect world, field reps’ goals are to be clearly defined and linked in some way to the high level goals that management and the client have put in place. This isn’t always the case. In many instances, the metrics that the field marketing reps are accountable for get lost in translation, are unclear, or overlooked altogether.

Because the nature of Gaming CRMs is to quantify the attributes of the field reps as individuals, keeping them in sync with their weekly or monthly goals should be a much easier process. For instance with Outfield, reps' goals are built into their main view, which means they will be top of mind consistently.

![IMG_7297 2](https://9307172.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/9307172/IMG_7297%202.jpeg)

3\. H**aving The Ability To Report Back Star Reps Of The Program**  
  
![features-image-12g-alt2-e9e6e5936fc4320686cef625121340b4916c7c02a44727dfd27198719eb4593f](https://9307172.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/9307172/features-image-12g-alt2-e9e6e5936fc4320686cef625121340b4916c7c02a44727dfd27198719eb4593f.jpg)Gaming CRMs prioritize the quantification of the sales person. Performance based stats are paramount, as well as a distinguishing feature of this of the type of CRM. Salesperson attributes such as how hard they work, how organized they are, leadership qualities and more are accounted for and presented in a fashion that individualizes. Tools that come along with Gaming CRMs provide a platform for sales professionals to highlight their abilities, showcase their achievements, and by extension, [serve as a way for reps to personally brand themselves for public consumption](https://explore.outfieldapp.com/how-the-gaming-crm-space-will-change-customer-relationship-management-social-identity). Ultimately, the outcome is understanding the value that sales reps are bringing to their organizations.

In my experience working with some of the biggest national field marketing agencies, acknowledgement of the star performers within their programs was often overlooked. Sure the vendor would sometimes provide to the client awesome photos of a table day that one of their reps executed, but often times this was to highlight the event. The person responsible for the event’s success usually took a back seat. I don’t believe this was necessarily the case due to some intent at anonymity on the part of the agency. My guess is that the data wasn’t isolated and presented in a fashion that was easily digestible.

With a Gaming CRM like Outfield, a rep’s performance and personal statistics are highlighted and put to the forefront, much similar to professional athletes. Very easily administrators will know who the star performers are, relative to the rest of the population. This platform makes it very easy to showcase star performers to the client. This ability serves two purposes. For starters, it’s speaks to the vendor’s hiring, coaching, and operational contribution. And secondly, the sales reps who are responsible for their positive contributions receive the proper recognition. Ultimately, this better positions the rep for future opportunities.

For the Agency

**4\. More Personal Investment From Reps**

Research shows that Millennials and Gen-Z’ers are much more responsive to game mechanics being installed in day-to-day activities and sales execution strategies. This should come at no surprise, but what is surprising is the amount of companies who are not taking advantage of this mechanism of influence. Perhaps, organizations are intrenched in the old way of doing things and don't quite understand how to properly leverage game theory. But here’s the reality, creative destruction is real. Companies who are not forward thinking may quickly be left behind by its peers who are more futuristic. After all, who will be the dominant generation in the workforce in the next few years? Millennials. Work as we know it, will be different in the hands of the up and coming generations.

Gaming CRMs are unique in the sense that they provide a platform for reps to showcase and personally brand themselves. Therefore, they directly provide an incentive for reps to care about the goals that have been put forth for them. Having a stake in any business whether financial or reputational puts reps in a position that rewards investment for their hard work. This will extend itself to heightened performance and better utilization of systems that are tracking their activities – CRMs for example. Field Marketing agencies who are not leveraging the power of gamification are truly missing out on hidden opportunities.

### 5.     Boosted Productivity Among Sales Reps

We have proof! In our white paper [The Ultimate Guide to Gamifying Your Sales Team](https://tryout.outfieldapp.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-gamify-your-sales-team) we interviewed a hundred sales managers around the nation, at varying sizes. We wanted to learn if companies were incorporating game mechanics into their sales execution strategy, how they were using them, and what the results were.

What came from our research was encouraging. Nearly 90% of the sales managers stated that when sales operations were gamified, revenue went up. Moreover, 95% stated that company culture was improved.

As mentioned above, the group of sales managers went on to state another interesting fact. There was a group that was more responsive to game mechanics relative to the mean. Millennials. This is a critical piece of knowledge, primarily because this generational group is getting ready to dominate the workforce population.

So the question agency managers have to ask themselves; what percentage of their field marketing teams are made up of Millennials? While our research confirms that there was an uptick in performance across various generational groups, sales orgs with a significant amount of Millennials should have extra motivation to adopt a Gamified CRM.

**6\. Having The Ability To Quantify Value Of Star Performers For Alternative Programs**

**![Picture2-3-1](https://9307172.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/9307172/Picture2-3-1.png)**

Field marketing agencies who are looking to begin new programs are constantly on the lookout for the right talent to bring in. The hiring process can be simplified based on the native value offering of Gaming CRMs. Just like in professional sports where teams can make roster decisions based on player talent (evaluated via that player’s stats history), hiring managers will be able to cherry pick based on the statistics associated with employees from prior marketing programs, as well as those near their end.

Being able to properly quantify the value of an employee improves your ability to recruit and justify your spend on hires. More importantly, however, is the avoidance of wasting time and resources on rehiring low performing reps that will cause damage to your programs and company brand in the long run. In short, field marketing agencies can benefit from Gaming CRMs due to its ability to indicate value. Ultimately, with this data, programs can be expected to execute better over time.

The goal of field marketing agencies is to make their clients happy. Up and coming gamified CRMs will provide the tools and information to better prepare them for their clients’ demands. Additionally, with the ability to clearly define and share this data with their clients, field marketing vendors will set themselves apart from their competitors – the ones who are using traditional or antiquated tech.

Adopt a Gaming CRM and ride the wave that Millennials will be excited to bring to your sales organization.

* * *

  
[Outfield](http://www.outfieldapp.com) is a performance based CRM company that specializes in leveraging game theory and behavioral psychology to drive CRM adoption, motivation, and overall productivity among sales organizations. With customers in over 50 countries, Outfield’s Gaming CRM helps teams work simpler, smarter, and more effectively. Becoming the world’s most highly adopted CRM is their mission, and their vision is to accomplish this by creating a platform that is aligned with the values of the up and coming generation of sales people.

Here are 6 promising reasons why field marketing agencies, and similar companies responsible for driving brand affinity for clients, should use a gaming CRM for their field operations.

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6 Reasons Why Gaming CRMs Are The Best Option For Field Marketing Agencies

CRM gamification is the application of gaming mechanics, elements, and designs to CRM systems. Among other uses, it is a process that leverages game theory and behavioral psychology as the driver for increased CRM adoption and motivation for sales professionals to improve productivity. Moreover, CRM gamification can be used to encourage customer loyalty, increase customer satisfaction, and improve employee morale. CRMs with gaming tech exist in many different forms, but usually offers similar value propositions.

### **Rewards and Incentives**

One way that CRM gamification can be implemented is through the use of rewards and incentives. For example, employees who consistently achieve sales and other work related KPIs might be rewarded with points or badges that they can redeem for prizes or recognition. This type of gamification can help to create a sense of competition and encourage employees to work harder to achieve their goals.

![DALL·E 2022-12-30 13.47.36 - Show a comic book sales person wearing a business suit and cape, while holding a big #1 trophy ](https://9307172.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/9307172/DALL%C2%B7E%202022-12-30%2013.47.36%20-%20Show%20a%20comic%20book%20sales%20person%20wearing%20a%20business%20suit%20and%20cape%2c%20while%20holding%20a%20big%20%231%20trophy%20.png)

### **Leaderboards and Versus Matchups**

CRM gamification can also be applied through the use of [leaderboards](https://gamify.outfieldapp.com/gamification/business/sales/software/sales-leaderboard-software) and digital matchups among sales reps. As can be seen in the examples below, employees can compete against one another to see who can achieve the highest scores or who can close the most deals in a given period of time. This use of gaming mechanics can generate friendly competition among team members and motivate them towards peak performance. They also present opportunities to recognize sales reps for their output.

![tour-19-309bc7b4f670f6d49224ac8f341302550ad83d3f5bb22828ae5b0b0c47521064(1)](https://9307172.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/9307172/tour-19-309bc7b4f670f6d49224ac8f341302550ad83d3f5bb22828ae5b0b0c47521064(1).jpg)

In addition to motivating employees, CRMs with gaming tech can also be used to inspire better customer engagement. For example, companies might offer incentives and rewards to sales people based on the number of touchpoints they have with customers, how they’re interacting with customers (in-person vs. over phone), along with volume of renewals they are able to acquire. With the proper optimization of this gamified use case, companies can expect an increase in appointments set, sales, and revenue.

[![Closers banner - sales gamification app](https://9307172.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/9307172/League-Play-02-1024x131.jpg)](https://closersapp.com/)

### **What is a Gaming CRM?**

As mentioned in a previous [blog post](https://explore.outfieldapp.com/what-is-a-gaming-crm),

_“A Gaming CRM is a type of sales enablement platform that leverages game theory and behavioral psychology to improve a user’s experience with traditional CRM capabilities. Not to be mistaken for a traditional CRM, these systems lead with game mechanics as the driver for user adoption, motivation, and productivity when using the CRM.”_

### **The Rise of Gaming CRMs**

With the emergence of Gaming CRMs, we will eventually start to see a [shift in values within the sales and business environment](https://explore.outfieldapp.com/how-the-gaming-crm-space-will-change-customer-relationship-management-forever-1). Through the digitization of gaming elements in sales, along with the growth of younger generations within the workforce, we are beginning to see how the future of game theory will incentivize sales reps to become more invested in their company’s sales performance. Additionally, sales reps will begin to care more about the proper utilization of CRM and the documentation of the their sales execution. Part of the reason has to do with the introduction of mechanics that are commonly used across all gaming platforms - player stats and [the social attributes tied to their player profile](https://explore.outfieldapp.com/how-the-gaming-crm-space-will-change-customer-relationship-management-social-identity). In short, a salesperson’s reputation will be on public display. Therefore, they have more of an incentive present a positive representation of themselves.

![Gaming CRM - Player Card - Closers](https://9307172.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/9307172/Picture2-3-1.png)

This heightened personal investment in their CRM progress, through the rise of digital sales gamification, is great for sales leaders. Especially those who might be struggling with user adoption, but are hoping to get the most from their CRM – utility, data output, analytics, sales improvement, etc.

Overall, CRM gamification can be an effective way to improve CRM adoption, employee productivity, and customer satisfaction. By using game design elements and mechanics, companies can create [a more engaged and motivating environment for both employees and customers.](https://gamify.outfieldapp.com/gamification/business/sales/software/gamification-apps-for-sales-employee-engagement)

* * *

[Outfield](http://www.outfieldapp.com) is a performance based CRM company that specializes in leveraging game theory and behavioral psychology to drive CRM adoption, motivation, and overall productivity among sales organizations. With customers in over 50 countries, Outfield’s gaming CRM helps teams work simpler, smarter, and more effectively. Becoming the world’s most highly adopted CRM is their mission, and their vision is to accomplish this by creating a platform that is aligned with the values of the up and coming generation of sales people.

Here we discuss CRM gamification, the emergence of Gaming CRMs, and their impact on the sales role.

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What is CRM Gamification?

Did you know that the CRM market is estimated to reach [$17.4 billion by 2023](https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/healthcare-crm-market-88873203.html)?

As the customer relationship management (CRM) market continues to snowball, more and more industries are rightfully taking the steps necessary to adopt CRM solutions properly.  
  
Many have seen expedited growth in their business because CRM usage has eliminated cross-team friction and enhanced collaboration across sales and marketing. Companies have also found CRMs to be helpful with tracking and managing the interactions reps have with prospects and customers.

CRMs aren't an untapped tactic for pharmaceutical companies. This industry is an intense market, where adhering to protocol and obtaining and maintaining lifetime relationships with physicians, chemists, and stakeholders can be a continuous challenge. This software solution allows pharmaceutical companies to ensure their reps execute stellar sales and marketing campaigns efficiently while adhering to compliance requirements.

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Here are the main perks and benefits pharma reps can get from CRM usage:

8 CRM benefits for Pharma Reps:

-   Automation to boost workflow productivity
-   Dashboards for quick glances at reports
-   Task Management to keep reps organized
-   Activity trackers to capture leads at every touchpoint
-   Enhanced data sets with CRM Integrations
-   Get quick references with mobile device compatibility
-   Plan, optimize, and navigate routes efficiently.
-   Reach more interested customers with relevant messaging

  

  
Let’s take a deeper dive into these essential benefits that make reps more successful. 

**Automation to boost workflow productivity**  

CRM Automations help simplify the tasks and responsibilities of busy reps. All pharma reps have to deal with constantly changing regulations and restrictions with their sales activities. A CRM can automate tasks such as updating industry regulations, creating lead assignments, and updating product details.

[CRM automation](https://explore.outfieldapp.com/crm-integration) is one of the most robust features for pharma CRMs. It allows companies to streamline communication to help reps respond to and manage leads faster, automate scheduling with physicians, and save time from doing repetitive and tedious tasks.

**Dashboards for quick glances at reports  
**At one point or another, pharma reps need to uncover answers to crucial questions like: _How much revenue have I been bringing in? How many new leads have I created? Have I been staying on top of my customer touchpoints?_   These can all be quite tricky to manage. Lucky for you, CRMs have found a way to make this easily accessible. 

With Dashboards and Reporting, reps can simply select the data necessary to create a customized report unique to their concerns. Then, the data can be transformed into powerful visualizations that are easy enough to interpret for the average person but expandable enough to be valuable to even the most skilled analyst. 

**Task and activity tracker to keep reps organized**  

Being a pharma rep can be very challenging. The numerous tasks it takes from turning a prospect into a customer can be complex for anyone to handle. With a CRM's task management feature, users can manage tasks that sync with their calendars to provide timely reminders.  

This even allows managers to help their reps stay more focused on identifying individual clients’ needs and how to deliver their best sales efforts. So by the time your reps meet with their clients, they are more prepared to provide value without wasting time.

Reps can follow the progress of potential clients from prospect to customer. Activity tracking covers every touchpoint: calls, form submissions, document downloads, physical meetings, etc. This feature allows your organization to capture more information about your customers and track the leads that are most likely to convert. 

**Enhanced data sets with CRM Integrations**  

Most high-performing pharma reps use several different software platforms daily to complete basic tasks. Switching back and forth between apps cannot only be tedious but a waste of money. Reps end up spending less time doing what they do best: selling. With [CRM integrations](https://explore.outfieldapp.com/crm-integration), you can connect any business software to ensure your organization runs at its maximum efficiency. Standard CRM integrations include email, calendar, chat functions, and accounting.  

**Get a quick reference with Mobile Device Compatibility**  

To best grow your practice, pharma reps will find it necessary to access information anywhere they are. This means quickly referencing notes before meeting with a physician or viewing clients’ data to track the progress they’ve made. Mobile CRM allows reps to stay on top of their pharmaceutical efforts whether they’re in the office or on the go. 

CRM mobility even contributes to reps' growth by giving them the ability to identify new referral sources. The referral generation tool is how reps can quickly identify the best prospects nearby which, in turn, allows your organization to have the best possible positioning.

**Plan, optimize, and navigate routes efficiently.**  

Here is another time-saving advantage. Who has time to spend planning routes? Reps should be spending less time traveling and more time meeting with clients. Most modern CRMs come with [route planner](https://www.outfieldapp.com/route_planner_app_for_multiple_stops) technology that will create optimized sales routes for you.

This feature is more than for planning, it’s proactive! Route planners can automatically adjust routes along the way to accommodate for cancellations and rescheduling. While on the road, reps can even prospect the area for new leads to add to their route. Need live traffic updates? Yes, a route planner can do that too. 

**Reach more interested customers with relevant messaging  
**Knowing exactly _who_ and _how_ to make a sales pitch can be difficult even for the most skilled rep. It is one of the many challenges pharma reps face daily.

By analyzing customer data and current market conditions, pharma CRMs can identify trends from potential and existing customers, allowing reps to use more tailored messaging to target customers based on qualifying factors like product or service needs. Not only will doing so generate more referrals, but it will also build better customer relationships. 

With features such as note-taking, calls, and email logs, reps can analyze recent customer touchpoints both before and after a meeting to strengthen their customer relationships and have a more robust sales strategy. The last thing you want is the sales team focusing their efforts in places that don’t convert.

**Ready to get started?**

Finding a CRM that meets not only the needs of your reps, but also those of your company can be an expensive and daunting task. [Outfield](https://outfieldapp.com/), a performance-based CRM, not only allows you to try it free for 30 days, but they discover your company's specific CRM needs and tailor an adoption program to meet those needs.

Discusses 8 reasons why pharma sales reps would benefit from the use of CRM software via leveraging customer data to close more deals. 

CRM Usage

6 Reasons Why Gaming CRMs Are The Best Option For Field Marketing Agencies

What is CRM Gamification?

How Pharma Sales Reps Can Benefit from a CRM