Map Module (Geolocated customers)

The Map module places your third parties on a map using their address, so you can plan a round of visits or find who is nearby.

Opening the map

The Map module sits in the Other section of the module catalogue. Like any module, it can be hidden or reordered from the customisation screen.

Locating addresses

On first display, the app converts your third parties' addresses into coordinates (geocoding). A progress counter is shown during the operation — for example "10 / 32".

Results are cached: a third party already located is not located twice.
Only third parties with a usable address (at least a town) appear.
Apple's geocoding service rate-limits requests: on a large customer file, locating completes progressively rather than instantly.

Filtering

A filter restricts the map to certain third parties: All, Customers, Prospects or Suppliers.

The filter uses the third party's actual qualities, which can be combined: a third party that is both a customer and a prospect appears under both filters. Its pin colour, however, has to settle on a single category.

Location permission

Permission is requested only when you open the map, and the message explains what it is for: recording the location when validating or signing an intervention.

Declining does not prevent you from using the map — it then centres on your third parties instead of your position. You can change your mind at any time in iOS Settings.

Quick actions on a pin

Tapping a pin opens a bubble with the third party's name and up to four buttons: Call and Mail (if the third party has a phone number or an e-mail address), Directions (opens Maps from your position) and Record (opens the third party's record).

Planning a round of visits

The Round button in the top bar switches the map to selection mode: tap the customers to visit, the bottom bar counts the stops and Clear empties the selection. The Plan the round button then orders the stops by nearest neighbour, starting from your position when it is known (otherwise from the first customer chosen), and shows the visit plan; Maps opens it in the Maps app with every stop, ready for navigation. A single customer is enough: there is nothing to order then, but the route does start from your position.

The Refresh positions button locates again the third parties that have no coordinates yet (greyed out once everything is placed).

Screenshots

2 screenshots — click to enlarge