15+ Top Outside Sales Tools to Close Deals Faster

Your outside sales team is on the road, but are they on track? Among the client meetings, CRM updates, and territory management, the core work of selling often gets lost. With 70% of sales time spent on non-selling tasks, the cost of inefficiency is undeniable.

If you use the right tools for your outsourced team, this allows your team to offload routine administrative tasks. So, no more juggling calendars in transit, manually updating the Customer Relationship Management (CRM), or losing deals to data disorganization.

They can be fully focused on what they do best: Building relationships and closing deals. This blog is for sales leaders ready to fight back.

You'll get outside sales tools that automate the busywork, help your reps, and protect your bottom line.

At a Glance

• Outside sales tools help organize tasks, improve productivity, and close deals faster.
• The key tool categories include sales prospecting, task management, sales pipeline management, route optimization, proposal management, and CRM tools.
• When choosing tools, ensure they meet your team’s needs and can scale as your team grows.
• Properly implemented tools can change your sales process and increase overall efficiency.

Why Outside Sales Teams Need the Right Tools?

Is your outside sales team equipped to sell, or just to manage? In 2026, when customer facetime is the ultimate currency, repetitive tasks are a silent tax on your revenue.

The right tools are the solution, converting field reps from burdened administrators into equipped sellers who drive measurable growth.

1. Increasing Efficiency: Mobile apps help automate non-sales activities, allowing reps to focus on what truly matters: Closing deals.
   If you eliminate time spent on manual data entry, sales teams can spend more time in front of customers.
2. Real-Time Data: Tools that sync data in real-time ensure that sales reps are always armed with the product availability and other critical information during client meetings.
   This leads to more informed discussions and more confident decision-making.
3. Improved Time Management: Route planning, task management, and follow-up reminders save precious hours. Instead of wasting time on scheduling conflicts or redundant tasks, sales teams can dedicate themselves to client visits, networking, and relationship-building.
4. Continuous Collaboration: Outside sales tools that integrate with team communication and CRM systems ensure that sales reps are aligned with their internal teams.
   These tools keep everyone on the same page, reducing friction and improving teamwork.
5. Improved Customer Engagement: With the right tools, sales reps can deliver personalized experiences for their clients. Reps can customize their sales pitches to meet the specific needs of each client, building stronger relationships.

Curious about the tools that make this possible? The real result lies in a focused set of solutions. We've mapped out the top contenders across six fundamental areas.

What are the must-haves for a modern outside sales arsenal? We'll find that out in the next section.

Also Read: 30+ Top Sales Automation Tools

18 Top Sales Tools for Outside Sales Teams

For outside sales teams, they're a necessity for survival and growth. However, with countless options on the market, choosing the right ones is a challenge.

We've done the research for you. This is your definitive guide to the 18 top sales tools across essential categories like CRM, route planning, and prospecting. Find the best solutions to equip your team to eliminate inefficiency:

A. Sales Prospecting Tools

1. ZoomInfo SalesOS
2. Apollo.io
3. LinkedIn Sales Navigator

B. Task Management Tools

1. Timeero
2. ClickUp
3. Trello

C. Sales Pipeline Management Tools

1. SPOTIO
2. Salesforce Sales Cloud
3. Pipedrive

D. Route Optimization Tools

1. Badger Maps
2. Route4Me
3. OptimoRoute

E. Proposal Management Tools

1. Proposify
2. PandaDoc
3. Better Proposals

F. CRM & Sales Communication Tools

1. HubSpot CRM
2. Zoho CRM
3. Salesforce Sales Cloud

A. Sales Prospecting Tools

These tools help you identify and connect with high-potential prospects, making the critical first step of the sales cycle more efficient.

1. ZoomInfo SalesOS

G2 Rating: 4.5/5

ZoomInfo SalesOS is an advanced prospecting tool designed to provide accurate and actionable B2B data. Sales reps can uncover new leads, engage prospects with relevant information, and convert more opportunities.

Key Features:

• Intent Data: It tracks real-time buyer intent signals across multiple channels, allowing reps to prioritize leads for solutions, improving targeting efficiency.
• Advanced Search Capabilities: With ZoomInfo, sales reps can segment prospects by detailed criteria, giving them the ability to craft personalized outreach strategies.
• CRM Sync & Workflow Integration: ZoomInfo easily integrates with CRM systems like Salesforce, ensuring workflows remain automated for a more efficient sales process.

2. Apollo.io

G2 Rating: 4.7/5

This is a comprehensive sales engagement platform that helps sales reps discover, engage, and convert high-value prospects. The platform combines contact discovery, email automation, and engagement analytics into one tool.

Key Features:

• Contact Discovery & List Building: Quickly build targeted lists with Apollo’s advanced search filters and B2B data.
• Email Automation: Organize follow-ups and engagement with automated email sequences personalized to specific prospects.
• Analytics & Engagement Insights: Track email opens, clicks, and responses to fine-tune sales strategies and improve outreach.

3. LinkedIn Sales Navigator

G2 Rating: 4.3/5

LinkedIn Sales Navigator is the top choice for social selling, offering the ability to connect with prospects based on comprehensive LinkedIn data.

Key Features:

• Advanced Search Filters: Refines lead search by location, company size, and job title.
• InMail Messaging: Enables direct, personalized outreach to prospects who are not in your network.
• TeamLink: Uses your team’s network to get leads and opportunities.

Looking to boost your sales team's prospecting capabilities? Hiring reps from the Fractional Selling service at Activated Scale can help connect with high-value prospects.

B. Task Management Tools

Task management tools organize your reps' daily activities, ensuring they remain focused on what matters most: Building relationships and closing deals.

1. Timeero

G2 Rating: 4.8/5

Timeero simplifies time and resource management for field reps, ensuring they stay focused on selling.

Key Features:

• Real-Time Location Tracking: Monitors reps’ locations and provides managers with insights into their routes.
• Mileage and Expense Tracking: Automates tracking for travel expenses, ensuring accurate reimbursement.
• Productivity Reports: Provides detailed analysis of time spent with accounts, helping reps maximize efficiency.

2. ClickUp

G2 Rating: 4.7/5

ClickUp is a versatile project management tool that can be customized to fit sales workflows and ensure team alignment.

Key Features:

• Custom Workflows: Build customized workflows for task management, ensuring alignment with your sales process.
• Task Assignment: Easily assign tasks and track progress in real-time.
• Collaboration Tools: Share notes, tasks, and files for better teamwork.

3. Trello

G2 Rating: 4.4/5

Trello offers a highly visual, easy-to-use task management system perfect for small teams or personal sales workflows.

Key Features:

• Drag-and-Drop Interface: Organize tasks visually to track deals and follow-ups effortlessly.
• Customizable Boards: Personalize boards to your sales pipeline stages.
• Collaboration: Easy sharing of task updates and notes across the team.

Read Also: Essential Sales Tools For Startups And Strategies To Grow

C. Sales Pipeline Management Tools

Manage leads and opportunities through every stage of the sales cycle with tools that offer visibility into deal progression and flow of your pipeline.

1. SPOTIO

G2 Rating: 4.5/5

SPOTIO is a tool for managing field sales operations, allowing reps to improve accountability with real-time activity logging.

Key Features:

• Territory Management: Assign, track, and visualize sales territories for better coverage.
• CRM Integration: Automatically sync field sales activities with CRM systems.
• Real-Time Activity Tracking: Track in-person meetings, sales activity, and progress on the go.

2. Salesforce Sales Cloud

G2 Rating: 4.4/5

Salesforce Sales Cloud is ideal for large enterprises requiring advanced customization and deep analytics.

Key Features:

• Advanced Customization: Highly customizable CRM to meet specific sales needs.
• Pipeline Visibility: Provides insights into each stage of the sales funnel.
• AI-Powered Forecasting: Uses artificial intelligence (AI) to predict future sales outcomes and help manage pipeline health.

3. Pipedrive

G2 Rating: 4.3/5

Pipedrive’s visual sales pipeline makes it perfect for small and midsize businesses (SMBs) looking for simple, effective sales management.

Key Features:

• Visual Sales Pipeline: Drag-and-drop interface for simple pipeline management.
• Customizable Dashboards: Customize your dashboards to track specific sales metrics.
• Activity Reminders: Get reminders for important follow-ups and tasks.

Looking to boost your sales team's prospecting capabilities? Talk with our expert to outsource sales reps from our Fractional Sales Leadership service at Activated Scale, who can drive success.

D. Route Optimization Tools

Maximize your reps’ time in the field with route optimization tools that help them visit more clients, reduce travel time, and improve scheduling efficiency.

1. Badger Maps

G2 Rating: 4.7/5

Badger Maps excels in field sales management by giving reps a simple yet powerful route optimization tool. The integration with Google Maps and easy-to-use interface ensures that your team’s travel is as productive as possible.

Key Features:

• Route Planning: Optimize routes for up to 100+ stops per day, ensuring minimal travel time.
• Field Activity Tracking: Track client visits and meeting outcomes with real-time updates.
• Lead Generation: Identify and map new leads during trips, expanding opportunities in the field.

2. Route4Me

G2 Rating: 4.6/5

Route4Me provides powerful route optimization with real-time tracking capabilities, making it an excellent choice for field sales teams. Its intuitive mobile app allows reps to adjust routes as needed, ensuring they’re always on the most efficient path.

Key Features:

• Multi-Stop Route Optimization: Easily plan and optimize routes for up to 200 stops per day.
• Real-Time Tracking: Track reps’ locations and adjust routes on the fly as needed.
• Mobile Access: Field reps can access and adjust their routes from anywhere, even while traveling.

3. OptimoRoute

OptimoRoute is a tool for optimizing routes, designed to save time and increase visits for field sales teams. Its integration with scheduling features helps keep reps productive, reducing unnecessary downtime between client visits.

G2 Rating: 4.8/5

Key Features:

• Dynamic Route Optimization: Adjust routes in real-time based on traffic and customer needs.
• Efficient Scheduling: Automatically schedule visits to ensure your reps are maximizing their time.
• Reporting & Insights: Generate data-driven reports on sales performance and route efficiency.

E. Proposal Management Tools

Create, manage, and track proposals easily, speeding up the closing process with tools designed for quicker proposal generation.

1. Proposify

G2 Rating: 4.6/5

Proposify organizes proposal creation and increases engagement with interactive content. It allows sales teams to automate workflows, track client activity, and close deals faster.

Key Features:

• Customizable Templates: Use a library of templates to quickly generate proposals tailored to each client.
• Interactive Proposals: Create engaging proposals with pricing tables, e-signatures, and embedded videos.
• Analytics: Track how recipients engage with your proposals for more effective follow-ups.

2. PandaDoc

G2 Rating: 4.7/5

PandaDoc’s all-in-one document management platform simplifies the proposal process, ensuring faster deals and more reliable contract management.

Key Features:

• E-Signatures: Secure, legally binding signatures for faster deal closure.
• Document Analytics: Monitor when a proposal is opened and for how long, gaining insights into client interest.
• CRM Integration: Integrates easily with CRMs to reduce data entry and improve lead tracking.

3. Better Proposals

G2 Rating: 4.3/5

Better Proposals offers an intuitive solution to create and manage proposals efficiently. Its real-time collaboration features help speed up client approvals, while automation saves time and ensures consistency.

Key Features:

• Proposal Automation: Automatically pull in data to generate proposals quickly.
• Client Collaboration: Allows clients to comment on and adjust proposals in real-time.
• Branding Customization: Fully customizable branding to ensure your proposals match your company’s identity.

Explore Activated Scale's Contract-to-Hire Sales Recruiting services and find top-tier sales professionals. They can use the proposal management tools to organize the entire sales process.

F. CRM & Sales Communication Tools

Centralize customer data and organize communication for better engagement, keeping all your interactions in one place.

1. HubSpot CRM

G2 Rating: 4.4/5

HubSpot CRM is a user-friendly platform that simplifies contact and deal tracking. It's ideal for teams that need easy integration with marketing and sales efforts.

The system automates tasks like email logging, meeting syncing, and follow-up reminders, enhancing sales rep productivity.

Key Features:

• Contact & deal tracking: View all interactions and deal stages in one dashboard.
• Email & meeting sync: Automatically log emails and meetings without manual entry.
• Marketing‑sales integration: Connects your sales efforts with marketing campaigns for fuller visibility.

2. Zoho CRM

G2 Rating: 4.1/5

With built-in AI (Zia), it offers predictive analytics to help prioritize prospects and automate repetitive tasks. It's well-suited for businesses looking for a highly customizable CRM with powerful automation features.

Zoho integrates with numerous other apps, which can enhance your workflows.

Key Features:

• Multi‑channel communication: Engage leads via email, phone, chat, and social from within the system.
• AI‑assisted insights: Use built‑in assistant (Zia) for predictions and alerts.
• Workflow automation: Automatically assign tasks, update stages, and send follow‑up reminders.

3. Salesforce Sales Cloud

G2 Rating: 4.4/5

Salesforce Sales Cloud is a powerhouse for large enterprises that need deep customization and advanced analytics. It offers extensive reporting, forecasting, and pipeline management capabilities.

Key Features:

• Deep customization: Create custom objects, fields, and processes to match complex sales models.
• Unified communication history: Pull together calls, emails, chats, and meetings into one view.
• AI‑powered forecasting & analytics: Use Einstein AI to predict deals and highlight risk/opportunity.

Also Read: How To Adopt The Full-Cycle Sales Process

With a clear view of the tools, a critical question remains: How do you pinpoint the perfect one for your team? The answer lies not in the flashiest features, but in a deliberate strategy.

How to Choose the Right Tool for Your Sales Team?

You don't build a house by just buying the best-looking bricks. You start with a blueprint. The same is true for your sales tech stack.

Choosing the right tool is about finding the perfect component for your team's unique foundation.

1. Understand Your Needs

Identify if your team needs help with:

• Route planning
• Pipeline management
• Task tracking
• Prospecting

2. Look for Mobile Accessibility

• Ensure the tools offer mobile apps that allow seamless use in the field.

3. Scalability and Integration

• Choose tools that can scale with your growing team.
• Ensure easy integration with existing software like CRMs, email platforms, and calendar systems.

4. Customization

Verify that the tool can be customized to fit your sales process, including:

• Fields
• Pipelines
• Workflows

This checklist will help guide you toward selecting tools that align with your team’s goals and maximize their efficiency.

Read Also: Building an Effective Enterprise SaaS Sales Strategy

Conclusion

Selecting the right outside sales tools is about helping your sales team to excel in the field. Each tool has its unique strengths.

However, the real value lies in choosing tools that align with your team’s specific needs or support growth. When implemented effectively, these tools can enable your team to work more effectively.

If you’re looking to elevate your sales team’s performance, consider how the right tools can reshape your approach. Outsource the best reps from Activated Scale. Don’t hesitate to book a call with our experts.

FAQs

1. How can route optimization tools impact my outside sales team’s efficiency?‍

Route optimization tools help sales reps plan their routes more effectively and reduce travel time. It ensures they visit more clients each day, ultimately increasing productivity.

2. What features should I look for in a CRM for outside sales?‍

Look for CRM tools that offer mobile accessibility, smooth integration with other platforms, and customization options that fit your sales process.

3. How do proposal management tools help shorten the sales cycle?‍

Proposal management tools organize the process of creating, sending, and tracking proposals. It reduces the time it takes to finalize deals and increases the likelihood of conversion.

4. What’s the most important factor when choosing outside sales tools?‍

The most important factor is understanding your team's specific needs, such as tools for prospecting, pipeline management, or route planning.