Introduction

Picture this: a driver finishes stocking a freezer on a hot summer day. Before moving to the next stop, he pulls out his phone, completes a short survey in DSD Manager, and quickly snaps a photo of the freezer. Back at the office, the service team immediately reviews the condition of the unit, the sales manager notices a competing product on the shelf, and operations has a record of the visit—all from one simple survey.

That’s the power of surveys in DSD Manager. Surveys make it easy to collect field data quickly and use it across your business. The result? Smarter decisions, safer operations, and better customer relationships, all without adding cost or complexity.

Best Practices for Surveys

Surveys work best when they're quick for drivers to finish and dependable for managers to use. The ideal ones strike a balance: short enough to fit into a busy schedule, yet structured enough to give trustworthy data. 

To make sure your surveys deliver real value in the field and in the office, follow these three best practices:

• Ask only what matters. Begin with the goal in mind: what decision will this question help you make?
  
• Keep it brief. Drivers and sales reps are much more likely to complete a 3–5 question survey than a long list.
  
• Make it measurable. Yes/No questions, multiple-choice questions, and rating scales generate data that can be compared and acted upon.
  

When surveys follow these best practices, they remain quick, useful, and consistent, exactly what busy teams need in the field.

Where Surveys Deliver Value in DSD Manager

Surveys are more than just forms; they can add value to every part of your operation. Here are some key areas where they can make a noticeable difference.

• Before-and-After Service Accountability – Completing a brief survey before and after service creates a clear record. If questions arise later, a rep can show exactly what was done at the store or with an asset. In DSD Manager, we have a survey type called “Customer End of Service” that allows you to take a picture of the freezer, cooler, or asset to record the completed and merchandised asset at the end of service for service compliance. This survey is linked to the sales transaction.
  
• Safer Operations – Beginning- and end-of-day checklists reduce risk through pre-trip inspections, vehicle checks, and incident reports. That results in fewer surprises on the road and greater confidence for your team.
  
• Enhanced Customer Insights – Every store visit becomes an opportunity to gather valuable data. Drivers can document shelf conditions, monitor competitor activity, or identify new sales opportunities, even with photographic evidence.
  
• Protecting Your Assets – Freezers, racks, and other equipment can be assessed for condition and compliance. This accountability helps prevent costly replacements and keeps assets in good condition.
  
• Continuous Improvement – End-of-day surveys identify recurring issues across routes, creating feedback loops that support better planning and improved performance.
  

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Survey Question Types

Surveys in DSD Manager can be created using flexible formats, such as checkboxes, drop-down menus, radio buttons, photos, and text. Each type has a specific purpose:

• Checkboxes – Ideal for quick confirmations like, “Was the freezer stocked correctly?”
  
• Drop-down menus – Ideal for restricting responses to approved options, such as product categories or inspection items.
  
• Radio Buttons– Useful for gauging conditions, such as rating cleanliness or marking compliance as Yes/No.
  
• Photo Uploads – A driver can take a picture of a freezer, shelf, or rack. That image instantly becomes visual evidence that supports customer service and sales teams.
  
• Text Fields – Best kept short, but useful when a driver needs to add a note or clarify an unusual situation.
  

Because surveys integrate different question types into a single simple workflow, drivers can complete them quickly while managers receive reliable data they can trust.

Customer Benefits in Action

Surveys are more than just a feature. They create daily advantages that influence your business from the field to the office. Equally important, they’re measurable—each response is recorded, tracked, and turned into insights you can use. When you use surveys, here are some of the benefits a DSD business would see in action.

• Consistent field data – Instead of drivers keeping personal notes, each survey submission is entered into DSD Manager. This ensures managers always view the same structured, reliable data across the team.
  
• Service compliance resolution – A store disputes whether a freezer was properly stocked. With photo proof from the survey, the issue is settled quickly, saving time and boosting customer relationships.
  
• Better sales visibility – During a visit, a driver notices a competitor’s product on the shelf. That survey response prompts sales to follow up, turning an observation into a revenue opportunity.
  
• Operational savings – A pre-trip checklist detects a loose tire before it leads to an accident. Surveys identify issues like this early, preventing bigger costs and risks.
  
• Seamless integration – No need for extra apps. Survey results automatically appear in DSD Manager, along with orders, assets, and service history.
  
• Included at no cost – Support package already includes surveys, so you enjoy all the benefits without increasing your budget.
  

Conclusion

Surveys within DSD Manager are created to give distributors clear insights from the field to the office without adding cost or complexity. By keeping surveys short, measurable, and easy to complete, you unlock real benefits for your business, like:

• Keep drivers efficient – a quick morning checklist ensures vehicles are safe and ready, allowing drivers to spend more time on the road and less time fixing preventable problems.
  
• Identify and act on sales opportunities – When a driver spots an empty shelf or a competitor’s product, that observation becomes a lead for your sales team. Small details can lead to big wins.
  
• Protect assets – Photo surveys of freezers and racks create a digital record of their condition over time, enabling you to hold parties accountable and avoid unnecessary replacements.
  
• Ensure safety and accountability – End-of-day surveys record incidents, inspections, and compliance. If questions come up later, you’ll have the facts readily available.
  

The result is smarter operations, stronger customer relationships, and fewer costly surprises—all from a feature already included in your DSD Manager support package.

Ready to see surveys in action? Learn more by scheduling a demo with IntegraSys today. Also, be sure to check out our recent webinar, where we demonstrate the power of surveys in DSD.