Tutorialsbeginner7 min read

Territory Planning Guide

DotlyMaps Territories let you organize CRM records into geographic regions using predefined or custom boundaries for better sales, service, and operational management.

Last updated July 31, 2026

Overview

Territories in DotlyMaps allow you to organize your business operations into clearly defined geographic regions for better sales management, field operations, service coverage, and performance tracking. Territories can be created using either Area-Based boundaries, which rely on predefined geographic regions such as cities, states, or postal codes, or Hand-Drawn boundaries, which allow you to manually define custom areas directly on the map. Once created, CRM records can be associated with these territories to provide structured ownership and location-based insights.

Why it matters

Territories help eliminate overlapping responsibilities, improve regional accountability, and ensure every customer or operational area is assigned to the right team. Whether your business follows standard administrative boundaries or requires custom service regions, territories provide a structured way to manage coverage, monitor regional performance, and make informed operational decisions.

When to use

Use Territories when you need to:

  • Organize sales, service, or operational regions geographically.

  • Assign ownership of CRM records to specific teams or users.

  • Create standardized territories based on cities, states, or postal codes.

  • Define custom geographic regions that do not follow administrative boundaries.

  • Track regional performance and workload distribution.

  • Improve territory planning and resource allocation.

Prerequisites

  • An active DotlyMaps organization and workspace.
  • Records containing valid geographic location data.
  • Appropriate permissions to create and manage territories.
  • Users available for territory assignment.

Step-by-step guide

  1. Open your DotlyMaps workspace.
  2. In the top-right navigation pane, scroll until you find the Territories section and click the Territories icon.
  3. The Create Territory form will open.
  4. Enter a Territory Name.
  5. Select a display color to visually distinguish the territory on the map.
  6. Choose the type of territory you want to create:
  7. Area-Based Territory, Create territories using predefined geographic boundaries such as cities, states, districts, or postal codes. Hand-Drawn Territory, Draw custom boundaries directly on the map to create territories that match your business requirements.
  8. Assign one or more users who will be responsible for managing the territory.
  9. Select the widgets you want to associate with this specific territory, allowing users to access relevant insights and analytics directly from the territory.
  10. Save the territory.
  11. Assign CRM records to the newly created territory and begin monitoring activities and performance within the defined region.

Example

A regional sales manager creates Area-Based Territories using state boundaries to assign each sales representative a dedicated region. For metropolitan areas requiring more precise coverage, Hand-Drawn Territories are created around key commercial zones. Each territory is assigned a unique color, designated sales representatives, and customized widgets to monitor regional KPIs, enabling managers to track performance and balance workloads effectively.

Best practices

  • Use clear and consistent naming conventions for all territories.

  • Assign unique colors to improve map readability.

  • Choose Area-Based Territories when administrative boundaries match your business operations.

  • Use Hand-Drawn Territories for delivery zones, service areas, or other custom operational regions.

  • Assign the appropriate users to maintain clear ownership and accountability.

  • Configure territory-specific widgets to provide quick access to the most relevant metrics.

  • Review territory boundaries periodically as your business expands or customer distribution changes.

Troubleshooting

Territory is not appearing on the map

  • Verify that the territory has been saved successfully.

  • Confirm that the selected geographic boundary or hand-drawn region has been completed correctly.

CRM records are not assigned to the territory

  • Ensure the records contain valid geographic information.

  • Verify that the record locations fall within the defined territory boundaries.

  • Check that synchronization has completed successfully.

Assigned users cannot access the territory

  • Verify user permissions.

  • Confirm that the users have been assigned to the territory.

Widgets are not displayed

  • Ensure the required widgets were selected during territory creation.

  • Verify that the assigned users have permission to access those widgets.

FAQ

Can I create both Area-Based and Hand-Drawn Territories?

Yes. DotlyMaps supports both predefined geographic territories and fully customized hand-drawn territories, allowing you to choose the method that best fits your business needs.

Can I assign multiple users to a territory?

Yes. Multiple users can be assigned to a territory for collaborative sales, service, or operational management.

Can I customize the appearance of a territory?

Yes. Each territory can have its own name, display color, assigned users, and widgets.

Do territories modify my CRM records?

No. Territories organize and associate existing CRM records geographically without changing the underlying CRM data.