Overview
Check Distance is an action that can be found under the "Other actions" header in the Job Flow action Bar. Like other actions in this area, this action will utilize a third party connection to give your agent super powers. Check distance can find the distance between two locations and output variables that can then be used in actions like True/False, Switch or anywhere a variable can be used.
You will need 2 pieces of information to set up the action.
Origin - This will be where you put the location of your business or the starting point of the trip. You can "hard code" this field by typing the address of your business into the field or you can select a variable location.address or Node.Starting Address.Result (varies by title of objective that is collecting the starting address)
Destination - This will be where you put the variable for where the contact's address is or the end point of the journey. You will always want at least one of these two fields to be a variable. I would suggest using Node.Full Address.Result or contact.full address for this variable. If you have already collected the address from the contact from a form or survey, you can use the contact's standard field to populate the variable for the action.
Set Up
Check Distance action will typically need 3 actions for it to work properly.
Collect Address - You can collect the contacts address using the Objective action in the Job Flow or if you have already collected it from a form or survey, you can bring in the variable from your CRM.
Check Distance - You will add the addresses via typing them in or using variables. *NOTE* always use a variable in one of the fields either origin or destination. If you try to type in both fields, it will only return the distances between those two places.
Use the returned variables - Most use cases will use a True/False action or a Switch action to qualify the contact based off the result of the Check Distance action.
Use Cases
Qualifying based on Service Area - This action is most used to qualify a lead based on the distance between their home address and the business's address.
Pricing Automation - A moving company may want to check the distance between the origin location and destination. You can collect both addresses then populate the Check Distance action and quote them a specific price based on distance.
Book to the closest location - Instead of the contact choosing the nearest location, you can find out where they are and check the distance among several offices that your company has. From here, you can book to that specific office without having to ask what location they prefer.
Let us know in the Facebook group other use cases that you have found.
Available Variables
Once you have the action set up, we will need to do something with the returned Variables that can be found under the "Nodes" section of the Variables dropdown.
These variables will become available after the check distance action has been connected to a main flow or scenario flow.
Variable Name | Description | Example Output |
DistanceMeters | Distance between the two locations in meters using roads | 37.24 |
DistanceMiles | Distance between the two locations in miles using roads | 12.58 |
DistanceKilometers | Distance between the two locations in kilometers using roads | 47.12 |
DurationSeconds | Amount of time in seconds traveling between the two locations using roads | 3798 |
DurationText | Amount of time using a combination of numbers and words | 1 day 1 hour |
OriginAddress | Address that was used in the Check Distance action under Origin | 123 Main St. New York NY, 01023 |
DestinationAddress | Address that was used in the Check Distance action under Destination | 125 Main St. New York NY, 01023 |
