ZIP Code Mapping Tool

What is ZIP Code Mapping?

ZIP code mapping is a method of analyzing data in relation to ZIP codes. It is usually used in comparison analysis and territory definition. As the most granular boundary dataset, it allows a more exact analysis of business data.

Comparison analysis
This is done by linking data to ZIP code boundaries and then running a regional heat map analysis. For example, you can visualize the concentration of males aged 35-50 per ZIP code, or the volume of sales per ZIP code.
Territory definition
Many organizations build their sales and service territories on ZIP codes as they are better able to create very clear territories.

You're the expert on your data and business, but to get your ZIP code mapping project completed you'll need some support. That's why our eSpatial team includes geographic information system (GIS) qualified mapping experts who work with you. They provide expertise in both mapping software and data integration for on-boarding and through your time using eSpatial.

They can even help you find your way around our product. In fact, you should be able to speak to one of them right now through our chat function. Try it by clicking the orange icon in the bottom right corner of your screen, or schedule a call (below) for some dedicated time.

1. Color-coded ZIP Code Maps

Color-coded ZIP code maps use a range of colors to illustrate various ranges of data. Each color represents a simple value. For example each individual ZIP code can be assigned a unique color based on a value. You can also save a palette of color styles as templates. This is great when you want to create similar maps on a regular basis. You can then easily reuse these styles as you update and reload new versions of your data. Learn how to create your own color-coded ZIP code maps with our quick how-to guide.

2 people reviewing a regional heatmap in eSpatial for Salesforce

What is a Color-coded Map?

A color-coded ZIP code map is a map that has different colorized ZIP code areas where each color represents a simple value. For example, each ZIP code could be differentiated and highlighted by an individual color. This makes it easy to see the different independent ZIP codes (their "value") and their geographic boundaries.

2 people reviewing a regional heat map in Florida

Grouping and Coding ZIP Codes

Alternatively, you could group a number of ZIP codes by color, to represent the same or similar values. An example of this would be a service coverage map where ZIP code regions that are covered by a service team in green versus not covered in red.

2 people reviewing a regional heat map of the US

Attach Spreadsheet Data to Colored Regions

eSpatial allows you to upload Excel data and automatically attach it ("link to boundaries") to each colorized ZIP code. It allows values to be color coded on the map (e.g., covered or not covered) but can also attach additional spreadsheet data to a geographic boundary. In the service coverage map, if a ZIP is selected, an information box could open, revealing additional data such as the number of customers, number of service engineers.

Color Code Vs. Heat Map

Color-coded maps are great for simple, clear communication of distinct values that can be expressed in text form. For example, covered and not covered. However, a heat map is the best solution where there is a range of integer values to be expressed. Representing US population density on a map, for example, you could use different shades of red — dark red would indicate high density, while light red/pink would indicate low density. A range of shades that occupy the space between these extreme values would also be expressed on the map.

Layer Other Data Onto a Color-coded ZIP Code Map

eSpatial makes it easy to create a color-coded ZIP code map and also gives you the flexibility to save that map and use it repeatedly for different analyses. In the case of the service coverage map, for example, you could plot the number of competitors in each region.

2. ZIP Code Territories

Create ZIP code territories from scratch

ZIP code territory maps allow territory managers to design territories at a more granular level than county or state territories. Sales territories are the backbone of many sales teams. Ensuring they are aligned and balanced for an even workload across all sales personnel is key to a motivated team. The eSpatial Territory mapping software can help you start from fresh or upload your existing territories and reassign, realign and balance those too.

eSpatial allows you to balance your ZIP code territories regarding certain data, such as demographics or values. This will help identify whether the distribution of territories is balanced and fair. To get started, sign up for a free trial or log in to your eSpatial account and open the Territory Map Maker by clicking the button on the top right of your screen.

Step 1

Create Manually

After logging into eSpatial and opening the Territory Builder, the next screen you see will give you two options. To Create Manually or Create from File. Select Create Manually.

Step 2

Select Your ZIP Code Territory File

You will automatically be brought to find your territories file from your laptop or desktop computer. Make sure you have the territory data on the first sheet of your file and that it is saved in CSV or XLS format.

Step 3

Configure Your ZIP Code Territories

Here you need to select the region dataset that your territories are built on (ZIP, counties, states) and tell eSpatial which column of data matches with that dataset. You also need to select the column which will contain territory identifier data such as territory name or sales manager name.

Step 4

Edit Your ZIP Code Territories

Once your territories have been loaded you can now edit, align and balance them as required.

Step 5

Balance Your Territories

To add balance criteria, click on Add Balance.
Select the dataset you want to pull your criteria from. You can pull the most up to date information from your CRM to ensure that you are balancing your territories on the most up-to-date information.
Select the balance criteria you want to add to your territory builder. You can balance this on your current sales pipeline, your current account values, recent sales performance.
Click complete and you will see your territories now have balances next to them based on the criteria you set.

A ZIP code heat map is a regional heat map. It uses graded differences in shading or color in order to indicate the aggregate or average values of some property or quantity in particular areas. For instance, the aggregate value or volume of sales for each ZIP code or sales territory is color coded into a number of ranges, with each color representing a value range. Learn how to create your own regional heat map in our quick and easy how-to guide.

ZIP code heat maps are used to:

Get an overview of your market performance
Quickly identify high and low performing areas
Uncover trends in sales of particular products in particular locations
Quickly spot areas for further investigation based on the density of sales

Outside analysis

You can not only identify and analyze the points that lie within your ZIP code boundaries, but you can also identify the data points that lie outside your boundaries. This helps you spot gaps in your coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

My Team Spends Hours in Spreadsheets Trying to Understand Sales Performance by ZIP Code, but We're Not Getting Clear Insights From the Pivot Tables. How is Using Your Mapping Software Fundamentally Better Than What We Can Do in Excel?

Your mapping software is fundamentally better because it instantly transforms raw ZIP code data into a visual, interactive map, revealing customer clusters, territory gaps, and market opportunities that static spreadsheets hide. Spreadsheets are great for storing data, but they can't answer the crucial question of "where?". Instead of getting lost in rows and columns, you can see your entire market landscape at a glance. This allows your sales and marketing teams to stop guessing and start making faster, data-backed decisions about where to focus their efforts.

I Have All My Customer Addresses and Sales Data in Our CRM, but I Can't See How It All Relates Geographically. How Does Your Tool Help Me Visualize Our Existing Customer Base Across Different ZIP Codes?

Our tool helps you visualize your customer base by seamlessly integrating with your CRM to plot your data onto a map, instantly showing you which ZIP codes contain your most valuable accounts. We know that your most important data lives in your CRM, but it often lacks geographical context. By connecting directly to your data source, eSpatial allows you to create rich, color-coded maps that highlight customer density, sales volume, and account status by ZIP code, turning disconnected data into actionable market intelligence.

We Need to Design New Sales Territories Using ZIP Codes, but Doing It Manually is Slow and Often Leads to Unbalanced Patches for My Reps. How Can Your Software Help Us Create Fair and Balanced Territories Quickly?

Our software helps you create fair and balanced territories by allowing you to visually select ZIP codes and see the impact on metrics like account count or sales potential in real-time. The frustration of creating territories in "ExHell" is something we see all the time. Instead of that slow, manual process, you can use our simple tools to circle a group of ZIP codes, instantly see the total number of customers or projected revenue, and assign it to a rep. This turns a weeks-long planning process into a dynamic, data-driven exercise that results in happier, more productive reps.

I'm Planning a Regional Marketing Campaign and Need to Identify Underserved ZIP Codes Where We Have Low Penetration but High Market Potential. How Can I Quickly Find These 'white Space' Opportunities?

You can quickly find white space opportunities by overlaying your customer data with third-party demographic data on a single map, making it easy to spot ZIP codes where your ideal customer profile exists but your business does not. Identifying new growth areas is a key goal for every marketing team, but it's nearly impossible to do in a spreadsheet. Our platform makes it simple. You can visualize where your current customers are and then add a layer of demographic or market data to instantly see untapped ZIP codes, allowing you to target your campaigns with precision and maximize your marketing spend.

My Sales Reps Complain About Wasting Time on the Road, and I Suspect Our ZIP Code-based Territories Are Inefficient. How Does Your Tool Help Optimize Travel and Ensure Reps Spend More Time Selling?

Your tool helps optimize travel by visualizing account locations within each ZIP code territory, allowing you to see and correct inefficient routes and ensure reps have the most logical and compact area to cover. Poor territory design directly impacts sales productivity. When territories are just lists of ZIP codes, you can't see the real-world travel implications. By putting it all on a map, you can immediately spot illogical territory shapes that cause excessive driving. This enables you to make simple adjustments that reduce windshield time and give your reps more opportunities to meet with customers.

I'm Worried About My Team Adopting Another New Tool. They're Sales and Marketing People, Not Data Analysts. How Easy is Your Platform for a Non-technical Person to Actually Use to Map ZIP Code Data?

Our platform is designed specifically for non-technical business users, featuring a simple, intuitive interface that makes mapping complex ZIP code data as easy as uploading a spreadsheet. We understand the fear that a new tool will be too complicated for your team to use. That’s why we focused on ease of use. If your team can use Excel, they can use eSpatial. You can drag and drop a file, and the platform automatically visualizes the data, allowing your team to get valuable insights in minutes without needing any specialized training or support from IT.

We Already Have a Bi Tool Like Power Bi That Can Put Dots on a Map. Why Would We Need a Separate Tool Just for ZIP Code Mapping?

You need a dedicated tool because unlike basic BI maps, eSpatial provides deeper spatial analysis specifically for territory design and market analysis, allowing you to do more than just see dots on a map. That’s a common point of confusion. While BI tools are great for dashboards, they lack the specific location intelligence tools needed by sales and marketing teams. With eSpatial, you can easily create and edit sales territories by ZIP code, analyze market penetration, or identify white space—analytical actions that are complex or impossible in a general BI tool. It’s the difference between seeing your data and acting on it.

‌i Need to Justify This to My Vp. How Can I Prove the ROI of Using ZIP Code Mapping Software Beyond Just Making Our Reports Look Better?

You can prove ROI by showing how it drives tangible business outcomes, such as creating more balanced sales territories that increase quota attainment by 10-15% or targeting marketing campaigns more effectively to reduce wasted spend. Leadership needs to see the "so what" behind the data. The value of ZIP code mapping isn't the map itself; it's the decisions it enables. You can build a clear business case showing how optimized territories lead to higher sales productivity and lower rep turnover. For marketing, you can demonstrate how targeting the right ZIP codes improves campaign response rates and lowers customer acquisition costs, delivering a clear and measurable return on investment.

Analyze ZIP Codes With
a Powerful ZIP Code Mapping Tool

What is ZIP Code Mapping?

Help With Your ZIP Code Mapping Needs

With eSpatial You Can Map
ZIP Codes in the Following Ways

1. Color-coded ZIPs

2. ZIP Code Territories

3. ZIP Code Heat Maps