The profession of area sales manager is undergoing a rapid transformation: digitalization of practices, equipment disparities depending on team size, and the arrival of artificial intelligence. To understand these developments, Sidely surveyed 128 area sales managers in France between March and May 2026, about their compensation, their tools, their career aspirations, and their relationship with AI. Download the complete study to access all the data and field insights.

Table of contents:

• Work organization

• The work environment

• Sales organization

• Sales tools used

• The use of artificial intelligence

• Data-driven management

• The reality of the job: pros and cons

• Recruitment and career aspirations

• Compensation

Key takeaways from this study, in a few figures:

• 85.1% of area sales managers were already employed before this position, a profession that is becoming more professionalized

• Average total compensation of 40,500 gross euros per year, with significant differences depending on the contract and region

• Historic shift towards smartphones (54.7%), which for the first time surpasses computers as the primary tool

• 76.6% of area sales managers received no training on artificial intelligence

• Equipment gaps of up to 45 points depending on the size of the sales team