Sales force automation and method
A salesforce automation system which integrates computerized, intelligent automated salesperson support for multiple phases of the sales process. Various subsystems may be provided to facilitate the sales process which may include pre-sales lead generation, maximize time spent with the customer, effectively manage an order, ensure customer satisfaction and retain the customer for future sales. Also provided to support the phases of the sales process are additional tools, integrated in the system. The additional tools may include self management subsystems, sales management subsystems and training subsystems.
1. A sales force automation system for submitting a purchase order in a sales process, comprising:
one or more computer processors;
data component in communication with the one or more computer processors configured to store order requirements information, configuration information from proposals, and customer information;
communication component configured to support electrically remote access communications with a back office system;
order management software module in communication with the one or more computer processors that retrieves data from the data component, the module being programmed to (i) check purchase order requirements based on order requirements information from the data component, (ii) retrieve configuration information from a proposal, (iii) retrieve customer information, and (iv) create a work session file used to manage information related to the purchase order; and management module in communication with the one or more computer processors configured to detect a purchase order submittal process and instruct a module in a back office system to update a sales management forecast to reflect the purchase order submittal process, the management module being configured to operate even when disconnected from the back office system such that data to instruct the module in the back office system to update is placed in the communication component and automatically transmitted at a next connected session with the back office system.
2. The sales force automation system of claim 1 wherein the management module is configured to transmit information related to the purchase order via the communication component at the next connected session with the back office system.
3. The sales force automation system of claim 1 wherein the management module is configured to receive notification of an order acknowledgement from the back office system to complete the purchase order submission process.
4. The sales force automation system of claim 1 wherein the order management software module is programmed to access a customer module to complete customer information to be included in the purchase order.
5. The sales force automation system of claim 1 wherein the order management software module is programmed to prompt a user to enter any additional order information needed comprising at least one of quantity, ship to, bill to, and special instructions for the purchase order.
6. A method for submitting a purchase order in a computerized sales system, comprising steps of:
electrically retrieving data for the purchase order from a data component of a sales force automation system, the data component having data developed and used in the computerized sales system, including order requirements information, configuration information from proposals, and customer information;
generating the purchase order with the retrieved data by: (i) checking purchase order requirements based on order requirements information from the data component, (ii) retrieving configuration information from a proposal, (iii) retrieve customer information, and (iv) creating a work session file used to manage information related to the purchase order;
detecting a purchase order submittal process;
placing data in a communication component to instruct a module in the back office system to update a sales management forecast to reflect the purchase order submittal process, the communication component being configured to support remote access communications between the sales force automation system and the back office system; and
automatically transmitting the data in the communication component at a next connected session between the sales force automation system and the back office system such that the sales force automation system operates properly even when disconnected from the back office system.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the placing step comprising placing data in the communication component related to inform the back office system of the purchase order such that the purchase order can be processed by the back office system.
8. The method of claim 6 further comprising a step of receiving notification of an order acknowledgement from the back office system to complete the purchase order submission process.
9. The method of claim 6 wherein the generating step comprises accessing a customer module to complete customer information to be included in the purchase order.
10. The method of claim 6 further comprising a step of prompting a user to enter any additional order information needed comprising at least one of quantity, ship to, bill to, and special instructions for the purchase order.