INTERPRETING REQUESTS AND PROVIDING RESPONSES IN THE CONTEXT OF A PROCESS

1 . A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory that stores computer-executable instructions that control the one or more processors to:

receive requests;

interpret the requests in the context of a process; and

provide responses based on interpretations of the requests in the context of the process.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer-executable instructions control the one or more processors to:

receive a request to create a case; and

provide a case identification character string in response to the request to create a case.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer-executable instructions control the one or more processors to:

receive material based on the responses;

process the material; and

perform transactions in underlying sales management systems based on information from the material.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the computer-executable instructions control the one or more processors to:

provide instructions for performing a follow-on action after receiving the material.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer-executable instructions control the one or more processors to:

update a state of the process based on information from the requests; and

provide follow-on responses based on updating the state of the process.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer-executable instructions control the one or more processors to:

receive a request to provide a list of actions to be performed in the process; and

provide the list of actions to be performed in the process in one of the responses.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer-executable instructions control the one or more processors to:

provide a template that includes collateral information for performing an action to be performed in the process.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer-executable instructions control the one or more processors to:

receive a request to provide a status report on at least one of progress in the process and an action to be performed in the process; and

provide the status report.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer-executable instructions control the one or more processors to:

receive a request to update instructions for an action to be performed in the process; and

update at least one of the instructions and a template including collateral information for performing the action to be performed in the process.

10 . A computer readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for controlling one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

receiving a request that indicates an action to be performed;

providing a response to the request, wherein the response includes instructions for performing the action to be performed;

receiving material according to the instructions;

processing the material; and

performing transactions in underlying systems based on information from the material.

11 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein processing the material comprises:

parsing the material; and

extracting the information from the material.

12 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , the method comprising:

providing confirmation that the transactions were successfully performed.

13 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , the method comprising:

providing a case identification character string in the response to the request.

14 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , the method comprising:

publishing a list of actions to be performed in a sales process.

15 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , the method comprising:

providing other instructions for another action to be performed after receiving the material according to the instructions.

16 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , the method comprising:

providing a template in the response, wherein the template includes at least one of forms, spreadsheets, calculators, slide decks, and reference contacts.

17 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , the method comprising:

providing updated information on at least one of a process, status of the process, previous transactions, and previously provided information.

18 . A computer implemented method comprising:

receiving a request to create a case in a first email;

providing a case identification tag and a form in a second email in response to the request;

receiving the form in a third email;

parsing the form;

extracting information from the form; and

performing transactions in underlying systems based on the information from the form.

19 . The computer implemented method of claim 18 comprising:

receiving another request to perform an action from a list of actions in a sales process;

providing a template that includes instructions in response to the other request;

receiving material according to the instructions;

processing the material to extract information from the material; and

performing other transactions in the underlying systems based on the information from the material.

20 . The computer implemented method of claim 18 comprising:

providing a fourth email to qualify the case;

progressing to a next action in a sales process if the case is qualified; and

providing a response for the next action in another email.