The benefits of sales software to attract new customers

A growing business can quickly lose track of its sales data. That's problematic for salespeople, managers and company directors, all of whom rely on accurate sales information to inform important business decisions.

That's where sales software can help. Using sales software can help your business monitor sales activity, better target customers and even turn leads into sales. Here's how it works. 

Customer relationship management (CRM) 

"CRM software enables the creation and management of records relating to companies and individuals, who may then become prospects for sales activities," says Stephen Coldwell, director of Acute Solutions.

Contacts can be loaded in bulk from database acquisition or as the company receives sales enquiries. Users can set up and manage marketing campaigns, starting with advertising and tracking the people who made enquiries.

Making contact, managing contacts 

"The software enables you to follow through whatever process you may have - phone call, automated email, brochure by mail," Stephen says. "Following that initial contact, you can track the progress of the individual client and campaign as a whole."

Finally, this information allows you to: 

• build client profiles
• track buying habits of individual customers
• monitor prospective customers
• compile data on enquiries
• better target marketing materials.

Instant information

Sales software is not designed solely for salespeople - it's also critical for managing a business. But what information can sales software actually deliver? 

"You can see at any given time how much was spent on a campaign," says Stephen. "As a result, you can see how many leads were generated, how many turned into solid prospects and how many turned into sales.

"So you can manage and evaluate your entire marketing campaign as well as individual sales leads."

Integration

According to Stephen, the CRM software can link into other relevant software programs like inventory, human resources and budgeting.

"A user who is logged into the CRM software, while talking to a prospective customer over the telephone, can generate a quote for products that are in the inventory component of the software," he says.

"If a customer makes a purchase, then through the sales software you can create an order directly into the billing and inventory systems, which goes through and makes the invoice, shipping documents and so on."

The value of sales software

Stephen says businesses of any size will benefit from formalising their sales data. He adds that a package like Sage Accpac, the CRM solution they offer, is scalable. That is, it grows with your business and can be fully customised to your business and industry.

Sales software gives your business more accurate, timely and targeted sales data. Ask a software specialist today how they can give your sales department more muscle.