When deciding to implement a sales force automation solution to improve productivity, reduce costly errors and smooth out some of the kinks in your business process, you have a lot of options, especially when it comes to computer hardware. The hardware you select will determine which software programs are available to you.
Some organizations already have laptops in place for their salespeople, so they decide not to explore other hardware options. Others work exclusively in the retail space – perhaps they’d prefer a handheld that can take a drop and handle a few thousand scans per day. A third option is a tablet-based solution that can not only perform order entry, but manage content and display images, videos, multimedia, etc. to assist in sales presentations. In most cases, you want to eliminate fat stacks of paper, hunting for fax machines, and other outdated, unproductive tasks.
Whether your reps need an order entry terminal or a virtual briefcase, the best course of action is to accurately determine all your needs, then present them to a software provider and see how the functionality matches up.
Ask yourself three questions to get started:
1. What is your sales rep’s primary function? Order placement, prospecting, presenting new programs and services, or some combination of those? Are they primarily hunters or farmers?
2. Is bar code scanning a must-have?
3. What content do you need to manage and how will you access it?
There’s a lot more to consider for a project like this, but the better you understand your requirements, the easier an implementation you can expect.
Visit Ai2.com and learn about your options today.
As Windows 8 begins to pick up steam on laptops and tablets, many companies in wholesale distribution are deciding if they want to stay with the operating system they’ve known for so many years. The laptop vs. tablet question is also a big debate for companies with a mobile sales force: which solution provides the best ROI, portability, security and functionality?
