7 Technological Tools That Can Support Sales Processes
Sales encompass a wide variety of a business’s workflows and processes, including e-commerce, retail, sales calls, demonstrations and customer service. The breadth and scale of such processes necessitate the leverage of many different technological tools and systems for support and streamlining. Here are seven technological tools that can support sales processes.
- Point-of-Sale (POS) Systems
A POS System or POS Retail System is an essential asset for any business that wants to keep track of its sales records and automate various aspects of the retail sales process. a POS system is meant to electronically facilitate the checkout process, including scanning barcodes and accepting payments. Some POS systems are meant for brick-and-mortar store use only, while others can be used in e-commerce settings as well. A good POS will also support your customer account and inventory management needs.
- Retail Kiosks
Retail kiosks are becoming increasingly popular. These kiosks provide customers with a hybrid in-person and digital shopping experience in your brick-and-mortar store. A customer in your store can go to your retail kiosk and use it for a variety of purposes. He or she can pick up an item purchased online, request more information on an item or assistance from a store employee, make in-store purchases or access his or her store account. Kiosks can be basic or allow for customizable experiences. The main importance of the kiosk is to provide customers with opportunities to digitally interact with your brand and to get the help they need while shopping as quickly as possible.
- Data Analytics Platforms
Data analytics processes provide companies with the most important and useful customer and sales data. Data analytics tools can be used to collect and organize data, store it and analyze it to develop predictive insights or chart changes over specified periods of time. By collecting and analyzing data, your sales teams will be better equipped to retain current customers, generate and attract leads and forecast your company’s future sales and earnings potential. You’ll also be able to use the information generated by data analytics to keep your inventory updated so you can avoid selling out popular items.
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software
One of the most important technological tools related to sales is CRM software. CRM software helps you manage your client acquisitions and your relationships with current customers. You can use it to store customer data for analysis, generate and follow up on leads, track user experiences, integrate your customer service and sales management and improve your rates of targeting and conversion.
- The Cloud
The cloud can provide many benefits to your entire organization, not just your sales teams. Using the cloud means you’ll be able to increase workflow productivity and improve your sales and customer service teams’ agility by integrating technological tools more seamlessly. You’ll have nearly limitless storage space for your customer data, sales data and any other information you want to save for analysis or future reference.
- Brand Asset Management Systems
Another important tool in your sales toolbox is the brand asset management system. These systems help you ensure your brand is consistent and stands out from your competition. The goal is to make sure your brand is immediately recognizable to customers so they’re familiar with it when your sales or marketing teams contact them.
- Virtual Learning Platforms
It isn’t only customer-facing aspects of sales that you can improve or support with technology. There are also internal workflows and platforms that can benefit from technological tools, such as learning and career development. Virtual learning platforms allow members of your sales and customer service teams to learn almost anything they want to about any topic relating to sales and customer service at their own paces. When coupled with in-person learning options such as seminars or training classes, virtual learning platforms provide excellent in-depth and varied courses of study for your employees.
The technology you choose to use to support your sales processes will ultimately depend on factors such as the size of your organization and how you conduct business. A brick-and-mortar store will have different sales needs than an e-commerce business and a small, local business will have different sales processes than an international conglomerate, for example. You should use the tools best suited for your business type and size.