You have many business managers on the road and they need to be able to view and amend client details as well as add history notes, do quotes and request samples/documentation to be sent.
A centralised database is setup and the sales force have laptops with a remote copy of the database. On a regular basis, the remote databases are synchronized with the master databases. The laptops run an application that allows the data to be changed/updated and the synchronization is managed by the application.
Simple
- Data management (syncronization) performed automatically.
Practical
- The people who have closest contact with the customer are in control of the data.
- Data is held centrally and backed up regularly.
Bottom line
- Good information about clients leads to a greater ability to sell to them, to upsell and to ensure that their needs are met (repeat sell).