Businesses nowadays have many opportunities at their disposal. They can benefit from software tools that will simplify operations, help save time and money. Sales automation and the merchant portal are good examples, because one optimizes the sales cycle and the other one allows customers to pay online for their orders. Online businesses need to do everything possible to increase sales, to capture market segments, to stand out from the competition. The process begins with reaching leads, engaging with them and eventually convert them into buyers.
Why Sales Automation
Being able to automate tasks means eliminating manual work, wasting valuable time on the same activities. The sales and marketing teams deal with repetitive tasks on a daily basis and this means they tend to focus less on what really matters. In many cases, they don’t have the time, or they lack energy, because they are so focused on finishing their work. Sales automation is a great solution and it stands out, because it is one of the most efficient ways to improve sales and productivity. It is easier to focus on relevant processes and converting leads.
The software solution automates regular tasks and it can be used for many purposes. It depends on the provider and the tool you choose in the end, but the right one is able to automate the following:
• Inventory control
• Emails and reminders
• Documentation and contracts
• Pricing
Strengthening the team within the company should be the top priority, because sale representatives are the ones approaching and converting leads, increasing sales and spreading the word about your brand. It is essential to eliminate some of the burden, so they have more time and energy to focus on their strategies. Of course, there are many more benefits to automatization.
What Is a Merchant Portal
The merchant portal is an online tool that allows online payments and manages bank account information, operations, and more. Online payments have become more popular than ever, because people prefer to pay using their credit, debit cards, instead of money and checks. Having a merchant account is essential, as the holder is able to accept payments in many ways. Your business has access to many more opportunities, not to mention expand in the online environment. Clients will certainly appreciate the possibility and will be encouraged to purchase more often.
Having a merchant account is highly beneficial and the number one reason is to accept credit cards. It is easier to do business like this, because you can keep track of every transaction and receive payments faster. There are many additional software tools that help with reports and tracking, to obtain the most from the decision to implement a merchant account. There is a higher chance to increase sales as well, because customers are more likely to spend money and purchase online when they have the possibility to use their credit cards, instead of cash. Why not grow your business and impact sales?
Technology advances day by day and it is essential to keep up, because many tools are highly useful, and they make a difference for your business. For instance, sales automation brings great value, because sale reps can filter criteria to have a better overview upon potential clients. They can follow-up those who present an interest in your brand and convert them without hesitation. Gathering statistics about leads and actual customers is possible through these tools. You can establish their needs, and shape strategies to obtain more from them and attract them towards your products and services.
Sales and marketing teams deal with contracts and documents often. They have to send them to customers and sometimes it is quite frustrating to search in folders and files, ask around, modify them, and such. Sales automation allows to manage this faster and easier, because you can personalize and generate documents and receive reminders when suppliers and clients have read them or when they are about to expire. It is easier to stay organized and not lose track of agreements.
Sales automation allows sales analysis using transcription. It is easier to record the call and analyze it with the help of advanced software. Having information in one place is highly beneficial, especially for data accuracy. For instance, having different pricing lists for products and for different customers is not easy. Automation helps in this situation as well, because the entire system is centralized, and it simplifies the process. Team reporting is known to be daunting and complex, but CRM makes it easier to report to managers by sending automated reports from the system. There is no need to do them manually and thus, save many work hours.
Why Implement a Merchant Account
A merchant portal and account help manage money better. Accepting online payments streamlines the process and how your company handles transactions. You can be more organized, because it is no longer necessary to count cash. This leads to improved forecasting and cash flow management. Say goodbye to bounced checks, because merchant account services accept only valid payments and credit cards and you don’t have to worry about getting your money.
The merchant portal is secure and safe, for your business and your customers. They will be more satisfied because they can make purchases in various ways, using credit/debit cards, recurring billing, mobile payments, and more. they can shop whenever they want, from any mobile platform, and this is very good news for your business. It is true that you need to purchase a software package, but when it brings so many opportunities in discussion, it is worth the investment.
After knowing more about the merchant portal, it is necessary to decide upon the account and there are different providers out there. Many of them focus on CRM, because it is a great tool that has many features, and which can assist your business and help it develop. You should pay attention to their reputation, products/services offered, support provided, if they have a demo even, and more. It is helpful to try their solution first and see how it works, its interface, if you can easily understand and implement it.