Top 2 Reasons Manufacturers & Distributors Need An Integrated Portal – Plus a Bonus Benefit!
Published June 22, 2021
The top 2 reasons we hear from manufacturers and distributors looking for an integrated portal are:
- To give their sales reps access to sales info for the rep's customers only, without giving them access to the accounting system
- To allow their B2B customers to enter orders that go automatically into the order processing system
Over the years, manufacturers and distributors have tried to accomplish these goals in many ways — email-based order forms on their website, sales reports distributed via Dropbox, Google Drive, or Office 365. While these efforts have had some benefit, they have not addressed the underlying issues of "unintegrated" methods. A web-based order form that doesn't automatically feed into the order processing system still requires staff-intensive and error-prone double entry. Shared-folder reports require staff to generate, format, export, and save them — and the data is static and soon stale.
An integrated portal leverages your order processing and accounting system to overcome these limitations and empower your sales reps and B2B channel. And as a bonus, it frees your staff to work on more challenging and interesting tasks.
Reason 1 — Empower Your Sales Reps
A portal integrated with your accounting and order processing software allows your reps to get the info they need without calling your office. For example, they can use the portal to:
Prepare for a call or visit:
- Are the customer's sales trending up or down?
- Does the customer have overdue invoices?
- Are there conversations between the customer and others in the company the rep should be aware of — to avoid being blindsided?
Run up-to-date reports, at any time:
- Aging report
- Commissions due report
- Sales year over year by customer, with actual vs. targets
- Check on inventory availability
- Even enter orders on behalf of their customers
Empowering your sales reps with better, more timely information translates to more production from your sales team.
Reason 2 — Empower Your B2B Customers
With access to an integrated portal, your B2B customers can answer their own questions or enter their own orders, on their own timeframe. For example, they can:
- Enter orders that go to your order system automatically
- Reprint a misplaced invoice
- Check on order status
- See an aging report
- Pay an invoice
- Track a shipment
Anytime, anywhere access to information and order entry results in happier and more productive customers.
Bonus Benefit — Empower Your Staff!
The 2 primary reasons manufacturers and distributors implement an integrated portal are to empower their sales reps and B2B channel. But they soon realize an unexpected benefit: their staff are relieved of many mundane tasks, freeing them up to take on more rewarding projects.
With an integrated portal:
- Sales reps and B2B customers enter their own orders that go automatically to your order system — relieving staff from data entry tasks and eliminating errors from double entry
- Sales reps and B2B customers look up info when they want it — reducing incoming calls, telephone tag, and call-backs for your staff to handle, and reducing customer frustration when they can't reach someone
Relieving your staff of mundane tasks and giving them more challenging projects leads to a more satisfied and productive workforce.
Do You Use QuickBooks to Run Your Business?
CrikSales offers a portal that integrates with your QuickBooks system. Our simple, intuitive interface makes it easy for your reps and customers to enter orders or access information. CrikSales was designed from the ground up for manufacturers and wholesale distribution companies.
Thousands of sales reps and B2B customers use the portal every day to enter orders, check inventory availability, track shipments, print sales reports, and much more — with QuickBooks-based data, without providing them access to QuickBooks itself.
Want to see a demo? Schedule a demo or quick call. Or start a 30-day free trial and see how much more productive your reps, customers, and staff can be.