Hello all! I am setting up SF for a client that has Essentials. They have MULTIPLE sales processes/opportunity stages (about 5 and no two are the same). My first thought was to create diff page layout for each category, but b/c it's Essentials, I cant do that. Does anyone know of a workaround for this??
Hi @Jenifer Parr I appreciate your request on an earlier answer I provided. As it relates to multiple Sales Processes: Essentials allows ONE. What does that mean? It means that only one set of Picklist Values for the Stage on an Opportunity.
You DO HAVE Flexibility that you can Squeeze from Essentials without upgrading to PE or EE (pricier editions), even as it relates to Products and Quotes.
ONE: Additional Picklist Fields on the Opportunity. Use these to "specify" a Sub-Status based on the Stage of the Opportunity (You can even control the user selection by creating a "Field Dependency" on the Opportunity Object settings that limit the Sub-Status Selection based on Stage)... Just a little more control of the ACTUAL Status... this could also be controlled by any other Picklist Field or Checkbox aside from the Stage, if you wanted to separate the different types of Opportunities (B2B vs B2C OR Product Sales vs Warranty or Service Calls).
IMHAOO (In My Humble and Outspoken Opinion)... Your Client may need to take a hard look at their UNDERSTANDING of Sales Process. Most companies don't really understand the PURPOSE of the Stages in a Sales Process.
I'm planning on doing a YouTube Video on this... so visit my channel and subscribe (shameless self promotion as I work to get to my first 100 Subscribers - without begging -
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDt21cW6lzFJg8erLIe7nVg).
I will put it out soon.
Here's my "Quick Overview" on Sales Process: Think Volleyball.
After the Serve (first contact = BEHAVIOR) the other side (prospect) has 3 hits to return the ball (e.g.- answer the phone, have a conversation, schedule a meeting = OUTCOME) and when they respond, You have 3 Hits (Behaviors) to return the ball.
All of these BEHAVIORS and OUTCOMES are recorded in Salesforce and every time you receive the appropriate OUTCOME(s), you gather enough data to MOVE to the next step of the process.
And Back and Forth, Back and Forth... until you reach the DECISION (Close Date and Closed Stage) for that Sales Conversation (Opportunity record).
Use the PATH to remind the user of the Behaviors (Guidance for Success) and Outcomes (Top 5 Fields to be completed) at each stage of the Lead and Opportunity Records.
My hunch is that if they had a clear Lead Management Process that led to conversion to a Sales Conversation Management Process (yes, I refer to Opportunities as Conversations, not Deals) with some added field data (picklists, checkboxes), your client could definitely benefit from Essentials without upgrading to a more expensive edition. At least not until they have their Sales Processes working smoothly within the limitations of Essentials.
IMHAOO - The Beauty of Essentials Edition of Salesforce, is that your client can actually work on the HABITS that lead to more sales BEFORE they invest in features that may not produce the intended benefits without proper usage.
I hope that helps.
