Also, keep in mind that sales people work at odd hours and in strange places. Technical support needs to be available on weekends and at night. If you meet resistance from people in adopting a new system, point out bottom-line benefits to them. What's more, an automated sales organization knows more about its products, customers, competitors, and its market. Personal-productivity functions include contact management, account management, presentation graphics, calendaring and scheduling, word processing, and automated sales plans.
Communications center around E-mail, facsimiles, groupware, and access to online services.
Transaction support and processing condenses the time it takes to secure and fulfill orders. For example, a sales representative can check product inventory and pricing, verify a customer's credit status, place the product order, and schedule a delivery date, all within minutes.