In the high-stakes world of distribution and sales, a silent hero is working behind the scenes to transform your business operations from "where's that order?" to "we're crushing our targets!"
It's called sales order management software, and if you haven't embraced it yet, you might be trying to win a Formula 1 race with a horse and buggy.
What is Sales Order Management Software?
Think of sales order management software as your business's air traffic control system. It coordinates all aspects of the order process—from the initial "I'll take it!" to the final "Sign here, please." This digital maestro orchestrates inventory levels, customer information, shipping details, and payment processing in one harmonious system.
Signs Your Business is Crying Out for Better Order Management
Is your current order process leaving you feeling like you're herding cats? Here are some tell-tale signs you need to upgrade:
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Your sales team spends more time apologizing for mistakes than selling
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Inventory counts are more fiction than fact
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Customers are asking, "So... where's my stuff?"
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Your accounting department has developed a nervous twitch
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Excel spreadsheets have become your company's unofficial religion
The Not-So-Secret Benefits That Will Make Your CFO Smile
Implementing a robust sales order management system isn't just about keeping things tidy—it's about unleashing your business potential. Here's what you stand to gain:
Accuracy
Manual order entry is like playing telephone with your revenue. Each handoff creates an opportunity for errors. Sales order software reduces these errors. That's not just improving accuracy—that's a complete overhaul of accuracy.
Speed
Remember when customers were okay waiting "4-6 weeks for delivery"? Neither do we. Today's buyers want their orders processed faster than they can say "free shipping." A sound system can reduce order processing time, giving your business the superhero speed modern customers expect.
Visibility
"I'm not sure where your order is right now" are words no customer wants to hear. Modern sales order management systems provide real-time tracking that lets both your team and customers see exactly where things stand. It's like having X-ray vision for your supply chain.
Smooth Integration
The best sales order management solutions operate within a connected system that incorporates other business applications. Your business achieves harmonization by enabling these systems to use common terminology, which results in data silo elimination and truth-based consolidation.
Finding Your Perfect Match: Key Features to Look For
Not all sales order management systems are created equal. Here's your shopping list of must-have features:
Mobile Capabilities
Your sales team doesn't live at their desks, so why should their tools? Look for systems that offer robust mobile functionality for capturing orders in the field. This isn't just convenient—it's the difference between closing a deal on the spot or letting it slip through your fingers while you "get back to the office."
Solid Route Accounting™ with the mobile sales components, Solid Sales Pro™ and Solid Order Entry™, turns QuickBooks, Sage 100 or SYSPRO into a powerful sales order management system.
Real-Time Inventory Updates
There's nothing worse than selling something you don't actually have. Modern inventory management systems enable instant inventory tracking across all locations so retailers can prevent the mistakes of overbooking to customers.
Solid Route Accounting™ allows inventory tracking across multiple fixed and/or mobile sites. From handling purchases and receipts to using barcodes and stock counts, they'll put you in charge of your inventory — and your business success.
Customizable System Settings
Your business isn't cookie-cutter, so your software shouldn't be either. The ability to customize the system settings to match your unique processes is essential for maximum efficiency.
Solid Route Accounting™ comes fully ready to run with defaults in place. This allows you to test it with minimal effort and then tailor it to your business.
Customer Self-Service
Today's buyers want self-service options. Systems that provide customer self-service options allow clients to place orders, check status, and review history without picking up the phone, saving them and your team time.
Solid Order Entry™ is a mobile point-of-order system streamlining customer order entry in your distribution business.
Analytics That Actually Tell You Something Useful
Data without insights is just numbers. Seek out reporting features that convert your order information into valuable operational insights and business intelligence. Through the correct selection of metrics, businesses can identify market patterns, recognize their most profitable customer segments, and discover potential upselling opportunities.
Implementation: The Good, The Bad, and The "Why Didn't We Do This Sooner?"
Let's be honest—implementing new software can be about as fun as a root canal. But with the right approach, it doesn't have to be painful. Here's a condensed roadmap:
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Prep your team: Get buy-in from everyone who'll use the system. Resistance is futile, but it is also understandable without proper training.
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Clean your data: Garbage in, garbage out. Before migration, take time to scrub your existing customer and product data.
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Start small: Consider a phased rollout, beginning with your most tech-savvy team members or most straightforward product lines.
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Celebrate wins: Make sure to highlight early successes to build momentum and demonstrate value.
Remember, this isn't just a tech change—it's a cultural one. The most successful implementations happen when companies view their new system as a strategic tool rather than just another piece of software.
The Bottom Line
Effective sales order management stands beyond transaction processing because its main purpose is building customer experiences, which generate both customer loyalty and business growth. A business succeeds in today's competitive market when it guarantees consistency, accuracy, and transparency during customer purchases.
Ready to Transform Your Order Management?
Businesses facing struggling order processes should start their transformation to create sales advantages. Solid Innovation® transforms distribution by developing solutions designed to address the specific challenges of direct store delivery and route sales operations. Solid Innovation® enables users to achieve powerful functionality without trade-offs due to their software's native integration with QuickBooks®, Sage 100 and SYSPRO systems. Your selection of a suitable sales order management solution represents not just a convenient technological improvement but also a fundamental business evolution.