Launch Alert! Meet Configure One Cloud Learn More
Launch Alert! Meet Configure One Cloud Learn More
Manufacturing organizations, know how important it is to update and modernize production equipment. The same is true for your business software. Many times a CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote) solution is found at the heart of modern manufacturing as it can bring all kinds of efficiency for manufacturer
Idea-to-cash refers to the entire end-to-end sales process, starting with design, moving through product configuration and pricing, quoting, customer acceptance, ordering, and managing revenue.
Think about all the steps that go into capturing new revenue for your business. This can include discussing with your customer what it is they are looking to have quoted, getting the specifications just right, and then developing a quote for the client’s approval.
This is just the first part of the idea-to-cash process. The continuing process of negotiating the quote, invoicing the client for their order, and receiving payment is the next piece of this puzzle. It can even include re-orders and renegotiations which are sometimes used with repeat customers who come back to buy additional previously configured products.
Regardless of what software solutions you use, this process is integral to the work of your company. But it’s also an aspect of your business which needs to be streamlined and modernized so it runs more efficiently.
There are six basic steps to the idea-to-cash process. They are:
Navigating the idea-to-cash process can be quite tricky at times. One of the problems is there are so many moving pieces in the process. As with a machine, all these pieces have to work together.
If one of them breaks down, it can cost you in the whole process.
If the configuration doesn’t go smoothly, if a quote is delayed, or if the follow-up analysis is not completed, then you could be losing out on sales and your production line could be throwing away money because they are not working at full capacity.
That’s why it’s so important to look at automating your process. By doing so, you streamline the steps and don’t have to worry about losing time and money.
So, how exactly do you automate the idea-to-cash process?
There are several tools that can help you with this: CRM, CPQ, and ERP solutions.
Your CPQ solution is used to create a custom-designed product. With CPQ software, the customer either contacts a salesperson who enters the specifications of the product into the system or (if you have an online store) they can enter the information into the software themselves from your website.
Then, the software determines if the product can be made according to those specifications and generates a Bill of Materials (BOM). At this point, the CPQ software determines how much the product will cost to make and can be programmed with pre-set profit margins to determine how much you should charge for the product.
The next step in the process is to generate a quote that is sent to the client for approval. When it comes back as approved, the project can move forward on the production line and can even generate a professional contract for the client to sign.
All of this is done much more efficiently than it has been in the past removing lots of back-and-forth between sales, engineering, and production. As a result, all of these departments can work more efficiently in their jobs.
Revalize’s CPQ software solutions do much more than just speeding up your idea-to-cash process. Revalize functions as a sales tool with captivating visualization tools, it integrates with CAD software for engineering drawings, and it can even generate production routings for your shop floor.
Integrating Revalize CPQ with your CRM and ERP systems allows them to work together seamlessly and get the most out of each system. This setup provides you with the best collection of tools that can take your idea-to-cash process, and your entire company, to the next level.
systems allows them to work together seamlessly and get the most out of each system. This setup provides you with the best collection of tools that can take your quote-to-cash process, and your entire company, to the next level.
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