Order intake and processing
Orders from email, the website, EDI, or WhatsApp are checked against stock and price lists and created in the ERP as drafts. A rep only confirms the exceptions.
Sales and distribution
Sales Automation for Manufacturers and Distributors
Join.To.IT automates sales for companies where orders arrive by phone, text, and email and reps retype them into the ERP. We connect the CRM, the ERP, and the work of field sales reps into one process. We start with an audit and run the first pilot in 3–6 weeks.
- Orders reach the ERP without manual entry
- A pilot on one process in 3–6 weeks
- Start with one team or one region
- 01 Sales audit
- 02 Pilot on one process
- 03 Rollout to other teams
- 04 Support and improvement
Reps should be selling, not retyping orders
At a typical distributor or manufacturer, a customer sends an order as a photo or a PDF, a field rep reads it out over the phone, and an inside sales rep keys the lines into the ERP. Stock and prices are checked with colleagues, discounts are approved in a chat, and an overdue invoice comes up only when the customer places the next order.
As a result, reps spend hours on admin, leadership has no reliable view of the pipeline, and order errors surface after the goods have shipped.
Sales automation does not mean buying a new CRM and retraining everyone at once. You can start with the most painful step, such as taking orders from field reps, and expand once the result shows up in the numbers.
What sales automation covers
Each process can be automated on its own. We set the order after the audit: whatever pays back fastest goes first.
Field sales app
Daily route, orders with current prices and stock, shelf photos, visit check-ins, and offline mode. Data goes straight to the ERP and CRM.
CRM and sales pipeline
CRM configuration or development for your sales process, with accounts, deals, and payments synced to the ERP so sales and finance see the same numbers.
Quotes and contracts
Quotes, invoices, and contracts generated from templates with CRM data and sent for signature through DocuSign or another e-signature service.
Pricing, discounts, and credit limits
Discount rules and price agreements in the system, one-click approval of exceptions, and shipment holds for customers with overdue invoices.
Receivables and payment reminders
Automatic reminders to customers before the due date, a daily overdue list for each rep, and payment matching through bank or Stripe APIs.
How we work
Each stage ends with a result you can assess before approving the next one.
- 01
Process audit
We trace an order from first contact to payment with inside sales, field reps, and accounting, and measure the time each step takes. Usually 1–2 weeks.
Outcome A map of the sales process and the steps worth automating first
- 02
Pilot on one process
We automate one process, such as order intake from field reps, for one team or region. The new process runs alongside the old one until the numbers confirm the effect. Usually 3–6 weeks.
Outcome A working process and measured time savings
- 03
Rollout
We extend the solution to other teams and regions, add the next processes in the agreed order, and train reps. Usually 1–4 months.
Outcome Sales, accounting, and payments working as one process
- 04
Support
We monitor data exchange, update integrations when a vendor changes its API, and adjust processes to new sales rules. Billed monthly.
Outcome A system that keeps working after launch
How much it costs
The price depends on the number of systems, sales channels, and users, and on whether you need a mobile app.
| Option | Pilot | One process | End-to-end program |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it covers | Audit plus automation of one step, such as order intake from email or chat | A full process: a field sales app or a CRM with ERP integration | Orders, CRM, field reps, payments, and reporting together, with support |
| Timeline | 3–6 weeks | 1–3 months | 3–9 months, in phases |
| Good fit when | You want to test the approach with one team | One process clearly takes the most time | You are rebuilding the whole sales operation |
| Typical budget | $8,000–$15,000 | $15,000–$45,000 | From $45,000 |
These are indicative ranges; you get an exact estimate after the audit. You do not have to automate all of sales at once: start with one process or region and add the next in phases.
Systems we connect
We work with the APIs, file exchange, and databases of your systems. The final list for your project is agreed after the audit.
- NetSuite
- SAP Business One
- Odoo
- QuickBooks
- Xero
- HubSpot
- Salesforce
- Pipedrive
- Zoho CRM
- DocuSign
- Stripe
- Shopify B2B
- EDI
- WhatsApp Business
- Slack
- Google Workspace
- Excel
Example
What a distribution pilot can look like
Take a food distributor with 20 field sales reps. They visit stores, write orders on paper or photograph them, and send them by text. Two order-entry clerks key these orders into the ERP every day and call the warehouse to check stock. Some orders get lost, and prices are sometimes taken from an old price list.
The pilot covers one team of five reps. They get a mobile app with their route and current prices and stock from the ERP. Orders go straight into the ERP, and a clerk reviews only those that deviate from the price list or the customer’s credit limit.
Frequently asked questions
How much does sales automation cost?
A pilot on one process, such as order intake, usually costs $8,000–$15,000 and takes 3–6 weeks. A full process, such as a field sales app or a CRM integrated with the ERP, is typically $15,000–$45,000. A full sales automation program starts around $45,000. We give an exact estimate after the audit, once we know how many systems and users are involved.
How do you automate field sales reps?
Usually with a mobile app where the rep sees the route, accounts, current prices and stock, places orders, and logs visits. Data goes straight to the ERP or CRM. The app has to work offline and sync later, because coverage in stores and on the road is often poor. Start with one team.
Do we need a CRM if we already have an ERP?
An ERP handles orders and accounting well but is weak at prospects, deals, and rep tasks. A CRM covers that part. The key is setting up the sync so accounts, orders, and payments are never duplicated by hand. If your sales are mostly repeat orders with predictable volume, extending the ERP can sometimes replace a separate CRM.
Where should sales automation start?
With the process that repeats every day and takes the most manual work. Most often that is order entry, discount approvals, or payment follow-up. The audit shows how much time each step takes and helps pick the first pilot. Do not start by buying a new system: first decide which process it is supposed to improve.
How long does sales automation take?
The audit takes 1–2 weeks, and a pilot on one process takes 3–6 weeks, including a period when the old and new processes run side by side. A field sales app or an integrated CRM usually takes 1–3 months. A full sales rebuild is split into stages over 3–9 months, and each stage delivers a working result.