Information tools are transforming order-taking to order-making. Sales-lead management systems provide producers with tools to become involved at the outset of a project. Sales lead management is a closed-loop information flow beginning with customer inquiry or design request, follow-up by sales contact, bidding discussion, and eventual sale. Lead management unites marketing and sales functions. Reporting services now offer online and overnight information lead information. These same services can provide data storage tools and automatic selling systems. KEYWORDS: sales lead management
