JLG Industries, a diversified construction and industrial equipment manufacturer, has revealed details of its purchase of the Lotus Notes-based Sales Force Automation module of IT Factory, to enable seamless management of the company`s customer base. JLG is the world`s leading producer of mobile aerial work platforms and a manufacturer of telescopic material handlers and telescopic hydraulic excavators and has standardised on Lotus Notes and Domino for its worldwide communications needs. The local office made the move to Notes earlier this year According to Chad Pope, MD of JLG SA, the company had an urgent need to manage information residing in paper-based and office applications.
The company is currently using Notes to enable communications as well as access stock, maintenance, contact and sales management electronically.
"Some customisation was done to ensure that the module fit user requirements regarding order and product management, but the end result has been to make the JLG sales force both more efficient and more powerful," says Deon Laubscher, at Lotus Business Partner e-volution, the company responsible for the implementation.
Additional benefits include additional sales opportunities as sales staff now have access to up-to-date information about customers, products, prices and competitors.
"This kind of data is now available to staff regardless of their location, be it on the road or in the office," he says.
Pope says that administrative duties are completed faster and more effectively than before. "Our sales force can now follow up on leads and maintain regular contact with our customers using the applications extensive database management features," he says.
Like any Lotus notes based application, the Sales Force Automation module of IT Factory places a strong emphasis on teamwork. "As globalisation begins to dominate the way we do business teamwork is becoming an important factor in closing sales. Using Sales Force Automation, JLG has empowered its staff to effectively monitor activities on all its accounts," says Laubscher.
This means that all sales staff now have the ability to work with all the company`s customers, even if the account manager is out of the office or even if they have left the company," concludes Laubscher
Share