Two of the hottest "niche" software applications today are product configuration and sales force automation. With the proliferation of product features, styles, colors, and models, sales representatives cant possibly be expected to knowledgeably describe, configure, and price products-- at least not without help from their trusty laptop PCs! Enter product configurator and software that enables sales managers to track sales and profitability in the field.
As part of this trend, the MK Group, a unit of Computer Associates International Inc., based in Islandia, N.Y., has allied with Trilogy Development Group Inc., Austin, Tex., to supply its customers with Trilogys Selling Chain software. MK Group plans to offer Selling Chain to enhance the functionality of its enterprise resource planning applications.
"The MK Groups configure-to-order ERP capabilities are wonderfully complemented by Trilogys Selling Chain suite of products," says Kurt Seibert, general manager of the MK Group. "It gives sales people in the field the tools they need to leverage the wealth of information provided by the MK Manufacturing system."
Selling Chain features a visual, point-and-click product configurator. It also integrates various sales and marketing activities, including pricing, commissions, electronic catalog, quoting, and proposal generation. It also allows managers and executives to implement pricing strategies in seconds. Sales reps can access pricing information immediately, so they can produce on-site quotes that later can be turned into a formal proposal.
