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Cases

Ohjelma
Bike Lease Finland

Bike Lease Finland

Leasing and maintenance of employee bicycles, digital services.

Ohjelma
Excelence Solutions

Excelence Solutions

Consulting and data analytics, expert services and consulting.

Ohjelma
Finnish Timber Oy

Finnish Timber Oy

Ecological log buildings and construction site processes, project business.

Ohjelma
Green Scape

Green Scape

Customized green wall services for B2B clients, service business.

Ohjelma
Marine Craft

Marine Craft

Customized motorboats, project delivery, manufacturing industry.

Ohjelma
Scandinavian Design

Scandinavian Design

Leasing and maintenance of company bicycles, digital services.

Task

Sales Support Tools and Data



In this task, the student maps out what tools and data the case company could utilize to support sales. They list the key systems and metrics, define what sales data should be collected and how it is monitored. Additionally, the student considers how the sales manager uses reports and analytics to lead the sales team and make decisions. The task develops an understanding of the connection between sales and data as well as sales management through numbers.

Learning objectives

After completing the task, the student:
1. Can identify the tools needed to support sales (CRM, reporting, analytics) from the case company's perspective.
2. Understands what sales data is useful to collect and how it relates to the different stages of the sales process.
3. Can create a dashboard and basic reporting that supports sales management.
4. Becomes accustomed to considering how data is used in practical sales management and decision-making.

Step by step

  1. Sales-supporting tools and data

    Objective:
    The objective of this assignment is for the student to identify what kinds of tools and data the case company could use to support sales. The goal is to understand how CRM, reporting and analytics assist in everyday sales work and how collected data can be used in sales management and decision-making.

    Material:

    • The selected case company’s description from the learning material.

    • The assignment is based on the case description and moderate, logical assumptions about what systems and resources the company could realistically have available (no browsing real system vendor pages).

    Assignment process (instructions for the student):

    1. Briefly describe the case company’s current sales situation and tracking
      Write 5–8 sentences about how sales in the case company likely operate:

      • who sells and to whom

      • what is currently tracked (e.g. number of deals, revenue, contacts)

      • what challenges may exist (e.g. scattered information, tracking done “based on gut feeling”).

    2. List the tools that support sales
      Create a list of 4–8 types of tools the case company could use in sales, for example:

      • CRM system (storing customer and sales information)

      • email and calendar tools (managing meetings and contacts)

      • lead collection and campaign tools (forms, campaign tracking)

      • reporting and analytics tools (summary reports, dashboards)

      • tools for sharing sales materials (e.g. shared file library).
        Write 2–3 sentences for each tool type explaining which stage of the sales process it supports.

    3. Define the key sales data that should be collected
      List 6–10 important pieces of sales data the case company should store in a system, for example:

      • customer information (segment, size, industry)

      • lead source

      • number of meetings and contacts

      • proposals and their value

      • won and lost deals and reasons for losses

      • time spent in the sales cycle.
        Briefly describe what each data field indicates about sales performance.

    4. Design a sales management dashboard
      Choose 4–6 key metrics from your list (e.g. new leads/month, meetings/week, proposal conversion rate, average deal size).
      Write ½ page in which you:

      • define for each metric what is measured, at what interval, and why it is important

      • consider which metrics are more leading indicators (predict future sales) and which are lagging indicators (describe results already achieved).

    5. Describe how data is used in sales management
      Write about ½ page on how the sales manager or entrepreneur could use the collected data:

      • what kinds of regular reports should be created (e.g. weekly report, monthly summary)

      • how data is used in discussions with the sales team (e.g. target discussions, coaching, recognising successes)

      • how data helps make decisions about resources, target groups, or campaigns.
        Include at least one concrete example: “If the data shows X, then the appropriate action could be Y.”

    6. Prepare a summary and development proposal
      Write a final 5–7 sentence summary in which you:

      • present the key tools and data the case company needs

      • briefly describe how the metrics and reporting support sales management

      • propose one clear development action the case company should begin with (e.g. adopting a CRM, creating a basic report, standardising lead entry).

    Submission and evaluation:
    Submit a text of approximately 1–2 pages that includes:

    • a brief description of the current sales situation

    • a list of sales-supporting tools and their use cases

    • defined key sales data and its significance

    • the proposed dashboard and description of reporting

    • a concise summary and development proposal.

    Evaluation will focus on how well you:

    • identify the essential tools and data for the case company's sales

    • understand what information should be collected and why

    • describe concretely how data supports sales management

    • write clearly, logically and based on the case.

    Recommended working time: about 45–60 minutes, individually or in pairs.

Tasks by audience and theme

University of applied sciences

Polytechnics and higher education studies.

68 tasks