Enterprise resource planning ‐ the end of the line for the sales automation market and a major step towards sales process definition standards?

Reviews the current status of sales, marketing and customer service processes. Outlines how business processes or other disciplines are not necessarily appropriate to marketing. Asserts that there will continue to be greater emphasis to integrate ERP and sales and marketing systems and that sales and marketing departments which develop “best practice” sales process will be in a better position to exploit new technology. This implies that traditional “back office” and “front office” processes should be integrated to provide the overall supply chain management system.