Opportunity stages templates
| DMF | ADMINISTRATOR SETUP OPPORTUNITY STAGES |
An opportunity stages templates contains different stages and is used to define a specific order for these stages. This template is then used to create opportunity pipelines (set up from General setup > Sales > Pipeline). Therefore, all the opportunity pipelines associated with the same stage template include the same stages and are structured identically: they form a grouping of pipelines and can be used as such from the CRM module in the Web Portal.
When an opportunity is created in a pipeline, it is added to the stage entered when creating the opportunity, or to the first stage set up:
- in its pipeline,
- in the stages template associated with its pipeline.
Once the first stage of the sales process is completed, the sales person can move the opportunity to the next stage, and so on until all stages have been completed or the opportunity has been won. At any time, if an opportunity does not meet the required criteria, the sales person can mark this opportunity as lost.
Example
A software editor launches a new range of software products aimed at different industrial sectors. The company creates an opportunity stages template named NEWPRODUCT and defines the following stages:
- Classification
- Demonstration
- Quotation
- Negotiations
- Pending signature
The company then creates several pipelines: SECTOR1, SECTOR2, and so on. The stages template is applied on each pipeline to structure them identically. The pipelines created are in the NEWPRODUCT pipeline grouping.
Stages templates are set up from the Setup screen, in General setup > Sales > Opportunity stages templates. The Result opportunity stages templates screen displays the list of templates already created.
To create a stage template:
| 1 | In the results screen, click on  in the action bar. |
The Opportunity stages template screen opens.
| 2 | Fill in the following fields: |
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Code |
Enter a code to identify the template. This code must be unique. |
| Valid until |
If needed, enter a validity end date. After this validity date has passed, the template can no longer be used. |
| Label | Give a name to the template. The template label is the name of the pipeline grouping available from the CRM module in the Web Portal. |
| Stage |
Select a stage from the help list. Repeat the process to add all the desired stages. Stages are listed one after the other in the table. To change the order, select a stage in the table and use the |
and 
arrows. To remove a stage from the table, select it then click on 
.| 3 | Save the template. |
The template is created and can be associated with opportunity pipelines. Update the results screen to display the new template in the list.
To modify a template, open the desired template then click on 
in the action bar.
Important
Any modification of a stages template will be carried forward on all the pipelines associated with this template.
A stage cannot be deleted from a template if there is at least one opportunity in that stage.
To delete a template, open the desired template, click on 
in the action bar then confirm the deletion.
Tip
To quickly identify the pipelines associated with a stages template, open the record sheet of the desired template then click on Edit > Pipelines on this opportunity stages template. A search is started and a results window displays the list of associated pipelines.
