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Sales Dictionary

Pipeline

Definition

A visual representation of where prospects are in the sales process.

Deep Dive

In sales, a pipeline is a visual representation or structured framework that tracks the progression of prospects through the sales process, from initial contact to the final closed deal. It illustrates the various stages a lead moves through, such as "prospecting," "qualification," "needs analysis," "proposal," "negotiation," and "closed-won/lost." Each stage represents a specific set of activities and milestones that must be achieved before moving to the next.

Examples & Use Cases

  • 1A sales manager reviews their CRM dashboard daily, seeing multiple deals categorized under "Qualification," "Proposal Sent," and "Negotiation," allowing them to forecast monthly revenue.
  • 2A startup uses a Kanban board to track potential investors, moving them from "Initial Contact" to "Pitch Deck Sent" to "Due Diligence" to "Term Sheet," visualizing their fundraising progress.

Related Terms

Sales FunnelCRMSales Forecasting

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