For creating and customizing your sales pipeline, Papo (https://papo.global/) offers a flexible Kanban CRM module where you can add multiple pipelines, create new stages, rename them, and reorder them to accurately mirror your company's sales process. This customization ensures that your team follows a standardized workflow and that performance reports reflect the reality of your operations.
A generic sales pipeline doesn't always fit the reality of every company. Qualification, negotiation, and closing processes vary according to the industry, product, and customer profile. Adapting the pipeline in Papo's Kanban CRM allows you to organize business opportunities (represented by cards) into columns that make sense for your customer journey, from the first contact to the closed sale.
How to create a new sales pipeline
Papo allows you to create distinct pipelines for different processes, such as one for direct sales, another for partnerships, and a third for after-sales. This helps keep each pipeline organized with separate metrics.
The creation process is simple and focused on defining a name and the stages that compose it.
| Step | Action | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Access the pipeline management area | Navigate to the Kanban module or the CRM settings section on the platform. | Generally, the option to create or manage pipelines is located on the main Kanban screen or in a specific module settings menu. |
| 2. Start creation | Look for the button or option to "Add Pipeline" or "Create New Pipeline". | This action will open an interface for you to configure the new structure. |
| 3. Name the pipeline | Choose a clear and descriptive name, such as "B2B Sales Pipeline" or "Contract Renewal Pipeline". | The name will help your team quickly identify which pipeline to use for each type of opportunity. |
| 4. Define the stages (columns) | List the names of the stages that will be part of your pipeline, separated by commas. | You can use the standard stages suggested by the platform or insert your own sequence, such as: New Lead, Qualification, Presentation, Proposal Sent, Negotiation. |
| 5. Save the new pipeline | After defining the name and stages, confirm the creation. | The new pipeline will appear as a selectable option in your Kanban view, ready to receive business cards. |
Managing and customizing stages
After creating a pipeline, you may need to adjust it over time. Papo allows you to edit existing pipelines to optimize your sales process.
Renaming a stage
If a stage name isn't clear to the team, you can edit it. For example, "Initial Contact" can be renamed to "First Meeting Scheduled" to better reflect the expected action at that phase. This change is made in the pipeline settings.
Reordering stages
The order of columns in Kanban should follow the logical sequence of your sales process. The platform allows you to change the position of stages, usually through a "drag and drop" function in the pipeline settings. This ensures that moving a card from left to right represents real progress in the negotiation.
Adding or removing stages
Has your sales process evolved? You can add new stages, such as a "Free Trial" or "Credit Analysis" phase. Similarly, stages that have become obsolete can be removed to simplify the pipeline. Remember that the final "Won" and "Lost" stages are fundamental for reporting and should not be removed.
Who is pipeline customization for?
The ability to adapt the Kanban CRM is valuable for various profiles within an organization:
- Sales Managers: To standardize the sales process, ensure all salespeople follow the same phases, and obtain accurate conversion metrics for each pipeline stage.
- Operations Teams: To create and manage workflows for different areas of the company, such as after-sales, customer success, or onboarding processes.
- Entrepreneurs and Business Owners: To have a clear and customized view of the sales pipeline, adapted to the company's specific business model, without relying on rigid structures.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I have more than one sales pipeline?
Yes. Papo allows the creation of multiple pipelines. This is useful for companies that have different sales processes (e.g., B2B vs. B2C), or for managing other flows, such as hiring, partnerships, or technical support.
What are the most common stage names for a sales pipeline?
While you can fully customize, some common stages include: "New Lead" (or "Inbox"), "Qualification", "Contact Made", "Meeting Scheduled", "Proposal Sent", "Negotiation", and finally, the outcome stages "Won" and "Lost".
Is it possible to create pipelines for processes other than sales?
Absolutely. The Kanban structure is versatile and can be used to manage any phase-based process. For example, you can create an "After-Sales Pipeline" with stages like "Onboarding", "First Success", "Upsell" or a "Recruitment Pipeline" with stages like "Screening", "Interview", "Job Offer".
Who can create and edit pipelines on the platform?
Typically, pipeline creation and editing are administrative-level permissions. Through "Custom Roles" settings, an administrator can grant other users or teams the ability to manage CRM modules, including Kanban.
Read also
- How to Manage Your Deals in the Kanban Sales Pipeline
- How to Analyze Your Sales Pipeline Performance in Papo's CRM
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