Overview of the IBM Sterling Configure, Price, Quote solution

A Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) system enables users to quickly configure, price, quote, and order the right products and services. IBM® provides an out-of-the-box CPQ solution, Sterling Field Sales.

The Sterling Field Sales application enables users to manage opportunities and quotes effectively, which in turn, helps users to close business deals more efficiently. Opportunity management involves the creation and management of an opportunity and its associated quotes through the life cycle of the opportunity, until the opportunity is either won or lost. Quote management involves the management of quotes that are associated with an opportunity.

An opportunity acts as a container for holding a quote or related alternative quotes that are to be presented to a customer. A quote, on the other hand, is a commercial document that allows a customer to see a predetermined set of products, their quantity, predetermined price, and delivery date. Note that a quote is always associated with an opportunity.

In Sterling Field Sales, you can store all the information you require during the quoting process, including customer details, information about products and the adjustment made to the price of products, and the payment terms and shipment terms that will be used in the order if the quote is converted to an order.

In addition to opportunity and quote management, Sterling Field Sales enables you to search for a product, opportunity, or quote. You can search for a product, view the details of the product, and verify the product's availability. You can also search for an opportunity or quote, and view its details.