Customer Management

Customer Management is the core of Consultia, allowing you to organize and track all your client relationships, projects, and business interactions in one centralized location.

Overview

The Customer Management system provides comprehensive tools for:

• Customer Profile Management: Complete customer information and history
• Contact Management: Multiple contacts per customer with roles
• Project Tracking: All projects and proposals for each customer
• Financial Overview: Invoices, payments, and financial history
• Document Management: Customer-specific document storage

Customer List

Accessing the Customer List

1. From Sidebar: Click "Customers" in the main navigation
2. From Dashboard: Use the "Manage Customers" quick action
3. Direct URL: Navigate to /customers

Screenshot: Customer list page showing all customers with search and filter options

List Features

Search and Filter:

• Global Search: Search by customer name, contact, or company
• Status Filter: Filter by active, inactive, or all customers
• Industry Filter: Filter by customer industry type
• Date Range: Filter by creation or last activity date

Table Columns:

• Customer Name: Company or organization name
• Contact Person: Primary contact information
• Industry: Customer's business industry
• Status: Active, inactive, or prospect status
• Total Revenue: Lifetime revenue from customer
• Last Activity: Most recent interaction date
• Actions: Edit, view details, or delete options

Adding a New Customer

Customer Creation Form

Screenshot: Customer creation form with all required and optional fields

Required Information:

• Company Name: Official business name
• Primary Contact: Main contact person
• Email Address: Primary contact email
• Phone Number: Contact phone number
• Industry: Customer's business industry

Optional Information:

• Website: Company website URL
• Address: Complete business address
• Tax ID: Business tax identification
• Notes: Additional customer information
• Logo: Company logo upload

Step-by-Step Process

1. Click "Add Customer" from the customer list
2. Fill Required Fields with basic information
3. Add Optional Details for complete profile
4. Upload Logo (optional) for visual identification
5. Save Customer to create the profile
6. Add Contacts to expand the customer team

Customer Details

Customer Profile Overview

Screenshot: Customer profile page showing comprehensive customer information

Profile Sections:

• Basic Information: Company details and contact info
• Financial Summary: Revenue, invoices, and payment history
• Project Overview: Active and completed projects
• Recent Activity: Latest interactions and updates

Tabbed Interface

The customer details page is organized into tabs:

1. Basic Info Tab

Screenshot: Basic information tab with company details

Information Displayed:

• Company Details: Name, industry, website, address
• Contact Information: Primary contact details
• Business Information: Tax ID, company size, notes
• Custom Fields: Any additional customer-specific data

2. Contacts Tab

Screenshot: Contacts tab showing all customer contacts

Contact Management:

• Contact List: All contacts associated with customer
• Add Contact: Create new contact records
• Contact Roles: Assign roles (Decision Maker, Technical Contact, etc.)
• Contact Details: Email, phone, position, notes

3. Projects Tab

Screenshot: Projects tab showing customer projects

Project Information:

• Active Projects: Currently ongoing projects
• Completed Projects: Finished project history
• Project Status: Progress and completion status
• Project Timeline: Start and end dates

4. Invoices Tab

Screenshot: Invoices tab showing customer invoice history

Invoice Management:

• Invoice History: All invoices for customer
• Payment Status: Paid, pending, or overdue status
• Invoice Details: Amount, date, description
• Payment Tracking: Payment dates and methods

5. Documents Tab

Screenshot: Documents tab showing customer-specific files

Document Organization:

• File Categories: Organized by document type
• Upload Documents: Add new files to customer
• Document Preview: View files directly in browser
• Version Control: Track document versions

Customer Actions

Quick Actions

From Customer List:

• View Details: Open customer profile
• Edit Customer: Modify customer information
• Add Contact: Create new contact record
• Create Invoice: Generate new invoice
• Start Project: Begin new project

From Customer Profile:

• Edit Profile: Update customer information
• Add Contact: Create additional contacts
• Create Proposal: Generate new proposal
• Upload Document: Add customer files
• Mark as Favorite: Add to favorites list

Bulk Operations

Multiple Customer Selection:

• Select Customers: Choose multiple customers
• Bulk Edit: Update multiple customers at once
• Export Data: Download customer information
• Bulk Actions: Apply actions to multiple customers

Customer Relationships

Relationship Management

Customer Types:

• Active Customers: Currently engaged clients
• Prospects: Potential future customers
• Inactive Customers: Past clients not currently active
• VIP Customers: High-value priority clients

Relationship Tracking:

• Interaction History: Log all customer interactions
• Communication Notes: Record important conversations
• Follow-up Reminders: Set reminders for follow-up actions
• Relationship Score: Track relationship health

Customer Segmentation

Segmentation Options:

• By Industry: Group customers by business type
• By Size: Small, medium, or large companies
• By Revenue: High, medium, or low revenue customers
• By Activity: Active, inactive, or new customers

Best Practices

Customer Data Management

Data Quality:

• Complete Profiles: Fill all available customer information
• Regular Updates: Keep customer data current
• Contact Verification: Verify contact information regularly
• Document Organization: Maintain organized document structure

Relationship Building:

• Regular Communication: Maintain consistent contact
• Follow-up Actions: Respond promptly to customer needs
• Value Addition: Provide additional value beyond services
• Feedback Collection: Gather and act on customer feedback

Workflow Optimization

Efficient Processes:

• Standardized Procedures: Use consistent processes
• Automated Reminders: Set up automated follow-up reminders
• Quick Actions: Use keyboard shortcuts and quick actions
• Template Usage: Use templates for common documents

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Customer Not Found:

• Check spelling in search
• Verify customer exists in system
• Check user permissions
• Contact administrator if needed

Data Not Saving:

• Verify required fields are completed
• Check internet connection
• Try refreshing the page
• Contact support if issues persist

Performance Issues:

• Limit number of customers displayed
• Use filters to narrow results
• Clear browser cache
• Contact support for optimization

Next Steps

1. Contact Management: Learn about Managing Contacts
2. Project Creation: Understand Project Management
3. Invoice Generation: Create Customer Invoices
4. Document Upload: Organize Customer Documents

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Last updated: January 2024

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