Stages
What are Stages?
Stages represent the different steps in your sales pipeline for partner-referred deals. They help you track lead progress from initial contact through to closed deals, giving you and your partners visibility into where opportunities stand.
What's on the Stages Page
The Stages settings page lets you customise your sales pipeline:
Stage Configuration
Stage Name: Clear labels for each step (e.g., "Qualified Lead", "Proposal Sent", "Negotiation")
Stage Order: Drag and drop to arrange stages in logical sequence
Stage Type: Mark stages as active, won, or lost
Probability: Expected close rate percentage for each stage
Partner Types: Which partner types can see each stage
Stage Management
Add Stages: Create new pipeline steps
Edit Stages: Modify names, probabilities, or settings
Remove Stages: Delete stages no longer needed
Reorder Stages: Change the sequence by dragging
Stage Analytics
Conversion Rates: How many leads move between stages
Average Time: How long leads spend in each stage
Stage Values: Total deal value at each pipeline step
Partner Performance: Which partners' leads progress best
How to Use It
Setting Up Your Pipeline
Click "Add Stage" to create a new pipeline step
Enter a clear, descriptive stage name
Set the probability percentage (likelihood of closing)
Choose whether it's an active, won, or lost stage
Select which partner types can see this stage
Drag stages to arrange them in logical order
Click "Save" to update your pipeline
Common Stage Examples
Early Stages
Lead Received (10% probability)
Initial Contact (20% probability)
Qualified Lead (30% probability)
Needs Assessment (40% probability)
Middle Stages
Proposal Sent (60% probability)
Negotiation (75% probability)
Final Review (90% probability)
End Stages
Closed Won (100% probability)
Closed Lost (0% probability)
Stage Types Explained
Active Stages
Deals still being worked on
Can move forward or backward
Count towards pipeline forecasting
Visible to partners in progress updates
Won Stages
Successfully closed deals
Trigger commission calculations
Generate success notifications
Count towards revenue reporting
Lost Stages
Deals that didn't close
Help track why opportunities fail
Useful for improving processes
Don't count in revenue forecasts
Partner Visibility
What Partners See
Partners can track their referred leads through:
Current stage of each deal
Time spent in each stage
Expected close probability
Estimated close date
Deal value progression
Stage Updates
When deals move between stages:
Partners receive automatic notifications
Deal history is updated
Probability forecasts are adjusted
Commission estimates are recalculated
Pipeline Analytics
Performance Tracking
Conversion Rates: Percentage moving from stage to stage
Velocity: Average time deals spend in each stage
Bottlenecks: Stages where deals commonly stall
Success Patterns: Which paths lead to closed deals
Forecasting
Pipeline Value: Total value of active opportunities
Weighted Forecast: Pipeline value adjusted by stage probabilities
Close Predictions: Expected revenue by time period
Partner Contribution: Which partners drive the most valuable pipeline
Reporting Benefits
Identify process improvements
Spot training opportunities
Allocate resources effectively
Set realistic targets
Motivate partners with progress visibility
Integration with Deal Management
Automatic Updates
Deals automatically move through stages
Timestamps record stage changes
Probability updates adjust forecasts
Partners receive progress notifications
Commission Triggers
"Closed Won" stages trigger commission calculations
Partners see earning updates immediately
Payment processing begins automatically
Success celebrations are shared
CRM Synchronisation
Stage changes sync with your CRM
External systems stay updated
Reporting remains consistent
Data flows seamlessly
Best Practices
Stage Design
Keep the number of stages manageable (5-8 stages typically)
Make stage names clear and actionable
Set realistic probability percentages
Ensure logical progression between stages
Probability Setting
Base percentages on historical data
Consider your industry's typical conversion rates
Adjust probabilities based on deal characteristics
Review and update percentages regularly
Process Management
Train your team on stage criteria
Document what qualifies a deal for each stage
Review stage progression regularly
Update stages as your business evolves
Advanced Features
Conditional Stages
Different stages for different partner types
Product-specific pipelines
Geographic or market-based variations
Custom workflows for special deals
Automation
Automatic stage progression based on activities
Time-based stage updates
Integration with email and calendar systems
Workflow triggers for specific stages
Customisation
Custom fields for each stage
Stage-specific forms and requirements
Conditional logic for stage progression
Integration with external approval systems
Important Notes
Only Admin and Partnership users can modify stages
Changes to stage order affect all existing deals
Deleting stages may impact historical reporting
Stage probabilities should total to logical progressions
Partners see stage updates in real-time
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Stage Progression Problems
Check user permissions for stage updates
Verify stage requirements are met
Review automation rules for conflicts
Ensure CRM integration is working
Reporting Discrepancies
Confirm stage probabilities are set correctly
Check date ranges in reports
Verify deal assignments to correct stages
Review historical stage changes
This flexible stage system helps you maintain clear visibility into your partner-driven sales pipeline while giving partners the transparency they need to stay engaged with their referrals.