What Are the Duties of a Sales Administrator?

Sales administrators provide essential support for the sales team, and if you draw energy from being part of a team, it might be a good job for you. Sales administrators are responsible for the efficient handling of sales orders, and they help to improve the productivity of field sales representatives by dealing with customer queries and fielding calls. This important position contributes to the quality of customer service and the achievement of sales targets.

Administrators process sale orders that reach the company by telephone, letter, e-mail or website. They also process orders generated by sales representatives or telesales staff. Administrators check the order to ensure that customers have entered correct details, such as prices, discounts or product numbers. They contact customers to resolve any queries or obtain any information that is missing, such as size or color. It's how you solve little problems before they become bigger disappointments for customers.

Sales administrators enter details of the order on a computer system and forward the order to the production or dispatch department, asking for confirmation of stock availability or delivery dates. So, you need to know your way around a computer and your company's in-house systems. They also check that delivery and contact details are correct and update customer records with any changes. Before they release the order to production or dispatch, they might have to check the customer’s payment or credit status or obtain authorization from the sales manager. When orders are complete, they advise the finance department to prepare invoices.

Administrators maintain customer sales records -- not a problem for you if you are a detail-oriented person. They create records for new customers, including contact details and the name of the representative managing the account. They update the records with details of orders and invoices. These records provide useful data for sales reports and for planning future sales and marketing campaigns.

Sales administrators provide support for sales representatives when they are away from the office. They take calls or e-mails from customers and alert representatives to any urgent issues. They deal with routine requests from customers, such as requests for price quotes or delivery dates. They might also pass any technical queries from sales representatives or customers to the appropriate departments. They update representatives on orders or deliveries. This support helps the field sales team work more productively and focus on dealing with customers.

Sales administrators maintain records of sales and compare them with targets to help sales managers and representatives monitor the team's progress. They also record and process sales representatives’ expenses, such as fuel or hotel accommodation, and prepare reports against budgets.

Secretaries and administrative assistants earned a median annual salary of $38,730 in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On the low end, secretaries and administrative assistants earned a 25th percentile salary of $30,500, meaning 75 percent earned more than this amount. The 75th percentile salary is $48,680, meaning 25 percent earn more. In 2016, 3,990,400 people were employed in the U.S. as secretaries and administrative assistants.