As companies go, Verl Doman's Sales Automation Consultants isn't very big.
In fact, there is only one employee, Doman, and his office is in his home.Doman likes it that way, however, because in the fall he watches his boys play football, something he might not be able to do if he worked for someone else.
Sales is not such a precise occupation as many others, the 56-year-old Doman said, therefore he provides a service that he believes can make a difference in a company. He uses a computer to manage valuable business opportunities.
For example, Doman works with several automobile dealerships and his program gives the sales manager the ability to follow up on each prospect with each sales representative each day.
Doman said a study done in the Chicago area shows companies that used software in their sales programs increased sales by 20 percent. He said his efforts are too new to draw some local comparisons yet.
Sales automation is now where word processing was 10-15 years
ago, Doman said. "With intensifying competition and the increasing need for more careful follow-up on prospects and customers, companies are being compelled to use computers and contact- management software," he said.
Doman said there are several contact-management software packages available, but he usually uses Totall Manager from Automation Technologies of Salt Lake City. The package costs $500 and Doman usually charges $1,000 to customize it for a company. That fee includes training employees so they can use the program.
In addition to its sales application, Doman said Totall Manager keeps track of large numbers of contacts, scheduled appointments and follow-up, writing, storing and creating reports and sales projections.
Doman has customized some software for the Utah Department of Human Resources for use in child foster care. Because case workers need to follow 84 steps to conform to policy and law, the pilot program is assisting them in keeping track of the steps completed, Doman said.
A native of Oregon, Doman graduated from Brigham Young University in 1963 with a bachelor's degree in business management and marketing. He has worked in the automobile business, was an administrative assistant to Dee Anderson, owner of Dee's Drive-Ins and Restaurants, and worked for O.C. Tanner Co. for five years before going into business for himself in 1978.
He got into sales automation two years ago while doing some work for Bonneville International.
Being self-employed has allowed Doman to watch 475 football games that his sons have played. His oldest son, Kevin, is a former BYU receiver and now works in New York; Bryce is a junior receiver at BYU and will play in the Holiday Bowl; Cliff is serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chicago and has a BYU football scholarship waiting for him; and youngest son Brandon quarterbacked Skyline High School to the 5-A football championship this year.