# What is Inventory Management?

#### **CRM (Customer Relationship Management)**

Imagine CRM as your **blueprint binder** 🗂️ — it keeps track of all the people, companies, and projects you’re bidding or working on, so nothing falls through the cracks.

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#### **Lead** 🏗️

* A lead is like a **new project inquiry**.
* Example: *Michael Johnson* fills out a form asking for railing estimates on a new office tower in Dallas.
* You don’t yet know if he has budget, timeline, or is serious — you just know there’s potential.
* Goal: **Qualify the lead** (like checking if the site has permits and funding before starting).

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#### **Account** 🏢

* An account is the **company (GC, Architect, Sub-Contractor)** you’re working with.
* Example: *Turner Construction* becomes an account in your CRM.
* Under that account, you’ll track all jobs, bids, and people you deal with.
* Think of it as the **headquarters** for all activity with that company.

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#### **Contact** 👷‍♂️

* A contact is the individual person at the account.

  Example (Estimator): James Carter, Estimator at Turner Construction.\
  He’s the one requesting your bid numbers, comparing them with competitors, and deciding whether you’re in the final round.

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#### **Opportunity** 💰

* An opportunity is the **specific project or deal** you’re bidding or negotiating.
* Example: A $1.2M glass railing installation for the *Dallas Medical Center Tower* is an opportunity.
* It moves through stages — bid submitted → under review → awarded → closed.
* It’s like tracking the **project lifecycle**, from bid board to punch list.

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⚡ Quick construction analogy:

* **Lead** = a new job lead you hear about (“Hey, there’s a tower going up downtown”).
* **Account** = the GC firm running the job (e.g., Turner Construction).
* **Contact** = James Carter, Estimator at Turner Construction.
* **Opportunity** = your bid for *that specific project* (Dallas Medical Tower railing contract).
