Sales pipeline
A sales pipeline is the visual sequence of stages a deal moves through from first contact to closed won or lost. It shows, at a glance, what you are working on, where each deal stands, and what is likely to close — so a team can prioritise and forecast.
Typical pipeline stages
Stages vary by business, but a common shape runs from a first conversation to a signed deal.
- Qualified — a real opportunity worth pursuing.
- Demo or discovery — showing fit and understanding needs.
- Proposal — pricing and terms are on the table.
- Negotiation — closing the remaining gaps.
- Won or lost — the deal closes one way or the other.
Why the pipeline only works if it stays current
A pipeline is only useful if it reflects reality, and it drifts the moment deals stop being updated. The fix is to tie movement to a next action: in NeoKivo every open deal must have one next step with a due date, and the Focus view surfaces the overdue ones — so the board stays honest without constant manual upkeep.
FAQ
What are the stages of a sales pipeline?+
A common sequence is qualified, demo/discovery, proposal, negotiation, then won or lost. The exact stages depend on how you sell, and a good CRM lets you name them to match your process.
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