what is a sales administrator?

A sales administrator offers after-sales support, arranges for deliveries and processes payments and sales orders. They are employed in just about any industry. For instance, you can improve order processing efficiency in retail stores. Some manufacturing companies and production facilities also need sales administrators to handle order processing and invoices.

As a sales administrator in a small sales office, you work under the business owner. In a large organisation, you work within a team. Most employers hire someone who works under minimal supervision. The job could be yours if you are hardworking, well-organised and have exceptional telephone manners.

The job description of a sales administrator is largely the same across all industries, but your tasks vary depending on the organisation you work for. Sometimes, you compile monthly reports, maintain sales records and issue invoices after confirming order details. Some big organisations have multiple sales administrators.

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average salary of a sales administrator

According to Payscale, the average salary of a sales administrator in India is ₹360,341 per year. The earnings fluctuate based on experience, qualifications and the employer. For instance, when starting in the role, you take home ₹171,000 annually, while experienced sales administrators earn over ₹858,000 annually.

what factors affect the salary of a sales administrator?

The number of years you have worked in sales affects your earnings. As you gain more experience in sales, you become valuable to employers and can negotiate a higher salary. Your skills in handling customers or using customer relationship management (CRM) software lead to a higher salary.

Salaries also vary depending on the location. Working in metropolitan areas tends to offer higher salaries due to the high cost of living and increased demand for sales administrators. The overall demand for sales administrators in an area also influences salary ranges. For instance, a sales administrator in Bangalore, Karnataka, earns 35.4% more than the national average, while Mumbai, Maharashtra pays the lowest salary in India.

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types of sales administrators

There are different types of sales administrators, depending on the industry sector. Some of the common sales administrators include:

  • information technology (IT) sales administrators: your job is to promote the sale of IT products, from computer hardware parts to software. You explain the purchase process to potential customers and help them process their orders.
  • financial sales administrators: your job is to assist sales representatives with marketing financial products and services. You can look for potential buyers online and answer inquiries from the company website.
  • industrial products sales administrators: as a sales administrator, you boost the sales of industrial products by sourcing clients who can buy large quantities. You also help with order processing and confirming payments before products are released from the warehouse.
  • retail sales administrators: as a sales administrator, you work in business-to-business (B2B) or business-to-customer (B2C) sales. It's the most common sales administrator position in various industries with internal sales departments.
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working as a sales administrator

Working as a sales administrator involves assisting the sales team with order processing and keeping customer records. You confirm that the customer provided the correct details before transferring the order to the production or delivery team. Let's explore some of the responsibilities of sales administrators.

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education and skills

The first step to becoming a sales administrator is completing 10+2 and obtaining 50% marks from any Indian exam board with accountancy, finance and economics. To join a sales course, take an entrance test recognised by the academic institution of your choice. Some of the popular entrance exams include the Delhi University Entrance Examination (DUET) and Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET). When you pass the entrance exam, you can pursue a bachelor of commerce or a bachelor of business administration (BBA) and specialise in sales and marketing.

Post-bachelor qualifications are not mandatory but boost your earnings and prepare you for promotions. Consider pursuing a master of commerce (marketing) or an MBA.

sales administrator skills and competencies

Some of the skills that a sales administrator needs include:

  • customer service skills: as a sales administrator, you communicate with customers and help them through the purchase process. Being persuasive helps encourage clients to place an order.
  • negotiation skills: when processing orders placed through online channels, you negotiate the discounts and prices for the products. Negotiation skills help you convince the client to place an order and agree to the terms of service.
  • communication skills: as a sales administrator, you spend most of the day on the phone liaising with sales reps and talking to clients. Good communication skills and phone etiquette will help you excel.
  • organising skills: since you handle multiple purchases from different clients, it is important to avoid mixing up the orders. Organisation skills also help you meet order deadlines.
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FAQs about working as a sales administrator

Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a sales administrator.

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