Distribution & SFA Glossary
Key terms used in distribution management, salesforce automation, and dairy/FMCG operations.
In-depth guides
Long-form breakdowns of the categories that matter most when evaluating distribution software.
What is DMS?
Distribution Management System — the operational backbone of FMCG and dairy distribution.
Read the guideWhat is SFA?
Sales Force Automation — GPS, beat plans, attendance, and field order capture.
Read the guideWhat is a Beat Plan?
The pre-defined route every salesperson runs — daily, weekly, or custom cadence.
Read the guideWhat is Scheme Management?
Automated application of trade and consumer schemes to prevent revenue leakage.
Read the guideWhat is GST E-Invoicing?
Real-time invoice submission to the IRP — mandatory for India businesses ₹5 Cr+.
Read the guideAll terms
Quick definitions for every term used across our platform and documentation.
Distribution Management System
Software that manages the complete distribution workflow — orders, dispatch, delivery, billing, and payments — across a network of distributors and retailers.
Read the full DMS guideSales Force Automation
Software that automates field sales operations including GPS tracking, attendance, beat plans, retailer visits, and activity reporting.
Read the full SFA guideA pre-defined route and schedule for field sales staff to visit assigned retailers in a specific order. Digital beat plans ensure compliance and route optimization.
Read the full Beat Plan guideGross Merchandise Value
The total value of goods processed through a distribution platform, measured in rupees. SalesPort processes ₹8,572 Crore GMV.
Stock Keeping Unit
A unique identifier for each product variant (size, weight, packaging). FMCG companies may manage thousands of SKUs across their distribution network.
Milk Collection Centre
A district or regional-level centre where milk from multiple village-level centres is aggregated, tested, and dispatched to the dairy plant.
Read the full MCC guideVillage Level Centre
A village-level milk collection point where farmers deliver milk daily. SalesPort manages 1,797 VLCs across its dairy procurement network.
Read the full VLC guideFat and Solids-Not-Fat
Quality parameters used to grade milk. Fat percentage and SNF percentage determine the price paid to farmers. SalesPort integrates with testing machines for automated recording.
Read the full Fat/SNF guideA delivery document issued when goods are dispatched. SalesPort has digitised 4.75 Lakh challans, replacing paper-based tracking.
Read the full Challan guideAn authorisation document for goods leaving a warehouse or plant. SalesPort manages 1.91 Lakh digital gate passes.
Read the full Gate Pass guideA virtual geographic boundary used to verify that field staff are at their assigned location before marking attendance or completing tasks.
Read the full Geo-fencing guideA promotional offer applied to orders — buy X get Y free, volume discounts, combo offers. SalesPort auto-applies 17.43 Lakh schemes to prevent manual errors.
Read the full Scheme guideReal-time submission of B2B invoices to the Invoice Registration Portal (IRP) for IRN and QR-code generation. Mandatory for businesses above ₹5 Cr turnover in India.
Read the full GST E-Invoicing guideInvoice Reference Number
A 64-character unique identifier assigned by the IRP to every successfully e-invoiced B2B invoice. Required for the buyer to claim Input Tax Credit.
Read the full IRN guideMicro, Small and Medium Enterprises
A government classification for Indian businesses based on investment and turnover. Sort String Solutions is MSME registered.
Read the full MSME guideBusiness to Business
Distribution from manufacturer to distributor to retailer. SalesPort's core B2B module manages 29 company deployments.
Read the full B2B guideDirect to Consumer
Selling directly to end consumers via apps and subscriptions, bypassing traditional distribution. SalesPort manages 38,513 D2C customers.
Read the full D2C guideHuman Resource Management System
Employee management software covering attendance, leave, payroll, and expense claims. SalesPort HRMS is deployed for NDDB Dairy Services.
Read the full HRMS guideEnterprise Resource Planning
A comprehensive business management system. SalesPort integrates with Tally ERP and SAP B1/HANA for seamless accounting.
Read the full ERP guideAnnual Maintenance Contract
An ongoing service agreement for software maintenance, updates, and support after initial deployment.