The One Thing Sales Reps Hate Most And How Order Automation Software Fixes It

Sales teams perform best when they spend their time talking to customers, understanding needs, and closing deals. But in many B2B companies across the United States, sales reps are still buried in administrative work. One task stands out as the most frustrating: manual order entry. 

Instead of selling, reps often find themselves opening emails, reading PDF purchase orders, double-checking details, and typing data into systems. This slows them down, breaks momentum, and directly impacts revenue. The good news is that this problem is not about motivation or skill. It is an operational issue — and it can be fixed with order automation software. 

What Sales Reps Really Hate About Their Job 

Sales reps are hired to sell, not to manage paperwork. Yet order entry remains a daily responsibility for many teams. 

Manual Order Entry Is a Productivity Killer 

When orders arrive by email, sales reps often become the middle layer between customers and operations. They must: 

• Read purchase order emails 

• Extract product details and quantities 

• Enter data into CRM, ERP, or OMS systems 

• Fix mistakes when errors happen 

This work is repetitive, time-consuming, and mentally draining. It also pulls sales reps away from high-value activities like prospecting and follow-ups. 

Why This Hurts Sales Performance 

Every minute spent on admin work is a minute not spent selling. Over time, this leads to: 

• Slower response times 

• Missed upsell opportunities 

• Lower deal volume 

• Frustrated and burned-out reps 

This is why many sales performance issues are actually operations problems in disguise. 

 Why Order Automation Software Matters for Sales Teams 

Order automation software removes administrative work from the sales workflow by handling order processing automatically. 

Instead of asking sales reps to manage order data, the system extracts, validates, and prepares order information without manual input. Sales teams stay involved only when review or approval is truly needed. 

This shift allows reps to focus on what they do best: building relationships and closing deals. 

 How Automated Order Processing Supports Sales Productivity 

Automated order processing uses AI to read purchase orders from emails and PDFs, extract key information, and prepare it for backend systems. This eliminates the need for sales reps to manually re-enter data. 

Where Automation Fits in the Sales Workflow 

With automation in place: 

• Orders are captured as soon as they arrive 

• Data is structured and checked automatically 

• Only exceptions require human review 

Sales reps no longer act as data entry clerks. They stay focused on customers instead of systems. 

 How Sales Order Processing Automation Works Step by Step 

Step 1: Orders Arrive by Email 

Customers continue sending purchase orders the same way they always have. 

Step 2: Data Is Extracted Automatically 

AI reads the purchase order and captures product details, quantities, and customer information. 

Step 3: Validation Happens in the Background 

The system checks data accuracy before it reaches operations. 

Step 4: Orders Are Ready for Fulfillment 

Clean orders move forward without sales rep involvement. 

This is the foundation of sales order processing automation — removing friction without disrupting customer behavior. 

 Sales Reps With vs Without Automation 

 Real-World Use Case: Removing Order Entry from Sales 

Many B2B companies use order automation software to remove order entry from the sales role entirely. 

Instead of typing orders, sales reps: 

• Review orders only when needed 

• Confirm details faster 

• Spend more time on pipeline growth 

This creates a cleaner handoff between sales and operations and improves overall efficiency. 

Common Mistakes Companies Make 

Treating Admin Work as “Part of the Job” 

Sales reps should not be responsible for repetitive data entry. This leads to burnout and turnover. 

Relying on Manual Checks 

Manual review does not scale and increases the risk of errors. 

Ignoring Sales Feedback 

When reps complain about paperwork, it is often a system problem, not a performance issue. 

Best Practices to Automate Order Processing for Sales Teams 

To get the most value from automation: 

• Remove order entry from the sales role 

• Use automate order processing workflows with exception handling 

• Keep sales involved only for approvals or special cases 

• Align automation with existing sales processes 

These practices improve adoption and results without disrupting daily work. 

Why Reducing Admin Work Improves Revenue 

When sales reps are free from manual tasks: 

• They respond faster to customers 

• They follow up more consistently 

• They close more deals 

This is why removing order entry is not just an efficiency upgrade, it is a revenue strategy. 

Fix the Real Problem Sales Reps Face 

The one thing all great sales reps hate is not selling harder — it is paperwork. Manual order entry slows them down, breaks momentum, and limits growth. 

By using order automation software, companies can remove this burden, protect sales time, and build a healthier, more productive sales organization. 

FAQs 

What task do sales reps dislike the most? 

Manual order entry, because it takes time away from selling and customer relationships. 

How does automated order processing help sales teams? 

It removes repetitive data entry and allows reps to focus on revenue-generating work. 

What is sales order processing automation? 

It is the use of AI to capture and process sales orders without manual input. 

Can automation handle email purchase orders? 

Yes. Orders sent by email can be processed automatically. 

Why should sales teams automate order processing? 

To improve productivity, reduce errors, and prevent burnout.