Skip to content

POC Overview for Sales Engineers

As a Sales Engineer, you are the primary driver of POC engagements with customers. This guide will help you understand how to effectively use POC Manager to create, manage, and execute successful proof of concept projects.

Your Role

Sales Engineers are responsible for:

  • Creating new POC engagements
  • Inviting and onboarding customers
  • Managing POC tasks and timelines
  • Tracking progress and completion
  • Communicating with customers
  • Generating reports and documentation
  • Ensuring successful POC outcomes

Quick Start Workflow

graph LR
    A[Create POC] --> B[Add Tasks]
    B --> C[Invite Customer]
    C --> D[Track Progress]
    D --> E[Generate Reports]

1. Create a POC

Start by creating a new POC engagement:

  1. Navigate to the POCs page
  2. Click Create POC
  3. Fill in the basic information:
  4. Name: Clear, descriptive name for the POC
  5. Description: Goals and objectives
  6. Start Date: When the POC begins
  7. End Date: Target completion date
  8. Success Criteria: What defines success
  9. Click Save

Using Templates

If your Administrator has created task templates, you can quickly add pre-configured tasks to your POC.

2. Add Tasks and Resources

Build out your POC with tasks:

  1. Click Add Task or select from task templates
  2. For each task:
  3. Set the task name and description
  4. Assign it to yourself or the customer
  5. Add resources (documentation, links, code samples)
  6. Set expected timeline
  7. Organize tasks using task groups for better structure

Learn more about managing tasks →

3. Invite Customers

Once your POC is structured:

  1. Click Invite Customer
  2. Enter the customer's email address
  3. Optionally add a personal message
  4. Send the invitation

Customers will receive an email with instructions to access the POC.

Learn more about inviting customers →

4. Track Progress

Monitor your POC progress:

  • Dashboard: View all your POCs at a glance
  • Task Status: See which tasks are in progress, completed, or blocked
  • Customer Activity: Monitor customer engagement and feedback
  • Success Criteria: Track progress toward goals

Learn more about tracking progress →

5. Collaborate

Engage with your customer:

  • Add external comments that customers can see
  • Use internal comments for team notes
  • Respond to customer feedback
  • Update task status based on progress

6. Generate Reports

At any time, generate documentation:

  • POC summary reports (PDF)
  • Task completion reports
  • Export to Markdown for sharing
  • Include success criteria status

Best Practices

📋 Planning

  • Start with clear success criteria
  • Break down complex goals into manageable tasks
  • Set realistic timelines
  • Include relevant resources upfront

👥 Customer Engagement

  • Send invitations early in the process
  • Provide clear instructions and expectations
  • Respond promptly to customer questions
  • Keep customers updated on progress

📊 Progress Tracking

  • Update task status regularly
  • Document blockers immediately
  • Review progress weekly
  • Adjust timelines as needed

💬 Communication

  • Use external comments for customer-facing updates
  • Use internal comments for team coordination
  • Keep communication professional and clear
  • Document decisions and agreements

📝 Documentation

  • Add comprehensive resources to tasks
  • Link to relevant documentation
  • Include code samples when applicable
  • Generate reports at milestones

POC Dashboard

Your dashboard provides a quick overview of all your POCs:

Metric Description
Active POCs Currently in-progress engagements
Completion Rate Percentage of tasks completed
Pending Tasks Tasks awaiting action
Customer Engagement Recent customer activity
Upcoming Deadlines POCs nearing end date

Common Scenarios

Starting a Technical Evaluation

  1. Create POC with technical objectives
  2. Add tasks for each evaluation criterion
  3. Attach technical documentation and code samples
  4. Invite customer's technical team
  5. Provide hands-on resources and support

Running a Business POC

  1. Define business outcomes and KPIs
  2. Create tasks aligned with business goals
  3. Include ROI calculations and case studies
  4. Invite business stakeholders
  5. Track business metrics and success criteria

Managing Multiple POCs

  1. Use clear naming conventions
  2. Set up notifications for key events
  3. Review dashboard regularly
  4. Prioritize based on timelines and customer importance
  5. Delegate tasks when appropriate

Getting Help

  • Task Templates: Contact your Administrator for reusable templates
  • Customer Issues: Escalate to your Tenant Admin if needed
  • Technical Support: Refer to the Features documentation

Next Steps: