{"id":359,"date":"2026-03-07T10:11:21","date_gmt":"2026-03-07T10:11:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onesystemcrm.com\/help\/?post_type=docs&p=359"},"modified":"2026-03-13T06:12:32","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T06:12:32","password":"","slug":"understanding-pipelines","status":"publish","type":"docs","link":"https:\/\/onesystemcrm.com\/help\/Supports\/understanding-pipelines\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Pipelines"},"content":{"rendered":"

Overview<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Pipelines are visual workflow tools that show the progress of leads, deals, or customers from start to finish. Each opportunity moves through defined stages, helping teams understand what actions are needed and where items may be getting stuck.
\nUpdated Pipelines Experience (Labs)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Pipelines page now uses the HighRise design system for a cleaner, more consistent experience.<\/p>\n

To enable this update, go to\u00a0Sub-account \u2192 Labs<\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n

You can access Pipelines from:<\/p>\n

Sub-account \u2192 Opportunities \u2192 Pipelines<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Pipelines List View<\/strong><\/h2>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

This view displays all pipelines in the sub-account, along with the number of stages in each pipeline and the last updated timestamp.<\/p>\n

\n

Why Pipelines Matter<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Pipelines help you:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • \n

    Improve visibility<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Instantly see where every opportunity stands in your process.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Maintain consistency<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Standardize how leads or clients move through your workflow.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Increase efficiency<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Automate follow-ups, reminders, and task assignments based on stage changes.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Track performance<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Monitor conversion rates, identify bottlenecks, and measure overall pipeline health.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    \n

    Pipeline Stages<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    A pipeline is made up of stages, with each stage representing a step in your sales or customer journey. Opportunities move from left to right as they progress through the pipeline.<\/p>\n

    Stages should be clearly defined and action-oriented so users know exactly when an opportunity should move forward.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Editing a Pipeline and Its Stages<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    <\/em><\/p>\n

    From this screen, you can rename stages, reorder them, control reporting visibility, add new stages, or delete existing ones.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Deleting a Pipeline Stage<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    When deleting a pipeline stage, you can now\u00a0move all existing opportunities to another stage<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0instead of losing them.<\/p>\n

    How it works<\/strong><\/h3>\n
      \n
    1. \n

      Navigate to\u00a0<\/span>Opportunities \u2192 Pipelines<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    2. \n

      Open the pipeline you want to edit.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    3. \n

      Click the\u00a0delete<\/strong><\/span> icon next to the stage.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    4. \n

      Select a destination stage to move existing opportunities.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    5. \n

      Confirm the deletion.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      All opportunities from the deleted stage are automatically transferred to the selected stage.<\/p>\n

      \n

      Example Pipeline Stages<\/strong><\/h2>\n

      Example: Sales Pipeline<\/strong><\/h3>\n
        \n
      • \n

        Lead Capture<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 New inquiries from forms, calls, or chats<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        Qualification<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 Budget, need, and fit are confirmed<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        Appointment Scheduled<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 Discovery calls or demos are booked<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        Proposal \/ Negotiation<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 Offers are shared and discussed<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        Closing<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0\u2013 Opportunity marked as Won or Lost<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Example: Service Business Pipeline<\/strong><\/h3>\n
          \n
        • \n

          New Inquiry<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          Discovery Call Booked<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          Service or Package Selected<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          Payment Collected<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          Onboarding
          \nTip:<\/strong><\/span> Keep stages action-oriented and define clear rules for progression.<\/span>
          \n<\/span>Example: Move an opportunity to\u00a0<\/span>Appointment Scheduled<\/em>\u00a0only after a meeting is confirmed on the calendar.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          \n

          Best Practices<\/strong><\/h2>\n

          Keep It Simple<\/strong><\/h3>\n

          Limit pipelines to only the stages that matter most. Too many stages can slow down your workflow and reduce clarity.<\/p>\n

          Automate Smartly<\/strong><\/h3>\n

          Use pipeline-based automation to reduce manual work:<\/p>\n

            \n
          • \n

            Send follow-ups when opportunities stay in a stage too long<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

          • \n

            Assign tasks when deals reach key stages<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Review Regularly<\/strong><\/h3>\n

            On a weekly or monthly basis:<\/p>\n

              \n
            • \n

              Remove outdated opportunities<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Update stage definitions as your process evolves<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Review conversion data and performance trends<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              \n

              Data-Driven Optimization<\/strong><\/h2>\n

              Pipelines are more than organizational tools\u2014they provide insight into your business. Use pipeline reporting to answer:<\/p>\n

                \n
              • \n

                Where do opportunities drop off most often?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

              • \n

                Which stage takes the longest to complete?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

              • \n

                What is the win rate at each stage?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                Use these insights to continuously improve your workflow and conversion rates.<\/p>\n

                \n

                Common Use Cases<\/strong><\/h2>\n
                  \n
                • \n

                  Real Estate<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  New Lead \u2192 Property Tour \u2192 Offer \u2192 Contract Signed \u2192 Closed<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                • \n

                  Coaching<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  Inquiry \u2192 Discovery Call \u2192 Program Selected \u2192 Payment \u2192 Onboarding<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                • \n

                  Agency Client Management<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  Lead \u2192 Strategy Call \u2192 Proposal \u2192 Agreement \u2192 Onboarded<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  These examples can be adapted to fit most industries.<\/p>\n

                  \n

                  FAQs<\/strong><\/h2>\n

                   <\/p>\n

                  Q: Do I lose opportunities when I delete a pipeline stage?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

                  No. When deleting a stage, you can choose another stage to move all existing opportunities to.<\/p>\n

                  Q: Is the updated Pipelines experience required?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

                  No. The updated experience is currently optional and can be enabled from\u00a0Sub-account \u2192 Labs<\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n

                  Q: Did any pipeline functionality change?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

                  No core functionality changed. The update focuses on UI improvements and safer stage management.<\/p>\n

                  Q: Do existing automations still work?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

                  Yes. All existing pipeline-based automations and triggers continue to function normally.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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