> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.letsconnekt.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Business Development Pipeline Management in Connekt

> How to use Connekt's Business Development pipeline to track company opportunities from first outreach through to signed and active client status.

The Business Development (BD) pipeline tracks company opportunities from first contact through to active recruitment engagement. It's designed to help you manage new business relationships — use it for prospecting and account development, not for tracking live roles or individual candidates. That distinction is what sets it apart from the submissions pipeline.

## Accessing the BD Pipeline

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to Pipeline">
    Click **Pipeline** in the main navigation.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click the Business Development tab">
    Select the **Business Development** tab at the top of the page to switch from the submissions view to the BD pipeline.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Viewing the BD pipeline requires the `companies_view_all` permission. If you don't see the Business Development tab, contact your admin to check your access level.
</Note>

## BD Stages

Each BD record has a stage that reflects the company's current status in your business development process.

<Accordion title="Prospect stages">
  There are four prospect stages to reflect where you are in the conversation:

  * **Prospect** — you've identified this company as a potential client
  * **Prospect (Cold)** — early outreach, no warm relationship yet
  * **Prospect (Lead)** — there's a lead or referral to follow up
  * **Prospect (Negotiating)** — actively in conversation about terms or engagement
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Signed">
  The client has signed on and is ready to work on roles with you.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Signed & Paying">
  An active, invoicing client relationship — they've signed and you're billing them.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Active">
  Currently engaged and working roles with you.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Inactive">
  No current activity. Keep inactive companies in your pipeline so you can re-engage them in future.
</Accordion>

## Working with BD Records

The BD pipeline is a **filterable list view**, not a drag-and-drop Kanban board. To change a company's stage, open the company record and update the status from there.

Here's how to get the most from BD records:

* **Link to a company** — every BD record is attached to a specific company in Connekt. Open the company record to see the full relationship history alongside the BD stage.
* **Log activities** — record calls, emails, and meetings directly on the company record to build a complete outreach history. This makes it easy to pick up where a colleague left off.
* **Update stages from the record** — navigate to the company, click the current BD stage, and select the new one to reflect where the relationship has moved.

## BD Pipeline vs. Submissions Pipeline

It's worth understanding the difference between the two pipelines so you use the right one for each situation.

|               | BD Pipeline                | Submissions Pipeline              |
| ------------- | -------------------------- | --------------------------------- |
| **Tracks**    | Company relationships      | Individual candidate–job pairings |
| **Use for**   | New business development   | Active recruitment                |
| **View type** | Filterable list            | Kanban board                      |
| **Linked to** | Companies                  | Candidates and jobs               |
| **Leads to**  | Signed client relationship | Placement                         |

<Info>
  Use both pipelines together for the clearest picture of your business. The BD pipeline shows you what new clients are coming through, while the submissions pipeline shows you the active recruitment work happening with your existing clients.
</Info>