External sales refers to the process of generating sales and revenue through channels outside an organization's own internal sales team. This typically involves partnerships with other companies, resellers, or independent sales agents that sell a company's products or services to their own customer base.
Example: A software company that develops a project management tool enters into a partnership with a consultancy firm specializing in business efficiency. The consultancy firm recommends the software to their clients and receives a commission for each sale. This arrangement allows the software company to tap into new markets and customer bases without directly employing additional sales staff, exemplifying how external sales work in a B2B context.
Understanding external sales helps businesses strategically increase their market presence, effectively utilize external networks for revenue growth, and make informed decisions about sales channel optimization.