Handoff Builder
Create seamless transitions between GTM functions. The handoff between sales and CS is where most customer relationships break — the customer repeats everything they already told sales, expectations get lost, and trust erodes. This skill prevents that.
The Handoff Problem
Every GTM handoff is a moment of risk:
- •SDR → AE: Context about the prospect's pain and urgency gets lost
- •AE → SE: Technical requirements aren't fully communicated
- •Sales → CS: Customer expectations don't match what was sold
- •Sales → Implementation: Scope and timeline assumptions differ
- •CS → Sales: Expansion opportunities don't get pursued
Bad handoffs cost deals, create churn, and destroy cross-functional trust.
Handoff Types
1. SDR → AE Handoff
# Lead Handoff: [Company Name] **SDR:** [Name] | **AE:** [Name] | **Date:** [Date] ## Prospect Summary | Field | Detail | |-------|--------| | Company | [Name, size, industry] | | Contact | [Name, title, email, phone] | | Source | [How they came in — inbound, outbound, event, referral] | ## Why They Took the Meeting [What pain or interest did they express? Use their words.] ## Qualification Notes | Criterion | What We Know | |-----------|-------------| | Pain | [Specific problem they mentioned] | | Budget | [Any signal — allocated, looking for budget, unknown] | | Authority | [Is this the decision-maker? Who else is involved?] | | Timeline | [Any urgency driver or target date?] | ## Conversation History [Summary of all touchpoints — emails, calls, content engagement] ## Suggested Approach for First Call [Based on what the SDR learned, what should the AE focus on?] ## Red Flags [Anything concerning — competitor already in play, low urgency, tire-kicking signals]
2. Sales → CS Handoff
# Customer Handoff: [Company Name] **AE:** [Name] | **CSM:** [Name] | **Date:** [Date] **Deal Size:** $[amount] | **Contract Start:** [Date] | **Term:** [Duration] ## Customer Overview | Field | Detail | |-------|--------| | Company | [Name, size, industry, HQ] | | Primary Contact | [Name, title, email] | | Executive Sponsor | [Name, title] | | Technical Lead | [Name, title] | ## What They Bought and Why [Clear description of: what was sold, which use cases they're deploying for, and the business problem they're solving. Don't just list SKUs — explain the intent.] ## Customer Expectations [What did the customer explicitly say they expect to achieve? Use their words. This is the most important section — it's the promise CS needs to deliver on.] ### Success Criteria (Agreed with Customer) 1. [Specific, measurable outcome they expect] 2. [Second outcome] 3. [Third outcome] ### Timeline Expectations | Milestone | Customer's Expected Date | |-----------|------------------------| | Go-live / first value | [Date] | | Full rollout | [Date] | | First business review | [Date] | ## Sales Cycle Context ### Key Decisions and Why [What were the pivotal moments in the sale? What almost killed the deal? What won it?] ### Competitors Evaluated [Who else they looked at and why they chose you — this helps CS reinforce the decision] ### Concerns Raised During Sales [Any objections, hesitations, or risks the customer expressed. CS needs to know these so they don't resurface as churn risk.] ### Internal Champion [Who advocated for you internally? CS should nurture this relationship.] ### Potential Blocker [Anyone who was skeptical or opposed? CS should be aware.] ## Technical Context | Item | Detail | |------|--------| | Integration requirements | [What needs to connect] | | Data migration | [Scope of migration] | | Technical constraints | [Known limitations or requirements] | | Security/compliance | [Any special requirements] | ## Expansion Opportunity [What wasn't included in this deal but could be a future upsell? What signals to watch for.] ## Risk Flags | Risk | Severity | Mitigation | |------|----------|------------| | [Risk] | 🔴🟡🟢 | [What CS should do] | ## Attachments / References - [Link to proposal] - [Link to SOW] - [Link to call recordings] - [Link to CRM opportunity]
3. AE → SE Handoff
Brief but precise — what the SE needs to prep a demo or POC.
4. Sales → Implementation Handoff
Scope, timeline, technical requirements, customer expectations, and known risks.
Handoff Quality Score
Every handoff gets scored on completeness:
| Section | Weight | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Customer context | 20% | [Complete / Partial / Missing] |
| Expectations & success criteria | 25% | [Score] |
| Risk flags | 15% | [Score] |
| Technical requirements | 15% | [Score] |
| Relationship context | 15% | [Score] |
| Action items | 10% | [Score] |
Overall: [X/100] — handoffs below 70 get flagged for additional information.
Related Skills
- •deal-qualification → Qualification data feeds directly into handoff context
- •proposal-builder → Proposal content referenced in handoff
- •expansion-playbook → Expansion opportunities identified during handoff
- •gtm-memory → Handoff context stored for future reference