Section 13 · Relationship Graph — Follow People, Not Just Companies
13.5Referral relationship tracking
Designed for Phase 3- No.
- 13.5
- DMA's reference
- Decision Book p.28
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Autonomy
- L1 · Recommend
- DMA's decision
- Later
What DMA asked for · Decision Book p.28
Show useful connections between clients, former clients, partners and prospects.
Why it matters to DMA: A nice network effect, but low urgency for its cost, so DMA's book decided later.
In our words, from DMA's Product Decision Book v3, page 28.
How we do it
- DMA decided LATER (Phase 3).
- The design records who referred whom (from the lead source in Nutshell and from the notes) and shows, on each prospect, any client or partner who knows them.
- It builds on the relationship pieces above (13.1–13.4).
Already in place
- Lead sources are already mirrored from Nutshell.
- The audit already reads the notes, where referrals are usually mentioned.
What the later phase adds
- A referral link between records, from the lead source or the notes.
- "Who knows them" on the Account 360.
The flow
It plays on its own while it's on screen; hover or use the controls to pause or step through.
A referred lead
A new lead's source says a current client referred them.
- Nutshell
- Stored data
- Screen
Where the data goes
The same six stages on every page. Nothing reaches Nutshell except through the write gate.
- 1Nutshell
Source
Lead sources and notes.
- 2Sync
Copies Nutshell changes into the bridge database
Mirrors them.
- 3Bridge database
A copy of the CRM data, plus what the AI works out
The referral links.
- 4AI
Claude models, only through DMA's own gateway
Could read referrals out of the notes.
- 5Write gate
The only way back into Nutshell: checked, approved when needed, sent once
Not involved.
- 6Nutshell
The system of record
Unchanged.
The tables behind it
Drawn from the POC's database catalogue: structure only, no data.
PK primary keyFK reference the database enforces (solid line)ID reference kept by id (dashed line)
| Table | What it holds | Columns |
|---|---|---|
| crm.sources | Lead sources as defined in Nutshell. | 12 |
| crm.leads | Deals with their source ids. | 26 |
Worked example
Synthetic demo data: every name, business and number is made up.
A designed referral link (synthetic example).
Who knows them
- Prospect
- Lakeview Orthodontics
- Referred by
- Northside Dental Group (client since 2022)
In the running POC
There is no screen for this one yet: it is designed for Phase 3, as DMA's book decides. The parts listed under “Already in place” run in the POC today.
Status
Designed for Phase 3. DMA's book schedules this for Phase 3 (decision: later). The design is ready and builds on parts that already run in the POC.