Sales is a short term process of generating revenue for business by selling the products to customers.
Business development is a long term activity aimed at creating value for business through strategic opportunities.
Sales and business development are different from each other in the following ways:
1. Sales is a transactional activity whereas business development is aimed at developing long term relationships.
2. Sales team focuses on the end customer and business development team focuses on all the stake holders.
3. Sales team operates to increase sales volume whereas business development team develops plans and strategies by analyzing the competitors and market.
4. Sales team focuses on increasing sales and business development team focuses on promoting business and facilitating growth.