What is the best way to restrict sales representatives to only the stages relevant to their sales process?

Using record types is the most effective way to restrict sales representatives to only the stages relevant to their specific sales process. Record types allow organizations to define different business processes, picklist values, and page layouts that can be tailored to distinct groups of users.

When applied to a sales process, record types can segment the stages of the sales pipeline, ensuring that each sales representative sees only the stages that are applicable to their specific sales process. For example, different types of products or services might have different sales stages, and by using record types, you can configure the system so that representatives only engage with the stages that are relevant to the products they are selling.

In contrast, multi-select picklists would allow users to select multiple options from a list but wouldn't restrict which stages are presented to users based on their roles or responsibilities. Page layouts help in customizing the interface users see but do not control the underlying data or processing logic directly related to sales stages. Roles can control access and visibility in a broad sense but do not inherently manage the specific sales stages available to users.

By leveraging record types, organizations can streamline the sales process and enhance user experience by presenting tailored workflows that fit the exact needs of the sales teams.