Now once a value entered into "Latest Payment Received" (with a two minute grace period for typos), the python script would update the "Payments to Date" and "Balance Remaining".
Next an automated email would be sent to the customer thanking them for their payment, and showing the aforementioned balances.
Finally, the "Latest Payment Received" value would be cleared, so as to not cause confusion to sales when they next need to make an entry.
After documenting the SOP, I held a training session with sales on how to enter receipt of payment, with a full explanation of how the customer would be notified.