Friday, February 26th, 2021
Conferences and exhibitions 7.1 2021
NSCM Virtual – National Conference in Sales…
Friday, February 26th, 2021
2021 7.1 Research Review – edited by Jeremy Noad
The research review aims to help readers keep up to date with recently published research on sales-related topics. The review highlights short abstracts of academically peer-reviewed research. This selection of published research is from a range of academic journals. In this edition, the abstracts include four themes that focus on sales performance, customer management, capability development, and sales behaviours. Sales…
Friday, February 26th, 2021
Key trends in sales tech
What you need to know about how sales enablement technology is advancing. As is usual at this time of year, I have spent a lot of time thinking about enablement’s current state. Before I take a journey through sales-enablement technology trends, let’s briefly explore enablement and B2B sales, as both of these topics are influencing the outlook for technology for…
Friday, February 26th, 2021
It’s time to level up!
Four forever changes transforming b2b revenue activities. Sales and marketing leaders, it’s time to level up. Buyers are searching for more information on their own, without talking to a sales rep. That means they are engaging with your content further down the funnel. As a result, your content can’t be just a companion to a sales-led customer conversation; it needs…
Friday, February 26th, 2021
Here’s what’s changing
The key issues for B2B sales leaders in 2021. 2020 proved to be a challenging year for many B2B sales organisations. Certain sectors powered ahead (for example, anything associated with e-commerce or digital transformation) but many other industries suffered significant declines in demand. 2021 will inevitably bring further challenges. Whilst the emergence of effective vaccines offers some hope for recovery,…
Friday, February 26th, 2021
Welcome aboard (digitally)!
How sales-enablement platforms can help us make a success of virtual onboarding. One positive to come out of 2020 was the accelerated push for digitalisation. For some, this meant learning to video call friends and family. For others, it meant moving every single work-related process from in-person to online. Now, we’re comfortable with hosting entirely virtual events, conducting virtual sales…
Tuesday, November 10th, 2020
Open courses and events Q3 2020
Sales Essentials for Success – Cranfield Executive Development 18-20 November 2020 (live online); 8 February 2021 (face-to-face) £2,200 + VAT (concessions available) – execdev@cranfield.ac.uk +44 (0)1234 754500Sales Essentials for Success gives you the tools to build and create a sales function that is strategically directed and controlled. You’ll gain a fundamental knowledge of the tactics that must be employed on…
Tuesday, November 10th, 2020
Conferences and exhibitions Q3 2020
National Sales Conference 20 – Digital Growth…
Monday, November 9th, 2020
Leadership in the digital future
What are the required leadership behaviours that will help leaders succeed in the digital age, and to what extent do our leaders need to change their leadership behaviour in the future? Over 24 years I have held various sales and sales support roles at SAP. I had the chance to work with the largest customer (Siemens) as a Global Account…
Monday, November 9th, 2020
Mind the (skills) gap!
The team’s work began in late 2016, when it was observed that sales metrics for SAP sales executives – while in line with or slightly above industry standards – were not meeting sales management expectations. With a worldwide digital transformation in full swing, it was imperative that SAP’s sales executives were well-trained to help customers understand and implement emerging innovations…
Monday, November 9th, 2020
Focus on sales technology
Beyond the gimmick Digital sales rooms: are they fact or fancy? For some time, the sales industry has been considering how innovations like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) can support the sales process. However, for many, they simply represents a gimmick rather than a genuine means of engaging with buyers and adding value to the experience. However, with…
Friday, November 6th, 2020
Focus on strategic planning and sales enablement
Sales methods must change in a post-COVID-19 world. It is often said that people buy from people. Many of the world’s top salespeople have relied on their personality and ability to quickly establish a rapport with customers to become highly successful. While this trend may continue in future, the dynamics of sales have to change dramatically in a post-COVID-19 world….
Tuesday, May 26th, 2020
Igniting a SPARK
How to introduce a collaborative change methodology to further support embedding of a sales academy into an organization. “How will I introduce a collaborative change methodology to further support the embedding of the SPARK Sales Academy into our organisation?” Simon Sinek (2011) tells us to start with “why”. My concern begins to formulate by asking myself, “Why did my sales…
Friday, May 22nd, 2020
Keeping sales enablement simple
Breaking down complexity to boost sales performance. There’s no denying it, the buying process is more complicated, longer and involves more stakeholders than ever before. But in contrast to this change, product life cycles are becoming much shorter and salespeople are feeling the pressure. Getting to grips with increasingly complex products and solutions in a short time means salespeople not…
Wednesday, September 11th, 2019
Virtual training can be better than the classroom
New, controlled field test proves effectiveness of online alternative. When it comes to creating lasting behaviour change in salespeople, the assumption is that virtual sales skills training is a pale imitation of in-person classroom training. But what if an online training alternative could be proven as effective, if not more effective than classroom training? Can you imagine the possibilities for…
Wednesday, September 11th, 2019
NeGOtiate&WIN
How a unified negotiations approach drives customer loyalty and more revenue for SAP. The digital revolution is having a dramatic effect on the sales world. Listening to the customer, taking their concerns and strategic objectives on board, and using their feedback to identify the best possible solution has always proved to be an effective strategy. However, sales success can also…
Tuesday, September 10th, 2019
Navigating choppy economic waters
World-class sellers don’t expect success; they prepare for it. On the face of it, sellers appear to be on a winning streak. New figures from CSO Insights (the research division of Miller Heiman Group) reveal that, over the period 2017–19, sales organisations globally saw a 7% increase across both revenue and quota target attainment. However, before sales teams are too…
Tuesday, September 10th, 2019
CSOs’ top three 2019 priorities – Gartner
1. Improve effectiveness of sales development activities…
Tuesday, September 10th, 2019
Sales enablement goes strategic
As selling evolves, how do you make sales enablement work for your company? When listing key company departments, many business leaders will name sales, HR, marketing or even their IT team. Today, however, more and more are adding sales enablement to that list. The rise of sales enablement is materialising. According to recent research from CSO Insights, 61% of businesses…
Wednesday, June 26th, 2019
Working together to deliver growth
How L&D can support sales transformation by collaborating with the sales leadership team. In this case study, RS Components Director of Learning and Development, Ian Wearne explains how L&D, sales leadership and salespeople collaborated to create a sales development programme that is transforming employee engagement and sales performance. In keeping salespeople at the top of their game, learning and development…