The primary challenge for their innovation teams, according to the Innovation head of a Fortune 50 corporation, is to consciously engage the bosses at the front end of the project. The bosses sign off on initial costs and then when things progress to the stage of making prototypes and trial production- the bosses suddenly wake up. “I never realized that there are such big costs involved,down the line…” is a common refrain.
Category Archives: Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)
New Product B2B marketers and the junior manager prospect: problem or opportunity?
No junior or middle manager would like to admit that they have a problem when faced with a new B2B solution that has the potential to vastly improve efficiency or reduce cost. Such an admission involves potentially admitting that the manager is not doing her job. The risks seem just too much with a new supplier, legacy systems and the fear of the unknown. A classic case of marketers trying to promote value as buyers try to reduce risk. And we are not just referring to purchasing and supply management folk- but the potential users of the new product that the marketers is trying to convince in the buying center.
Our organization has a website: what next?
We heard from several folks that our organization already has a website: but we are not sure what to do next. So here are 5 easy steps to take: 1. Your stakeholders are on a journey-help them: Whether you are a business or a non-profit you have stakeholders. And these stakeholders are on a journeyContinue reading “Our organization has a website: what next?”
B2B suppliers tell you: Do you listen? Obamacare website and the BP oil spill
The B2B blame game between contractors and BP during the oil spill and the blame game between the IT contractors and the Federal HHS is eerily similar. B2B suppliers tell you- but do you listen? is the question to ask. The prepared remarks of HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius for her testimony tomorrow (October 30) areContinue reading “B2B suppliers tell you: Do you listen? Obamacare website and the BP oil spill”
Why marketing is overwhelmed by IT and big data
Compared to other functional areas like supply chain,finance or HR , marketing seems most overwhelmed by IT and big data. David Edelman of McKinsey suggests how marketing and IT might co-ordinate and this blog had exhorted Ad agencies, marketing and IT to start embracing this huge data opportunity in an earlier post on the digitalContinue reading “Why marketing is overwhelmed by IT and big data”
How does a sales person identify the influential members of the buying center?
“How does a sales person identify the influential members of the buying center?” is an
important question that sales people constantly wrestle with. While “Buying Centers” have influencers, they may not be the most powerful i.e. influential and it is best to identify potential users of your product or service who will become your advocates because your offering is so appropriate. In other words, remember that those who are “influential” in organizations are so because they champion stuff that is right for the
organization!
B2B marketing opportunity appears when the Buying Center members face Buy Task challenges
That B2B marketing opportunity appears when the Buying Center members face Buy Task challenges is a concept that is simple and obvious to the buying firm buying center and strangely only to the more perceptive B2B marketer. Here is how the Buy Task challenge plays out for the Buying Center and spells B2B marketing opportunityContinue reading “B2B marketing opportunity appears when the Buying Center members face Buy Task challenges”
“The Social Revolution is a Trust Revolution”- says Marc Benioff of Salesforce.com
“The Social Revolution is a Trust Revolution”- says Marc Benioff of Salesforce.com and in the video from the tenth Dreamforce conference, Men’s Wearhouse CEO George Zimmer seems to agree and say… I guarantee it! [Note: This post is from September 19,2012 with a video segment from the Salesforce Dream Conference, 2012 -Updated March 24, 2021]
Supply Chain rationalization means fewer jobs in small businesses
At a recent conference an entrepreneur at the $25 million sales level mentioned that all the bigger organizations preferred to deal with $100 million level firms for purposes of supply chain rationalization. Quite understandable, but this does affect employment in US small businesses. Let's see how: Supply (procurement) managers buy goods and services that mustContinue reading “Supply Chain rationalization means fewer jobs in small businesses”
The Internet and Buying Center: are you making product information easy to share?
The Internet is affecting business in numerous ways and in B2B buying it is affecting the Buying Center as well. The Buying Center is one of the most critical B2B concepts in that it is never a single buyer who can unilaterally decide to buy a new product or service from a new vendor. InContinue reading “The Internet and Buying Center: are you making product information easy to share?”