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How to Empower Your Sales Team in 2024

2 min read

Sales success is not merely a goal—it’s the lifeblood of a thriving organization. The sales world, however, is undergoing a dramatic transformation and sales success is becoming a challenge. The transformation comes with a unique set of challenges.

Once confined to traditional practices, sales teams now navigate an intricate web of digital landscapes, rapidly evolving customer expectations, and fierce competition that shows no mercy.

How should you empower your sales team in a harsh global market with challenging economic conditions? In this article, we’ll talk about sales enablement and how it can help your sales team tackle emerging sales problems. We’ll also discuss how you can equip your sales team for success in 2024. Let’s get started.

The Landscape of Modern Sales Challenges

Consider for a moment the challenges that plague contemporary sales teams:

  1. Information Overload: Sales professionals are inundated with data in an era of information abundance. Yet, amid the deluge, finding the right insights and actionable intelligence to close deals can be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
  2. Empowered Customers: The balance of power has shifted. Today’s customers are more informed, more discerning, and have higher expectations than ever before. They demand personalized, value-driven interactions.
  3. Digital Disruption: The digital revolution has forever altered the sales landscape. E-commerce, social media, and online reviews have disrupted traditional sales processes, forcing organizations to adapt or risk obsolescence.
  4. Remote Work: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift to remote work. Sales teams are now dispersed, and maintaining cohesion, communication, and efficiency in this new environment presents unprecedented challenges.
  5. Shortening Attention Spans: In a world of constant distractions, capturing and retaining a prospect’s attention is a fleeting opportunity. Sales teams must make every interaction count.

In the face of these challenges, Sales Enablement emerges as a strategic imperative—an approach that not only defines the path to success but also equips sales teams with the necessary tools, resources, and knowledge to confidently navigate this complex landscape.

Why Sales Enablement Matters

Sales enablement is not a mere buzzword—it’s the transformative force that can empower your sales team to thrive in these challenges.

At its core, sales enablement is about arming your sales professionals with the right resources, knowledge, and tools to engage prospects effectively and close deals efficiently.

Consider this statistic: Companies with a defined sales enablement function experienced a 13.7% increase in deal size and a 23.3% improvement in sales quota attainment. These numbers underscore the pivotal role sales enablement plays in the success of modern businesses.

Equipping Your Sales Team for Success

To navigate the treacherous waters of modern sales effectively, your team needs more than just a compass. They need a fully equipped ship. Here’s how you can ensure your sales professionals are ready for the challenges that lie ahead:

  • Defining Sales Enablement and Its Importance: Sales enablement is more than just providing information; it’s about creating a strategic framework that aligns marketing and sales efforts. It’s about delivering the right content, training, and tools precisely when your team needs them.
  • Equipping Sales Teams with the Right Resources and Training: Information is power in today’s fast-paced sales landscape. Ensure your team can access product information, sales collateral, and training resources easily.
  • Creating a Knowledge-Sharing Culture: Knowledge should flow freely within your organization. Encourage top performers to share their insights and best practices with the team.
  • Aligning Marketing and Sales Efforts: A cohesive approach between your marketing and sales teams is crucial. When both groups work in harmony, your messaging remains consistent and leads transition more smoothly through the sales funnel.
  • Measuring and Optimizing Sales Enablement Strategies: You can’t improve what you can’t measure. Implement metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of your sales enablement efforts continually.

The CRM Connection

Central to this strategy is integrating Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems. CRM systems are the command centers, the engines that centralize information, streamline communication, and provide essential training resources. They empower your sales teams to perform at their best.

Sales enablement is not a luxury but necessary for businesses looking to thrive in today’s competitive markets. It’s about empowering your sales team with the right tools and knowledge to engage effectively, close deals, and, ultimately, drive growth.

In a world where the best-prepared team usually emerges as the victor, a CRM system can be your ultimate ally in this journey toward excellence. So, are you ready to enable your sales team to achieve excellence? Talk to our experts. Book a FREE demo below now.

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The Digital Age of Teamwork and How to Address Emerging Challenges in 2024

5 min read

How we work has undergone a remarkable transformation in the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship. Gone are the days of crowded office spaces, water cooler conversations, and face-to-face meetings.

Instead, the digital era has ushered in a new generation of collaboration, one where teams are connected not by physical proximity but by the power of technology. This paradigm shift has given rise to the era of virtual teams – groups of talented individuals who work together seamlessly, despite being scattered across the globe.

For entrepreneurs, the rise of virtual teams presents incredible opportunities and unique challenges. On one hand, it allows access to a global talent pool, promotes flexibility, and reduces overhead costs.

Conversely, it requires leaders to navigate a landscape where face-to-face interactions are scarce, motivational pep talks are delivered through screens, and digital task management tools have replaced the traditional workplace whiteboard.

In this article, we’ll delve into the world of virtual teams, exploring the challenges and advantages they offer. We’ll provide expert strategies for effectively leading these teams, maintaining high levels of engagement, and achieving business goals in 2024. Let’s get started.

The Challenges and Advantages of Virtual Teams

Virtual teams bring with them a set of distinctive challenges that can’t be overlooked. Understanding these challenges is the first step toward effective virtual team leadership for entrepreneurs. One of the primary hurdles is the potential for a lack of face-to-face interaction, which can result in feelings of isolation among team members.

According to Buffer’s “State of Remote Work” report, 20% of remote workers report feeling lonely as a significant drawback of remote work.

Additionally, managing time zones and work schedules can be tricky when your team spans different geographic regions. Miscommunications caused by language differences or written message interpretation can lead to misunderstandings. 

However, the advantages of virtual teams are equally compelling. As mentioned, access to a global talent pool is a game-changer for businesses. It enables entrepreneurs to hire the best talents regardless of their location.

Reduced overhead costs associated with maintaining physical office spaces can significantly impact a company’s bottom line. Moreover, the flexibility of remote work allows team members to tailor their work environments to their preferences, boosting productivity and job satisfaction.

Strategies for Virtual Team Leadership and Motivation

Leading a virtual team requires a unique set of leadership skills. The traditional leadership model must be adapted to suit a digital workspace, where a manager can physically walk around and engage with team members. Here are some strategies to foster effective virtual team leadership:

  1. Set Clear Expectations: Communication is the cornerstone of virtual teamwork. Clearly define expectations, roles, and responsibilities to avoid misunderstandings. According to a survey by the Project Management Institute, 37% of project failures are due to a need for clearly defined objectives.
  2. Build trust: Trust is vital in any team, but in virtual teams, it’s paramount. According to a Harvard Business Review report, high levels of trust among team members increase team productivity and satisfaction. Building trust requires consistent and transparent communication.
  3. Foster Engagement: Engagement is not a byproduct of proximity; it results from meaningful interactions and a sense of purpose. Entrepreneurs should create opportunities for team bonding, whether through virtual coffee chats, team-building exercises, or recognition programs.
  4. Leverage Technology: Invest in the right tools. Collaboration software, project management platforms, and video conferencing tools are essential for virtual teams. According to a study by Software Advice, 84% of remote employees say they need software solutions to work effectively.
  5. Provide feedback: Regular feedback is crucial in a virtual setting. According to a survey by Officevibe, 65% of employees want more feedback. Schedule one-on-one meetings and provide constructive feedback to help team members grow and improve.

Overcoming Virtual Communication Barriers

In virtual teams, effective communication is the linchpin that holds everything together. Entrepreneurs leading virtual teams must be aware of potential communication barriers and take proactive steps to overcome them.

Here’s an in-depth look at these common communication challenges and strategies for addressing them:

  1. Misinterpretation of Messages: In a digital landscape dominated by text-based communication, ambiguity can easily creep in. Encourage team members to foster a culture of clarity by asking clarifying questions whenever necessary.

    Emphasize the importance of providing context and ensuring that messages are easily understood. Consider switching to video calls or voice chats in situations where nuances matter, as they allow for richer and more accurate communication.
  2. Time Zone Challenges: Virtual teams often span different time zones, which can make scheduling meetings and real-time communication a logistical puzzle. To address this, it’s crucial to coordinate work schedules to ensure overlapping hours for collaboration.

    Leverage scheduling tools like World Time Buddy or Doodle to find suitable meeting times that accommodate team members’ time zones. Establish a shared team calendar with time zone information to prevent scheduling conflicts.
  3. Lack of Non-Verbal Cues: Without face-to-face interactions, teams may miss essential non-verbal cues conveying meaning, emotions, and intent.

    To bridge this gap, prioritize video calls whenever possible. Seeing each other’s facial expressions, body language, and gestures can help team members better understand one another. Video calls also foster a stronger sense of connection and engagement.
  4. Information Overload: In the digital workspace, information can accumulate rapidly, leading to information overload. To prevent this, encourage concise and focused communication. Use clear and descriptive subject lines for emails and messages.

    Implement an organized file-sharing system that categorizes documents logically, making it easy for team members to locate what they need.

    Consider establishing communication protocols that define when and how certain types of information should be shared to avoid overwhelming team members with irrelevant details.
  5. Loneliness and Isolation: One of the less-discussed but critical challenges of virtual work is the potential for team members to feel isolated and disconnected. Casual interactions around the water cooler or during lunch breaks contribute to a sense of belonging in an office.

    To combat loneliness and isolation, create virtual equivalents of these social interactions. Establish a “virtual water cooler” or a dedicated chat channel where team members can engage in casual conversations, share personal updates, or exchange jokes and memes. Recognize and celebrate milestones, birthdays, and achievements virtually to foster community and support.

By addressing these communication barriers head-on and implementing strategies to mitigate them, entrepreneurs can create a more cohesive and connected virtual team.

Effective communication reduces misunderstandings and enhances team morale and productivity, ultimately contributing to the success of virtual teamwork.

Tools for Managing Virtual Teams

The success of virtual teams hinges on the technology and tools they use. In today’s digital landscape, a well-equipped virtual team can access various tools to enhance collaboration, productivity, and communication. Here are the essential tools for managing virtual teams:

1. Project Management Software

  • Asana: Asana is a versatile project management tool that enables teams to organize tasks, assign responsibilities, and set deadlines. Its intuitive interface and customizable features make it a favorite among teams of all sizes.
  • Trello: Trello employs a visual approach to project management, utilizing boards, lists, and cards. It’s ideal for teams looking for a simple yet effective way to track tasks and collaborate.
  • Monday.com: Known for its flexibility and adaptability, Monday.com offers a wide range of templates and features. It’s an excellent choice for teams seeking a highly customizable project management solution.

2. Video Conferencing Platforms

  • Zoom: Zoom has become synonymous with virtual meetings and webinars. It offers high-quality video and audio conferencing, screen sharing, and collaboration tools.
  • Microsoft Teams: Integrated into the Microsoft 365 suite, Teams provides a comprehensive platform for video conferencing, chat, file sharing, and project collaboration.
  • Google Meet: Google Meet is a reliable video conferencing tool that seamlessly integrates with Google Workspace. It’s an excellent choice for teams already using Google’s productivity suite.

3. Collaboration Software

  • Slack: Slack is a popular choice for team communication. It offers real-time messaging, channels, and integrations with various productivity apps, making it a hub for team collaboration.
  • Microsoft Teams (Again): Besides video conferencing, Teams is a centralized communication and collaboration platform, allowing teams to chat, share files, and work on documents in real-time.

4. Customer Relationship Management Systems

  • Saphyte: CRM systems are the linchpin of virtual team collaboration. They serve as the digital command center for managing customer relationships but are equally adept at facilitating internal teamwork. A CRM system like Saphyte centralizes communication, tracks tasks, and ensures team members can access relevant data and updates, regardless of location.

    Each tool plays a vital role in the virtual team’s success. Project management software keeps tasks organized and on schedule, video conferencing platforms facilitate face-to-face interactions and meetings, collaboration software ensures seamless communication and CRM systems serve as the digital glue that binds virtual teams together.

In the dynamic world of virtual teamwork, having the right tools at your disposal can transform challenges into opportunities and enable your team to thrive, regardless of geographical boundaries.

The Role of CRM Systems in Virtual Team Collaboration

As we’ve explored the world of virtual teams, it’s clear that success in this digital era requires the right combination of strategies and tools. CRM systems play a pivotal role in this equation. These powerful tools act as the digital backbone of virtual team collaboration. Here’s how they make a difference:

  1. Centralizing Communication: CRM systems provide a single platform for all team communication, ensuring that important messages, updates, and discussions are easily accessible to every team member, regardless of location.
  2. Tracking Tasks and Progress: CRM systems enable task management and progress tracking, helping team leaders monitor workloads, deadlines, and project status, even when team members are miles apart.
  3. Access to Relevant Data: CRM systems house essential customer and project data, ensuring that team members have access to the latest information, allowing for informed decision-making, regardless of physical location.
  4. Automation: Many CRM systems offer automation capabilities, streamlining routine tasks and ensuring process consistency, even in a virtual environment.
  5. Real-time Insights: CRM systems provide real-time data and analytics, allowing entrepreneurs to make data-driven decisions, regardless of whether their team is in the same office or across different continents.

CRM systems are not just tools for managing customer relationships but the backbone of effective virtual team collaboration.

By centralizing communication, tracking tasks, providing access to critical data, offering automation capabilities, and delivering real-time insights, CRM systems empower entrepreneurs to navigate the digital workspace confidently and achieve their business goals in virtual teamwork.

Conclusion

In the ever-evolving landscape of entrepreneurship, virtual teams are here to stay. While they come with their share of challenges, these challenges are eclipsed by the incredible advantages they offer. With the right strategies, tools, and a robust CRM system at the heart of your operations, you can confidently navigate the digital workspace.

As an entrepreneur, you can embrace the future of teamwork, where the boundaries of geography are no longer limitations but gateways to a world of talent and innovation. By effectively leading, engaging, and communicating with your virtual team, you can achieve your business goals and thrive in the digital frontier of teamwork.

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Virtual Engagement: How to Build Connections in a Remote World

3 min read

Entrepreneurs and businesses have found themselves in a challenging position in a world forever changed by the rapid embrace of remote work. The traditional ways of connecting with customers, partners, and teams are evolving at breakneck speed.

With the rise of virtual meetings, remote collaboration, and the profound impact of technology, maintaining strong customer connections has become a critical endeavor for those navigating this new digital landscape.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced an abrupt shift towards remote work, revealing the opportunities and obstacles that come with it. While remote work offers flexibility and access to a global talent pool, it also brings forth the need to adapt and find innovative ways to foster customer relationships.

The Impact of Remote Work on Customer Relationships

Before delving into the strategies for virtual engagement, it’s vital to grasp the profound impact remote work has had on customer relationships.

In a recent study, 85% of surveyed business leaders reported that they expect remote work to persist in some form even after the pandemic subsides. This transformation has led to a significant shift in customer interactions.

One of the most striking effects of remote work is the geographical dispersion of teams. A report by Buffer reveals that 20% of remote workers feel their team is distributed across multiple time zones.

This geographical diversity can enhance customer interactions, as businesses can tap into a broader talent pool. Still, it also necessitates effective virtual engagement strategies.

Strategies for Virtual Engagement

In the era of virtual engagement, entrepreneurs and businesses must adapt their approaches to connect with customers effectively. Here are some key strategies to consider:

  1. Personalized Communication: Customers still value personalized interactions despite the physical distance. Utilize CRM tools to gather customer data, preferences, and past interactions to tailor your communication and offerings.
  2. Virtual Events: Hosting virtual events, webinars, and conferences can foster connections. According to a study by Intrado, 92% of event marketers plan to incorporate virtual elements into their future events.
  3. Chatbots and AI Assistants: Implement chatbots and AI-driven customer service tools to provide instant support, answering customer inquiries promptly and efficiently.
  4. Video Conferencing: Invest in high-quality video conferencing tools to conduct virtual meetings. According to Forbes, Zoom’s daily meeting participants skyrocketed from 10 million in December 2019 to over 300 million in April 2020.
  5. Social Media Engagement: Actively engage with customers on social media platforms. A study by Sprout Social found that 71% of consumers are more likely to recommend a brand if they have a positive experience on social media.

Leveraging Technology for Remote Connections

Technology bridges the gap between businesses and their customers in a remote world. Cloud-based Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems have emerged as indispensable tools for entrepreneurs adapting to this new paradigm.

CRM systems offer features like virtual meeting integrations, allowing seamless video conferencing within the CRM platform. This integration streamlines communication and keeps all relevant customer data in one place, enhancing the customer experience.

According to Salesforce, 86% of senior executives believe integrating disparate technologies, like CRM systems, is critical to delivering a seamless customer experience.

Furthermore, CRM systems empower businesses with data centralization, enabling entrepreneurs to access vital customer information and insights anywhere. This capability ensures that customer interactions are personalized and informed by data-driven decision-making.

Overcoming Virtual Communication Challenges

While the benefits of virtual engagement are substantial, challenges persist. Entrepreneurs must be prepared to address these issues head-on:

Digital Fatigue

Extended screen time can lead to digital fatigue. Encourage employees to take regular breaks and consider asynchronous communication for non-urgent matters. To address this, consider the following:

  • Encourage regular breaks: Advocate for structured breaks during the workday to reduce screen time and refresh employees.
  • Promote asynchronous communication: Not all communication needs to happen in real-time. Encourage using asynchronous channels like email and project management tools for non-urgent matters.
  • Implement flexible working hours: Allow employees to set their working hours within certain boundaries to accommodate different time zones and individual preferences.

Communication Gaps

Geographical dispersion can lead to communication gaps. Establish clear communication protocols and ensure that teams are aligned on objectives. To bridge these gaps, take note of the following:

  • Establish clear communication protocols: Define guidelines for communication tools, response times, and meeting schedules to ensure alignment.
  • Regular check-ins: Conduct team meetings to keep everyone informed, share progress, and address concerns.
  • Use collaboration tools: Leverage platforms that facilitate real-time document sharing and team interaction, reducing communication gaps.

Best Practices for Ensuring Data Security and Privacy

In the digital landscape, ensuring data security and privacy is paramount. When using virtual engagement tools, consider the following best practices:

  • Select trusted tools: Choose virtual engagement tools that prioritize security and offer robust encryption features.
  • Educate employees: Provide training on data security and privacy best practices to prevent data breaches.
  • Implement access controls: Restrict access to sensitive customer data to authorized personnel only.
  • Regularly update software: Keep virtual engagement tools and CRM systems up to date to protect against vulnerabilities.
  • Comply with regulations: Adhere to data privacy regulations, such as GDPR or HIPAA, depending on your industry and customer base.

Conclusion

The remote work revolution has fundamentally altered the way businesses connect with customers. While challenges abound, the opportunities for meaningful virtual engagement are boundless.

Entrepreneurs can thrive in this remote world by adopting personalized communication strategies, leveraging technology, and overcoming communication hurdles.

With their robust virtual meeting integrations and data-centralization capabilities, CRM systems play a pivotal role in supporting remote customer connections.

As we continue to navigate this evolving landscape, one thing remains clear: the ability to adapt and connect with customers in a virtual world is no longer a choice but a necessity for entrepreneurial success.

Learn more about the tech and tools that can help your remote team collaborate. Talk to our experts. Book a FREE demo below.

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6 Key CRM Strategies for Healthcare Companies in the UAE

2 min read

The healthcare industry in the UAE is highly competitive, and staying ahead of the curve requires an effective customer relationship management (CRM) system. CRMs are designed to help businesses maximize customer engagement by providing insights into their needs and helping them deliver personalized experiences that drive loyalty.

Here are some key strategies that can help healthcare startups in the UAE get the most out of their CRM:

1. Understand Customer Data Tracking and Why It’s Important in the Healthcare Sector

To maximize customer relationships, organizations must track data related to sales, marketing, product usage, and service interactions.

By understanding how customers interact with your business, you can develop more accurate customer profiles and segmentation strategies and uncover customer insights to guide future decisions.

With CRM, you can track vital information from a single platform and gain visibility into every customer journey stage.

2. Utilize Customer Segmentation to Create Targeted Messages That Resonate with Your Audience

The healthcare industry is highly diverse, so you must create targeted messages that speak to the needs of each segment.

You can begin personalized customer experiences through customer segmentation based on their interests, preferences, and behaviors. For example, you can send different promotions or offers depending on a person’s age group, location, or health condition.

By doing this, you can ensure your message resonates with your target audience and drives conversions.

3. Use Automation Tools to Streamline Processes and Save Time

CRM automation tools can help streamline processes and save Time, which is especially important for healthcare businesses in the UAE.

Automation features such as automated responses, workflows, and appointment reminders can reduce manual labor and ensure tasks are completed quickly and efficiently. The more efficient your operations are, the better you can serve your customers.

4. Leverage Customer Feedback Data to Diagnose Problems, Develop Solutions, and Make Informed Decisions

One of the most valuable CRM tools is customer feedback data, allowing organizations to gain insights into what customers think about their products or services.

By understanding customer feedback, you can diagnose issues, develop solutions and make informed decisions about how best to serve them. It’s also essential to consider customer satisfaction surveys to gather feedback from your customers and better understand their needs.

5. Implement Real-Time Reporting Capabilities to Monitor Performance and Identify Areas for Improvement

Real-time reporting capabilities provide organizations with up-to-date information on performance metrics such as response times, conversion rates, customer engagement levels, and customer satisfaction scores.

With this data, you can quickly identify areas that need improvement or opportunities for growth. For example, suppose response times are low, or customer satisfaction scores are dropping. In that case, you can quickly address the issue before it impacts your business.

6. Integrate Your CRM With Other Systems to Create a Seamless Customer Experience

Lastly, ensure you integrate your CRM with other systems, such as billing, inventory, and analytics. This will enable you to create a seamless customer experience throughout all touchpoints and provide real-time insights into customer activity.

By connecting data from various sources, you can gain better visibility into customer behavior and develop more targeted strategies for engagement.

Conclusion

CRMs are powerful tools that can help healthcare startups in the UAE maximize customer relationships and stay ahead of the competition. These strategies can help organizations create personalized customer experiences, streamline processes and generate valuable insights that drive long-term loyalty.

Since the healthcare industry in the UAE is complex and rapidly growing, a comprehensive Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution is critical to the success of healthcare startups.

Saphyte CRM provides an ideal platform for managing customer relationships, streamlining processes, and integrating with other systems – all while maintaining data security and compliance with local regulations. Get started here.

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How Marketing Helps with Profits During a Downturn

2 min read

How can marketing help with profits during an economic downturn? What must businesses do to get started? Read on to find out.

The current economic crisis is prompting businesses to change directions. Many are now focusing on qualifying and converting leads and delivering value to existing customers. What’s more, with the pandemic accelerating digital transformation, businesses are now more equipped to understand their customers better to achieve the aforementioned goals.

How can businesses use marketing to improve their profits, especially amid an economic crisis? What steps should businesses take to get better results? Check out our tips below.

Reexamine your lead scoring strategy

Your lead scoring strategy is what helps you qualify your leads and determine which potential customer is most likely to make a purchase. Lead scoring is a critical step in lead conversion strategy. 

Messing up with your lead scoring can impact your lead conversion results. This is why it’s important to reexamine your lead scoring strategy and check if it’s working well.

Some companies automate lead scoring so their sales and marketing teams can focus on more important tasks. By automating using a system, sales and marketing teams can automatically identify which of the incoming leads they need to focus on.

Focus on converting qualified leads

According to surveys, more than 25% of marketing qualified leads (MQLs) do not get a follow-up from sales. This is a wasted opportunity for driving sales. And in an economic downturn, every dollar counts.

To prevent this from happening, it’s important that, as previously mentioned, you can screen out the leads that are more likely to make a purchase, so you can focus on them and help them make a purchase as soon as possible.

You can generate qualified leads with content marketing, conduct follow-ups, connect with them through email marketing, or use positive customer testimonials and reviews to help speed up their purchase decision.

Work on your CTAs

Your CTAs are also crucial in your lead conversion strategy. CTAs may make or break your marketing campaign. If a CTA doesn’t match the customer’s needs or preferences, they may end up exiting from your website or from your other sales and marketing channels.

For example, having “Learn More” as a CTA may discourage customers that are looking to make an immediate purchase. “Buy Now” may not be effective if the customer needs more information about your product or service.

The point of CTAs is to convince users they need to take action immediately or you risk losing them, but this only works if the CTA matches the stage of the buyer in the buyer’s journey. 

Assess and evaluate your value chain

The final thing that you should remember is to add value for your customers. This can be done only when you understand how your value chain works and determine whether they’re giving value to the end users (your customers).

You can conduct a value chain analysis by doing the following:

  • First, identify all your value chain activities. You can do this by having a list of each activity in your company that is essential in the creation of your company’s finished product.
  • Second, calculate their costs. Costs such as rent, utilities, and manpower often play a role in value creation.  By identifying your value chain activities and their costs, you can see an overview of how your company is running and which parts are taking so much of your dough.
  • Third, determine what your customers perceive as value. This is where it’s important to gather data and feedback from customers to help you understand them better. To get you started, gather data related to why and how your customers make purchase decisions. This helps you understand their intent and what they perceive as valuable.
  • Fourth, compare with your competition. Understand the marketing effectiveness of your competitors. Compare how your competitors carry out tasks, what their business strategies are, and their revenue (or other performance) outcomes.
  • Lastly, decide on a competitive advantage. After making your comparisons, you’ll already know which parts you are performing better compared to your competitors. It can be the cost, the perceived value of the brand, or the accessibility you provide to your customers.

Gather data from your customers now

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6 CRM Automation Examples Good For Your Business

Email marketing. Lead generation. Lead scoring— Sales and marketing functions that can be fully automated. How does CRM automation work and what can it do for your business?

You may have heard about automation somewhere and still don’t know what it is and what it really means for your business. Well, you’re in the right place as we’ll show you how CRM automation actually works and how it can be good for your business.

Here are six CRM automation examples to get you started:

1. Gathering lead contact information in one system

Lead generation can be quite a challenge as it can be repetitive, and especially when it is manually done. Traditionally, companies get their leads from referrals, from those who subscribed to their email lists, or even cold calling.

Today, companies can get their leads from those who visited their websites and landing pages, or those who clicked on their ads on social media, among others.

With CRM automation, companies ditch tiring traditional methods and just wait for leads to fill out system-generated forms. CRM systems will then pull all the information the lead has typed in into its central database and use the information for future sales and marketing workflows (such as email marketing).

CRMs like Saphyte also allow their users to embed forms on their websites and easily track the performance of campaigns and content (e.g. number of signups or conversions) through these forms. 

2. Scoring leads based on quality or chances of conversion

Traditionally, lead scoring is done by sales teams by manually assigning a score on a lead based on a set of criteria. This score measures how “qualified” a lead is to make a purchase and how likely they will make one.

With CRM automation, this manual process of assigning scores can be eliminated. The CRM system can automatically assign this score for the company based on the conditions and the criteria set by the company in the system.

3. Sending emails based on schedule or conditions

Emails, for whatever purpose, don’t have to be manually crafted and sent using a CRM system. CRM automation allows companies to send out marketing emails based on trigger events such as when a form was submitted or an email was opened or clicked. 

Companies can also schedule the flow of their marketing email campaign by setting the specific count, time, days, or hours before an email is delivered to the target customer.

4. Notifying customers of upcoming meetings with you

CRMs can also let users automate customer reminders before a scheduled meeting or appointment. This reduces the amount of time and effort needed to remind customers to show up. The automated meeting notification has also been observed to minimize no-shows and cancellations.

5. Capture contact information from clients that booked an appointment

Automation also lets users avoid the process of manually adding invitees to their contacts. With a CRM like Saphyte, anyone who has booked in your calendar will have their details automatically captured and saved as a contact in the CRM database.

6. Assign meetings or schedules among team members

CRM automation can also eliminate the process of manually assigning a meeting appointment or schedule to a team member. Using CRM systems like Saphyte, users can automate the process of assigning meetings or appointments among team members using a round-robin distribution, depending on their availability or priority.

Learn More About Automation

CRM automation can make workflows shorter and more efficient. It allows sales, marketing, and admin members to focus more on important tasks that are yet to be automated while leaving the manual, repetitive tasks to the CRM to automate. This makes company workforces more productive, less costly, and more fulfilled.

Discover the power of CRM automation now and see how it can impact your business. Book a FREE demo with our experts at Saphyte to learn more.

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How a Digital Ecosystem Helps with Agile Workflows

2 min read

What are agile workflows and how do digital ecosystems help with them? Why are all these necessary for businesses post-pandemic? Read on to find out.

What are digital ecosystems and what are agile workflows? If these words are unfamiliar to you, allow us to define them for you.

Digital ecosystems are a group of interconnected resources, often related to data and information, that functions as a single unit. 

These ecosystems are made up of technologies designed to perform a function(s), often with the end goal of improving the business performance of their users. 

Agile workflows, on the other hand, are a series of work processes that are broken down into smaller cycles to simplify the project and make its completion faster and more efficient.

Now that you’re familiar with these key terms, let’s discuss how digital ecosystems help with agile workflows, and why they’re important post-pandemic.

How digital ecosystems help with workflows

Below, we’ll explain how digital ecosystems can help improve your agile workflows:

Makes agile workflows more efficient

With digital ecosystems, agile workflows can be implemented with the aid of automation and other tools that help cut delivery time. Workflows that can be automated may be reduced from hours to mere minutes. 

Digital ecosystems can also “digitalize” the performance of these workflows, meaning that they can be done anytime, anywhere as long as the employee is connected to the internet.

Reduces costs 

Companies incur charges when running workflows. These are necessary expenses to make sure the business performs well. These include sales and marketing workflows, production workflows, and even employee onboarding.

With digital ecosystems, not only are the running of these workflows more efficient, but they’re also cheaper to run. Automated workflows can help cut down the manpower needed to run manual, repetitive tasks which often pervade the modern business environment.

Eliminates errors

When employees run workflows, it’s inevitable that errors will be committed every now and then. This is highly likely especially if the task involved is manually and repetitively done.

A light error may make the company incur actual and opportunity costs. For example, if the company sent the wrong product to a customer because of an input error, the company has to incur charges for sending another product. 

Moreover, this bad experience may discourage the customer from buying again, a future opportunity cost charged to the business.

Improves customer experience

A fast and efficient service delivery helps improve the customer experience. The customer experience can even be further enhanced with the use of digital ecosystems to provide a personalized service

Better customer experience has been observed to contribute to higher customer loyalty, more repeat purchases, and reduced customer churn.

Enhances productivity

With a digital ecosystem, your agile workflows can focus on more important tasks and leave the repetitive tasks to the system. This enhances employee productivity and even improves their experience, leading to reduced employee turnover.

Faster and more efficient workflows?

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5 Pharmaceutical Trends to Watch Out for 2023

2 min read

Find out what’s in store for the pharmaceutical industry in 2023, after the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the world slowly recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, many opportunities are starting to open up for the pharmaceutical industry. According to research, the global pharmaceutical industry will be worth US$1.57 trillion by 2023. However, these opportunities come with challenges as well.

Policy changes, evolving consumer behavior, and a rising inflation rate across the world continue to put pressure on pharma companies.

Find out what’s in store for the pharma industry in 2023 and what trends to look out for to stay ahead of the competition.

1. Increasing verticalization of the healthcare industry

With verticalization, patient care is no longer exclusively provided in hospitals and doctor’s clinics. 

Some non-traditional institutions such as retail chains (e..g Walmart, Walgreens, etc.) may become part of the business of patient care and this will sooner become more normal than you think.

Verticalization also results in organizations creating alliances to improve product and service delivery. This results in an increase in patient services, access to care, and more importantly, lower costs of delivery.

With the pandemic prompting pharmaceutical companies to reexamine their supply chain, verticalization has proven beneficial to some companies, which will unsurprisingly become increasingly adopted in the industry.

2. More demand for personalization

The pandemic has also increased the demand for personalization among patients in the industry. Medical records need to be quickly available and retrievable in a centralized database for pharma and insurance companies. More patients are demanding quicker and more targeted services.

Pharma companies have also observed the demand for personalized content that is relevant to the needs and preferences of patients. Otherwise, patients have higher chances of switching to competitors for better services.

3. Challenges of cost control policies

Research also points to the increased adoption of cost-control policies in 2023. This may be combined with governments tightening rules in key pharmaceutical markets, which may impact the growth aspect of these industries.

Pharma companies’ research and development (R&D) spending may be decreased due to the hampering of growth across pharma companies globally in recent years. The generics pharma market, in particular, has been facing a decreasing return on investment. 

4. Digital transformation continues

The pandemic has also accelerated the trend of digital transformation adoption in the pharma industry. Digital solutions are expected to continue in 2023 across key business areas such as sales, marketing, advertising and customer support.

Those that have adopted digital transformation have been observed to radically alter the competitive landscape. 

More customers are seen to prefer companies that are able to provide more responsive care and service, changing customer expectations and buying patterns. 

Those that refuse to adopt digital transformation have been largely seen to lag behind, in terms of customer acquisition and profitability.

5. More adoption of agile workflows

The pandemic has also forced pharma companies to come up with and/or adopt more agile workflows. This led to the rapid development and approval of vaccines, and workflows dealing with patient care despite mobility and contact restrictions.

Today, the pharma market has a more heterogeneous and digitally-enabled customer base. The evolving patient demands and preferences have proven time and time again how the adoption of agile workflows is no longer an option, but a necessity.

Some of the ways agile workflows exemplified are through Interactive data flow and remote monitoring. Patient data is recorded in a centralized database for faster retrieval, eliminating unnecessary and repetitive workflows. 

More accurate, timely, and comprehensive services have been observed from more agile workflows, thus improving patient experience.

Better data and patient care through digital ecosystem

Learn how critical pharmaceutical workflows can be made easier with a digital ecosystem. Find out how you can gather, store, and retrieve patient data and provide more responsive services now. Book a demo with our experts at Saphyte.

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5 Consultancy Trends to Watch Out for 2023

2 min read

Clients will have distinct preferences this year and onto the next. Learn more about how value, reliability, and authenticity can help you get a headstart in the consulting industry in 2023.

With market conditions becoming difficult to grasp and predict, clients are becoming more specific about their requests than ever before. Consulting firms need to step up and provide better value than competitors. 

Find out what trends you need to watch out for in 2023 to get a headstart:

1. Increased need for digitization as consumer demand evolves

The pandemic has caused consumers across industries to have different needs, preferences, and priorities— changing buying patterns and making the factors that go into the buying decision unpredictable.

Digitization has become needed more than ever before. Only through digitization can businesses quickly gather data to understand their customers better and provide more personalized service.

Overall, this helps provide more value that is needed to establish customer loyalty and differentiate the brand from competitors.

2. Rise in adoption of cloud technology for changing workflows

The shift to remote working is expected to continue even until 2023. This is why the demand for cloud services remains— which applies not only to consulting firms but also to clients. 

Popular consulting firms like Accenture and Deloitte have already made moves to invest in cloud infrastructure. AI-enabled analytics solutions were also integrated into the system to enhance the way consulting firms operate. 

3. Expansion of workforce to global levels

Markets all over the world are expected to continuously recover after the pandemic, with businesses across industries scrambling to learn more about the market conditions and business environments. Consulting services will continue to be in demand. 

In fact, by 2025, the industry has a projected growth at a CAGR of 9.9%, reaching US$91.38 billion.

4. Retention strategies explored

The surge in demand for consultants sparked competition among consulting firms, especially when it comes to specialists. Retention strategies need to be re-examined and explored to learn more ways to retain top talent.

For example, firms like Deloitte and PwC announced a new flexible working arrangement for their employees. Other long-term policies for staff retention, such as retirement and health packages need to be re-examined and explored as well.

5. More adoption of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) measures

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) measures are those set of standards used to measure a company’s ability to sustainably and ethically operate, taking into consideration, its environmental, social, and political impact.

These standards have been increasing in popularity in recent years, especially with the rising pressure from the consumers themselves for companies to protect the environment or to address existing social issues. 

How to Get a Headstart as a Consulting Firm

With these identified trends coming for 2023, there are three things that consulting firms need to prioritize:

  • Gather as much market data as possible
  • Improve value and impact on customers by providing personalized services
  • Use technologies to improve employee experience, engagement, and retention

Learn more about using technologies designed for consulting firms with our experts at Saphyte. Get started by booking a demo here.

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5 Real Estate Trends to Watch Out for 2023

2 min read

The real estate market is one of the fastest-growing industries this year. Find out what spurs its growth and what’s in store for 2023.

Market research conclusions for real estate are conflicting. Some research forecasts real estate growth for 2023, while others are not so positive about it. 

Some research predicts that the housing market will continue to perform better than in the pre-pandemic periods. While others expect that the rising inflation rate will continue to dampen the demand.

What’s the future for real estate in 2023? Here are 5 real estate trends to watch out for:

1. Rise In Demand Continues

If there’s one thing that the pandemic taught people all over the world, it’s the importance of having a home. The home is the new office. And many workers globally prefer to work at home than go to their offices.

Health and safety concerns may also contribute to this rise in demand. However, increasing prices of construction materials may lead to more unaffordable homes— a challenge that real estate companies need to address.

2. Increase In Investments

With the increase in demand for homes comes an expected increase in investments. The pandemic-induced home purchases are likely to continue in 2023. In the US, housing that generates a steady cash flow (such as multifamily housing) remains popular, with almost 15% of housing stock in the US made up of multifamily housing.

3. Rise In Prices Will Slow Down

Although the prices for housing will continue to increase, they’re expected to slow down in 2023. According to a poll by Reuters, home price rises were predicted to slow to 6.5% in 2022 and 3.0% in 2023, compared to the 7.5% and 4.5% increase rates in previous estimates.

Experts explain that although the demand for residential properties is high in 2022, this trend could change next year due to rising costs of living and increasing mortgage rates.

4. Soaring Interest Rates

You may already see a pattern here. Everything seems to be rising and that includes interest rates. The increase in interest rates may, however, vary depending on the location.

In the US, mortgage rates recently jumped above 6%, their highest point since late 2008. According to experts in real estate in Dubai, interest rates in the region may continue to rise with monthly mortgage payments skyrocketing up to 50% higher than in the same period last year.

5. Increased demand for luxury properties

Despite the pandemic, the global wealth was reported to grow during the past two years, leading to an increase in High-Net-Worth (HNW) individuals worth over $30 million by 10%.

Last year, global luxury home markets continued to soar. Now, with the restrictions on mobility easing and the property market starting to look positive, the ultra-wealthy have been keen on investing in luxury properties. 

In Dubai, the demand for luxury villas has grown exponentially in recent years. This led to an increase in prices for luxury properties such as the Palm Jumeirah and the Dubai Residence complex with reported price increases of up to 30% over the past year.

Upgrade Your Real Estate Team

Engage your target market effectively. Send content effortlessly. Gather data and learn more about your customers. 

With Saphyte, you can have all the tools you need to run your sales and marketing workflows efficiently in one centralized platform. Discover how Saphyte can help you grow your business. Book a demo with our experts now.

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