SALES MANAGEMENT
Welcome to the world of sales
Reference book Sales Management by Edward W Cundiff, Richard R Still, Norman A.P Govoni
Sales Management as a career Advantages Fast growth opportunities Measurable performance Opportunity to Build wide network/ relationship Helps Build emotional intelligence Opportunity to gain Industry knowledge Inter Personal Skills Can be the of the company More scope to enrich in all job functions Generally turn to be good in HR Personality becomes aggressive
Sales Management as a career Perils Non performance easily identified Some tend to remain just good salesmen First to take the brunt of Non Performance
The Modern Sales Personnel Is good at: Planning Building and Maintaining effective Organization Control and Monitoring Implementation Achieving end Result
Responsibilities in Sales Management Achieve Targeted Sales Contribute to Profit Maintain Growth
Manufacturing had Higher Evolution of Sales function (Pre-Industrial Era) Demand > Supply Buyer Seek Sellers Manufacturing had Higher Importance No Mass Production
Mass Production Commenced Specialized Departments for Evolution of Sales function (Post-Industrial Era) Mass Production Commenced New Markets to be found Specialized Departments for Personal Selling Competition Forced it further
How marketing Function got Split? Sales Advertising Market Research Promotion Credit/ Collection Export Traffic / Shipping Merchandis sing
Activities in Sales Management Planning Control of Personal Selling Recruitment Training Equipping Assigning Motivating Routing Supervising The Above activities are related to Personal Sales Force Sales and Marketing Dept work together Sales is both and Operational and Executive function
Sales Management and Financial Results Sales - Cost of Sales = GROSS PROFIT Gross Margin - Expenses = NET PROFIT Hence Sales has a Direct Influence on the Profitability Any impact on Sales speaks on the Profit Directly
Sales, Expenses and Profit relationship Situation Growth in Sales with Higher Growth Expenses Solution Maintain Sales growth but shrink Expenses No result- shrink both Sales and Expenses Catch At times Sales Organization get blind to expenses in sight of Sales Volume
Sales Manager as a Co-ordinator
Organizing & Co-ordination function What do they co-ordinate ? Co-ordinate different order getting methods Cross objectives of different channels Co ordinate with other Marketing activities Co ordinate personal Selling with Advertising and Sales Promotion Sales to capitalize on Advertising How do they co ordinate ? Co ordination by participate method Advertising and Sales promotion an arial support. What done best by Personal Selling and Advertising is decided
Co ordination with Distribution Network (In case of dealer network Management) Create middlemen (dealers) Persuade them to stock Create market pull for them to stock Co ordinate between company and dealer for Promotional work Establish dealer identity among end users Protect the interest of the company and the dealer Share promotional Cost and Risk with dealer Ajay & Co. Rahul & Co Sanjay & Co. Vijay & Co.
Sales Management & control
? Analysis of the Situation What is the present performance level? How did we achieve the present level? Where are the trends for future? How do we get to the target?
“Control measures should work at clockwise precision”
Setting Performance Standards Fix upper and Lower limits of performance Analyze factors like Area Market Potential Salesmen skills Assignment base Past performance Future objective Cost of Sales while fixing range of performance
Gathering information on Actual Performance Identify the relevant information needed Avoid duplication Establish periodicity and time schedule for information gathering System for action plan based on information.
Evaluating Performance Compare results with Target / Standard Question analyze more than standard variation Consider influences out of control
Action to correct Controllable Variations Provide Directions on more effective way Guide/ Train Install Procedures & Practices to control
Adjust the Un-controllable factors Rework on Standard if un-realistic Re look at the policies and procedures Identify lacunae in Planning
Sales Control Styles
“Yes, expectations are high”
Informal Control More effective in smaller organizations Should have a feel for the pulse of business Able to quickly put you finger on the problem Be close touch with market
This is what you think of a company with no follow up
Formal control For larger organizations Have written practices and sales policies Build authority for changing With exceptions makes changes
Policy formation and review- Informal control Study all influencing factors prior to policy formation Consider Intangible factors as well Review periodically Amend based on: Market response Uncontrollable environment changes. Acquire more information In case of new product changes are more likely to happen due to unknown factors
Formal control on sales volume Fix sales volume target based on market forecast Monitor periodically Review based on: Industry sales trends Activities of Competitors Market share percentages Govt Policies
“don’t you need for control and systems”
Budgetary Control Control of Sales, Expenses, Margins and hence profit Individual profit and loss statement can be made for Territories Products Marketing Channels Class of Customers Install review system and control Sales , Expenses Take timely corrective action Take decision of elimination with over all Marketing objective in mind
Pre requisite for success of Sales Management Control A de-centralized decision making Senior Management pitches in when situation not manageable Time is the factor Train and empower hierarchy down the line for decision making