Category: Blog

Did you get more in 2024?

Did you get more sales in 2024?

Looking back and thinking forward.  

 

With resolutions, mood boards and SMART goals a plenty, the wiff of a new year is in the air. But before we pop bottles, start chanting “3.. 2… 1…” and proudly conclude ‘new year, new me!’, there are lessons from the “old year, old you” not to forget, but on which we should rather reflect.  

 

The definition of insanity 

The is a reason that the definition of insanity is “doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome” is an age old adage. While we usually think of this in more personal terms, like getting back with one’s ex or eating another tub of ice cream and expecting not to feel ill again, its premise has a lot of professional promise.  

 

Looking back does not have to mean holding one’s self back. Sure “what got you here, won’t get you there”, but… it still got you here. So, whilst it’s exciting to spend this time of year thinking about goals for 2025, we will circle back to that in the new year. Before circling back, let’s look back.  Before we put together beautiful presentations with motivational titles like “Thrive in 2025”, let’s look at how we could’ve gotten more out of 2024.  

 

Is it a joyous occasion to sit around a boardroom table and spend time thinking on what went wrong or what could have been done?  No. But I would make sure you have good snacks and some sort of emotional support animal on standby.  

 

In all seriousness, however, it is important.  

 

The reality is that a mistake is only a mistake if you don’t learn from it, otherwise it’s called a lesson. So, rather remove the threat of insanity and reflect on mistakes so as not to make them again. The entire exercise can be the cathartic art of turning mistakes into lessons.  

 

Making what worked, work harder 

Looking back is not all doom and gloom, there is also room for bloom. So, get the hard truths, the mistakes turned lessons, ironed out first. Next, you get the chance to revel in all that worked, and strategise on how to make it work even harder.  

 

Let’s face it, 2025 plans, strategies and presentations are essentially New Year’s resolutions in a suit. We are one stock image library away from creating corporate Pinterest boards, as we love to set new goals, new ambitions, new standards, personally and professionally.  

 

New. New. New. 

 

New is great. But perhaps, sprinkled in with all the resolutions, we should incorporate some thinking around evolutions. Be it product, strategy or team evolutions. What existing elements that are working for your organization, should you build on, rather than start over on?  

 

Data-driven dreaming 

Whilst a whimsical sounding concept, it is entirely practical in nature. The reality is, none of the above, whether it’s learning from the mistakes or building the wins, is possible without the historical data to do so.  

 

Whilst reporting is not a romantic concept, when you need it, you will fall in love with the fact you have it. Having a solid system in place to collate your data and provide insights from it, is the difference between thriving in 2025 and barely surviving it.  

 

It is not enough to simply remember what happened in 2024 because, firstly, who could? We are remembering to collect kids, lock doors and whether you turned the iron off. Frankly, who has the time? Secondly, who should?  

 

You should not have to remember exact figures from a 6 month-old sales report. You should have technology and systems in place to do this, otherwise you may just as well have left the iron on.  

 

From proper data, one can dream. One can learn from mistakes. One can set goals. And indeed, thrive in 2025.  

For the love of sales – how to rekindle the flame

For the love of sales technology

Ah, sales. The art of persuasion, the thrill of the chase, the sweet sound of “Yes, I’ll take ten!” But let’s be honest, sometimes the fire dims and you find yourself lost in a sea of CRM updates, cold calls, and the dreaded quarterly targets. Fear not, my fellow sales warriors! It’s time to fall head over heels in love with sales all over again. Let’s bring back that spark, shall we?

“WhatsApp or What’s Up with that?”: Why chat apps aren’t cutting it for B2B sales management

Why chat apps aren’t cutting it for B2B sales management

Hey there, business buffs! Let’s face it, we’ve all been there: firing off a quick message to a team member on chat apps like WhatsApp, hoping they’ll remember that important client meeting or update the latest sales figures. But is “quick” always “quality”? Here’s a lowdown on why chat apps, as handy as they are, might just be the wrong tool for your B2B sales squad.

5 reasons why sales rep tracking software is essential for effective sales management

5 reasons why sales rep tracking software is essential for effective sales management

Sales rep tracking isn’t just about looking for the whereabouts of your sales team. It’s also about tracking sales performance and finding ways to improve.

Field sales teams must always ensure they cover their bases to stay ahead in today’s competitive landscape. Granted, sales managers can only do so much to get there. When managing sales team members, keeping track of what everybody is doing is often difficult. This is especially true when they’re all out on the field attending to their individual clients. Are they visiting as many clients as they should?

5 Reasons SA’s food and beverage industry must embrace B2B technology today

5 Reasons SA’s food and beverage industry must embrace B2B technology today

In South Africa, we are seeing more and more food and beverage companies turn to software to improve productivity, profitability, and stability. Savvy companies are leveraging technology to thrive in a rather bumpy market. One such game-changer is the B2B sales order app, a locally-designed app that optimises B2B sales ordering processes and catalyses growth.

In this article we’ll cover the challenges your food and beverage company is facing, how software can help, and the reasons why you need a sales order app like Skynamo to stay ahead in today’s market.

5 tips to create a positive sales accountability culture within your company

5 tips to create a positive sales accountability culture within your company

A sales manager’s ultimate goal is to get their entire sales team to deliver. When a sales accountability culture is introduced, it means everybody pitches in and pulls their weight. If the company plans to achieve its target, everybody from the junior salesperson to the senior sales executive does everything possible to deliver results.

However, more eager sales representatives may deploy less-than-savoury tactics to hit their numbers. This includes undercutting rivals by offering steep discounts, which can negatively affect the bottom line. Instead of helping, these measures can push the goal out of reach.

How to future-proof the food and beverage sector: strategies for now and beyond

How to future-proof the food and beverage sector: strategies for now and beyond

As we move forward into the year and beyond, changes outside of the food and beverage sector’s control continue to shape how we do business. In the wake of the pandemic’s anniversary, B2B commerce has seen a seismic shift in customer preferences – a shift that seems irreversible. It has now become imperative for companies within this industry to stay in stride with emerging trends and tackle prevalent challenges if they want to sustain customer retention, grow loyalty, boost sales, and reach their growth objectives.

Manage sales team expectations with a structured productivity and accountability team plan

Manage sales team expectations with a structured productivity and accountability team plan

Sales is one of the most important divisions in any business. Even the greatest products will collect dust without adequate sales efforts. The better you can empower your sales team, the more inventory they can push. These soaring sales numbers begin with company leadership learning the ins and outs of managing sales team expectations.

How online order sales audits help you leave the competition blushing in the cosmetics industry

How online order sales audits help you leave the competition blushing in the cosmetics industry

In the crowded field of cosmetics, every sale counts. Sales audits can help you improve the online ordering system and keep your entire team aligned.

Operating a cosmetics business requires you to keep so many products on hand – diverse lines of lipstick tubes, makeup kits, foundations, eyeliners, and more. As a result, tracking how each item fares at your stores can be daunting. If regular sales audits consist of simply checking sales versus inventory, your business might be missing the bigger picture.

B2B Order-taking guide: create a healthy customer journey and repeat orders

B2B Order-taking guide: create a healthy customer journey and repeat orders

Reinforce your customer journey with the right tools. Learn the benefits of an effective online ordering system and strategies for getting started.

The health and beauty industries have become increasingly competitive over the years. With new products emerging daily, brands are scrambling to find ways to capture the attention of their audiences. This is where creating a well-designed customer journey plays an important role.

Cosmetics ordering system: how a sound sales process helps you outshine the competition

Cosmetics ordering system: how a sound sales process helps you outshine the competition

When selling cosmetics online, accurate data and a customer-driven strategy are a must. A well-defined sales process can help raise your firm’s bottom line.

Breaking into the online beauty marketplace comes with a unique set of challenges. While the convenience of digital stores is always appealing, most cosmetics consumers are quite particular in their preferences. As a result, new industry players and start-ups face mounting odds of making it big. Without an established sales process, the journey can prove even more difficult.