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Why You Need to Host a Food Broker Partner Summit
“Forget champagne and caviar – Taste the world instead!”
To achieve this, harnessing the power of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms can be a game-changer. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process of requesting, analyzing, and leveraging these platforms to make more informed decisions, ultimately driving growth and success. We like growth and success, right??
When it comes to peering into the dynamic world of your food broker’s sales and marketing endeavors, there’s an elegant solution that’s already in play – their CRM Tool. Smooth sailing, right? Picture this: their broker leadership squad nudges them to log their calls on a weekly basis, making the process seamless and efficient.
But hold onto your aprons – here’s the twist. Not all brokers are keen on parting with that treasure trove of information. Imagine if every one of their clients requested a monthly report – it would be a paperwork nightmare! So, let’s be savvy and strategic in our approach.
We’re on a mission to fashion a setup where you receive that coveted data, briskly and without a fuss. Let’s navigate this artful dance of securing timely and accurate insights, all while sparing everyone the headache. Ready? Let’s dive in.
Step #1: Requesting CRM Data
- Identify Your Needs: Before you approach your food brokers for a sales call report, it’s essential to evaluate your specific requirements. Are you seeking improved communication, refined sales tracking, or a deeper insight into market trends? Or perhaps you just want to know what the heck your broker is doing? By delving into your motivations for seeking a sales call report, you can gain a clearer grasp of your objectives.
Determining your “why” for obtaining a sales call report is a pivotal step. It provides the compass to steer your efforts in the right direction. If you’re the type who prefers occasional broker updates and won’t extensively review the reports, then receiving 1-2 reports annually might suit your style. On the other hand, if you’re deeply involved and want to be informed of every broker activity, opting for monthly reports might be your preference.
However, a word of caution is in order: for those craving monthly or more frequent reports, it’s important to ensure that the effort aligns with the dollars spent. In simpler terms, if you’re compensating a broker with, say, $1,000 per month and the cost of their sales call averages around $400, requesting monthly reports might meet resistance. It’s not meant to cause any worry, but the financial investment needs to justify the additional administrative workload.
Remember, when it comes to increased engagement beyond direct sales, it’s all about finding that delicate balance between the effort invested and the outcomes achieved. - Define Key Features: Determine the essential features you require in a sales call report. On the most basic, easy to understand side. This might include:
- Name of the contact person
- Title or position
- Company name
- Email address
- Phone number
- Sku # presented
- Product description
- Preferred Distributor
- Comments
- Status of the opportunity
- Not Sold
- Sold
- Follow Up Required
Step #2: Analyzing Food-Specific CRM Platforms
In the world of CRM, food brokers typically use one of the following:
- Salesforce: Leading cloud-based Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform that empowers businesses to manage customer interactions, sales processes, and marketing campaigns in a unified and organized manner. It offers tools for tracking leads, nurturing relationships, and driving business growth through data-driven insights.
- Kenray: Brokers, Manufactures and Distributors wanting to have a complete supply chain management system to support industry needs that improve costs, increasing productivity, and a better fully integrated and automated customer experience.
- Blacksmith Applications: Customer relationship management (CRM) technology that manages all your company’s contacts. This system improves relationships and grows business for food professionals.
- Other: You may see some brokers have a proprietary CRM system, or use a non-food specific one like Asana, Zoho, etc.
Step #3: Leveraging Food-Specific CRM Platforms
CRM data can be used in so many different ways that are beneficial for you and your business. Let’s take a look at those benefits:
- Data-Driven Insights: Utilize the CRM’s analytics capabilities to gain insights into sales trends, customer preferences, and market shifts. This information empowers strategic decision-making.
- Streamlined Communication: Leverage the platform’s communication tools to maintain clear and consistent dialogue with your food brokers. This ensures everyone stays on the same page.
- Enhanced Collaboration: Collaborate seamlessly with your brokers on the CRM platform. Share information, updates, and strategies to maximize the partnership’s impact.
- Real-Time Tracking: Stay informed about order statuses, required inventory levels, and delivery timelines in real-time. This proactive approach helps prevent disruptions and surprises.
- Performance Assessment: Monitor broker performance using the CRM’s tracking features. Identify successful strategies and areas for improvement.
