Daily Archives: November 28, 2017

New Year, New Challenges … Are you Ready?

Probably not. At this point you’re trying to get through the rest of the year without too many supply chain stock-outs or digital disruptions, especially with the X-mas season just a few weeks off, winter storms on the forecast, and key personnel going on (extended) vacations.

But at the same time you need to start thinking about 2018. How you still don’t have enough modern tech. How you still don’t have enough modern best practice knowledge. How you still don’t have enough staff to get everything done.

And, despite the fact that management should just increase your budget based upon the ROI you’ve delivered, as per our post last Friday, you know that’s not going to happen just because it’s the right thing to do. If you are going to get the software, services, and support you need, you are going to have to fight for the budget. Tooth and nail. And push out Sales & Marketing who also have a history of delivering results.

You are going to have to create a presentation that makes it clear that not only will you get a ROI of at least 5X with the increased budget you are requesting, but that ROI should be seen as an ROI of 40X compared to the ROI that Marketing and Sales will net you because your savings go straight to the bottom line, but, on average, only 1 out of every 10 dollars of additional sales they get goes to the bottom line. Whereas every dollar of savings you get goes straight to the bottom line.

They have to get an additional $10 in sales for your dollar in savings. That’s significant. And that’s why Procurement is significant. That’s why you need to start building your ROI model now so you can get what you need to deliver the savings the C-suite wants. That’s how you will be ready for the new challenges in the new year.