The document discusses how assessment tools can help companies engage customers earlier in the buying process and motivate change. It notes that today's buyers want benchmarking data and prefer prescriptive content over product pitches. The document promotes a company called Alinean that provides diagnostic assessment tools to identify clients' challenges, help set priorities, and recommend solutions. It gives examples of assessment tools for customer experience maturity and financial management. The benefits mentioned include more engagements, wins, differentiation, and retention.
74% of deals go the provider who helps "establish the buying vision"
26% goes to the vendor who "responds to a request"
Forrester
In ITSMA's 2012 How Buyers Consume Information Survey, over 70% of B2B technology buyers said they want to engage with sales reps before they identify a short list of preferred vendors. When asked at what stage of the buying process they find it useful to engage with salespeople, 24% of the respondents said during the "epiphany" stage (when they haven't yet recognized a definite need but are learning and exploring possibilities), 23% chose the "awareness" stage (when they have an identified need and are clarifying objectives and researching alternatives), and 24% selected the "interest" stage (when they are identifying a list of preferred vendors).
http://blogs.forrester.com/mark_lindwall/14-01-27-to_win_against_increasing_competition_equip_your_salespeople_with_a_deeper_understanding_of_your_buy
74% of deals go the provider who helps "establish the buying vision"
26% goes to the vendor who "responds to a request"
Forrester
In ITSMA's 2012 How Buyers Consume Information Survey, over 70% of B2B technology buyers said they want to engage with sales reps before they identify a short list of preferred vendors. When asked at what stage of the buying process they find it useful to engage with salespeople, 24% of the respondents said during the "epiphany" stage (when they haven't yet recognized a definite need but are learning and exploring possibilities), 23% chose the "awareness" stage (when they have an identified need and are clarifying objectives and researching alternatives), and 24% selected the "interest" stage (when they are identifying a list of preferred vendors).
http://blogs.forrester.com/mark_lindwall/14-01-27-to_win_against_increasing_competition_equip_your_salespeople_with_a_deeper_understanding_of_your_buy
95% of buyers want more benchmarking insights to help measure effectiveness against industry standards
81% of buyers want benchmarking tools to guide future investments.