Latest insights

From electronics and seasonal clothing to home furnishings, toys, and food items, supply chain issues are causing in-store product shortages, creating a climate reminiscent of the panic buying that hit stores at the start of the pandemic. This time around, however, the disruptions are on a smaller scale and local in nature. In the US, retail sales, excluding food services, were 22% higher during the

Choosing the wrong software can be incredibly frustrating. It ends up slowing you down if it’s cumbersome, complex, difficult to use and not fit-for-purpose. If you’ve decided to buy, then here are seven key features we believe makes for the ‘right’ sales software for B2B product sales: 1. Data Analytics Data is fast becoming a fundamental part of every business process. You rely on accurate and comprehensive data to make smart decisions. Make sure your software solution includes advanced data analytics features that enable easy

Skilled B2B field sales reps are the driving force behind every successful B2B organization. Irrespective of your industry and target audience, professional sales reps are essential to driving conversions. They’re indispensable for your sales pipeline, and play a key role in reinforcing customer retention and loyalty. The way they interact with buyers is a key determinant of your organization’s conversion rates and revenue. Modern technology has made the B2B sales

Organisations need to be serious about creativity if they want to drive sustainable business success across global markets. People often forget that business is a creative pursuit. Every business, be it a technology giant such as Microsoft, or a tiny corner store serving one community, stems from a single idea. A creative idea can be born with intent but lost amid deadlines, bottom lines, and business demands. Organizations still define success today by return on investment (ROI) and numbers. But they strengthen it by building a culture of creativity. In the era of the

Following the report of the first slowdown of sales growth recorded by the Skynamo Industry Thermometer in August 2021, the results for September have indicated very little movement month-on-month. The Skynamo Industry Thermometer is a free-to-access resource that benchmarks industry sales activity and sector health on a monthly basis. It reports average order values and volumes from approximately 1000 South African manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors across 26 industries using the Skynamo field

Skynamo recently caught up with Keegan Hall, Head of Marketing and Product at Ethitech, to hear how winning the Skynamo-sponsored sales event has impacted their national team. Ethitech — a South African distributor of medical technology — proudly won the competition held earlier this year. Skynamo offered to pay R50,000 towards a sales conference as our contribution to rebuilding the South African economy after the devastating effects of the pandemic. Ethitech was the South African winner out of many entrants

…and it’s not all bad news. Skynamo has just released its one-of-a-kind global field sales report. Skynamo, the leaders in field sales technology, are constantly seeking to understand the industries they serve. This includes a large number of building and hardware companies. For this reason, they carried out extensive research recently, resulting in the benchmark report. Why is this good for us in the building industry? This benchmark report gives some surprising

We must look at how we can help co-workers to be resilient and stay engaged in these extraordinary times. Mental health has been identified as the biggest threat of 2021 as the pandemic’s effect continues to weigh on South Africans. This is reflected in data released by the SA Depression and Anxiety Group. It shows a 267% increase in calls to its hotline to 2,200 per day, from 600 prior to lockdown. And this does not include email, text and social media outreach messages. After a gruelling 18 months of Covid-19, lockdowns, remote

Every entrepreneur is familiar with the hectic process of setting up a new business. Problems seem to leap out from any and every angle, whether it’s a spotty supplier, hardware malfunctions, or unsuitable staff. It’s easy to forget about the importance of refining sales and marketing processes when caught up in such a whirlwind. However, entrepreneurs must be diligent in their small business field sales efforts to set themselves up for continuous success. This involves aligning with a higher purpose, prioritizing a digital-first approach to sales, adopting lean planning and

Planning for the future of your business once you are no longer at the helm may be one of the last things on your to-do list, but it shouldn’t be. All businesses will experience a transition at some point, and making sure that you have a system in place for business succession helps to ensure longevity and stability even when you are gone. So, how can you go about ensuring that your business outlives you? Let’s find out. Methods to ensure your business succession plan works These methods will not only help you in your creation of