Key Customers

Developing successful business-to-business relationships with more powerful customers in highly competitive markets requires processes and skills that go beyond traditional selling activity. The very best state-of-the-art strategies are set out clearly in this book in a practical way that can be implemented in all organizations. In particular 'Key Customers' looks at: * why has key account management become so critical to commercial success? * what are the key challenges and how do successful companies respond? * why is it vital to understand the role of key account management in strategic pla.

Key account management (KAM) is not a sales initiative, it is a business-wide process that must be managed and supported from the top. This handbook is designed for all those involved in the management of key accounts, but who are uncertain about how these important customers are identified, selected and managed. Peter Cheverton shows how to achieve the core objectives of KAM: retain existing customers in a competitive environment; grow through acquiring new long-term contracts; achieve global "preferred supplier" status; manage customers serviced by several departments in a consistent way; create a customer-intimate business; and achieve operational excellence. According to Cheverton the purpose of KAM is "managing the future" - achieving a realistic balance between objectives, the market opportunity and the resources available. Global cases, tools, techniques and exercises are all included.

Key Account Management is a highly practical book with a unique yet simple planning methodology for identifying, obtaining, retaining and developing key customers - the lifeblood of any organization. Fully re-written to reflect the most recent trends and challenges, this new edition will reinforce its standing as the premier book on the subject. Very few books take the long-term, team-selling strategic view of KAM that this book takes, and it is the only book which focuses on implementation rather than theory. Based on real and current experience of companies facing the challenge, it provides tools for use in the real world that will help you to plan your own strategy as you proceed. The case studies span the full breadth of the KAM experience: FMCG, Retail, B2B, Petrochemical, Speciality Chemical, Service Industry, Pharmaceutical, IT and Financial Services. With a CDROM containing ready-to-use application tools, Key Account Management has found a global resonance with business practitioners, whilst also establishing itself on many academic reading lists.

The new, 2nd edition of the Key Account Manager's Pocketbook gives practical advice on how to keep and develop important customers, thereby maximising ongoing revenue streams, reducing sales costs, improving investment planning and increasing market knowledge. It opens by describing the key account manager's role and then goes on to describe how to rise up the so-called customer perception ladder, moving from a simple commodity supplier to developing a solid, long-term business partnership with your key customers. The author next explains how to develop the 'key account development plan', how to increase your influence with the decision-maker in your key account (relationship management) and how to win new business. The final chapter runs through the essential steps of key account handling. There are short exercises throughout which, if carried out, will help to reinforce the key learning points.

Market-proven strategies to generate competitive advantage by identifying and always taking care of your best customers The Seven Keys to Managing Strategic Accounts provides decision makers with a proactive program for profitably managing their largest, most critical customers--their strategic accounts. Drawing on the expertise of S4 Consulting, Inc., a leading-edge provider of strategic account consulting, and Miller Heiman, a global sales training leader serving many Fortune 500companies, this how-to book shows how many of today's market leaders have learned to focus on their most profitable customers, avoiding or overcoming common errors before they become relationship-crippling disasters. Placing its total focus on the design and implementation of cost-effective strategic account management programs, this hands on book provides: A world-class competency model for strategic account managers Techniques for developing a program to manage and grow "co-destiny" relationships Examples and cases from Honeywell, 3M,and other leading corporations

Measure What Matters to Customers reveals how to capitalize on Key Predictive Indicators (KPIs), the innovative measures that define the success of your enterprise as your customers do. If you want to increase your company's profits by working smarter, this is the book for you.

This proceedings volume presents the latest research from the worldwide mass customization & personalization (MCP) community bringing together new thoughts and results from various disciplines within the field. The chapters are based on papers from the MCPC 2017. The book showcases research and practice from authors that see MCP as an opportunity to extend or even revolutionize current business models. The current trends of Industrie 4.0, digital manufacturing, and the rise of smart products allow for a fresh perspective on MCP: Customization 4.0. The book places a new set of values in the centre of the debate: a world with finite resources, global population growth, and exacerbating climate change needs smart thinking to engage the most effective capabilities and resources. It discusses how Customization 4.0 fosters sustainable development and creates shared value for companies, customers, consumers, and the society as a whole. The chapters of this book are contributed by a wide range of specialists, offering cutting-edge research, as well as insightful advances in industrial practice in key areas. The MCPC 2017 has a strong focus on real life MCP applications, and this proceedings volume reflects this. MCP strategies aim to profit from the fact that people are different. Their objective is to turn customer heterogeneities into opportunities, hence addressing “long tail” business models. The objective of MCP is to provide goods and services that best serve individual customers’ needs with near mass production efficiency. This proceedings volume highlights the interdisciplinary work of thought leaders, technology developers, and researchers with corporate entrepreneurs putting these strategies into practice. Chapter 24 is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license via link.springer.com.

Developing successful business-to-business relationships with more powerful customers in highly competitive markets requires processes and skills that go beyond traditional selling activity. The very best state-of-the-art strategies are set out clearly in this book in a practical way that can be implemented in all organizations. In particular 'Key Customers' looks at: * why has key account management become so critical to commercial success? * what are the key challenges and how do successful companies respond? * why is it vital to understand the role of key account management in strategic planning? * do you know what strategy your customer has for your company? By addressing these key questions McDonald, Rogers and Woodburn draw out the business issues that really matter - from developing a customer classification system that really works, analysing the needs of key accounts, developing the skills of key account managers to how systems for implementing key account plans can be developed. Throughout the book the emphasis is on clarifying and articulating the key concepts to give the reader the tools to apply in the marketplace. The 'real world' approach is based on best practice from leading companies globally and the latest research from the renowned Cranfield School of Management. 'Key Customers' comes from authors with an international reputation in this field and is an essential guide to customer management for marketing and sales executives, and all senior management with strategic responsibility. The clear and authoritative approach also makes it an outstanding text for the serious MBA and executive student.