IDC 2009 Sales Barometer & Top Ten Predictions

Selling in 2009: 10 Ways to Find, Win and Keep the Money Lee Levitt Director, Sales Advisory Practice www.SalesAdvisoryPractice.com

Agenda
Introductions & Methodology
The Economic Context: 2009 – A Year of Change & Challenge
Key Findings
Executive Outlook
Sales Program Investment
People and Productivity Investments
Selling in a Down Economy
IDC 2009 Executive Guidance

Introduction and Methodology
Tech Sales Barometer Introduction
Sales Barometer is an annual deliverable of the Sales Advisory Service
Formal written deliverable to follow in late January
Individual client presentations available on request
Methodology
In-depth survey, conducted by phone and online with senior sales executives (both clients and non-clients) at technology companies, in November and December of 2008
30 participants, representing $201B in revenue (37% of US IT market)
Respondent titles include, “Director of Strategy, VP Sales, VP of Global Sales Operations, VP Finance and Sales Operations, VP Global Field Enablement, Director Sales Operations, VP Sales Strategy and Operations”
97% US-based, most with regional to global responsibility
Participants guaranteed confidentiality and a sharing of the results

Storm Warning: Impact on IT Spending
IT spending downturn spreading to all sectors of the economy (industries and geographies)
Short-term panic has already impacted sales of hardware, new software licenses and contracts
Weak economy will drive down tech spending plans throughout 2009, with gradual recovery in 2010 dependent on broader economic rebound
Mature IT markets could turn negative in 2009
Emerging markets will be impacted, posting growth in high single digits instead of double digit expansion
Tech downturn will not be as bad as 2001-2002 (barring even worse economic scenarios), and recovery will be faster
Biggest impact in commodity hardware upgrade markets (e.g. PCs); software applications next; project-based services will be hit
Relative resiliency in ongoing infrastructure projects, some types of outsourcing, security

IT Buyer Confidence At Record Lows… Monthly poll of business managers and CIOs is lower than ever (poll started in 2002); index score below 1000 indicates predicted contraction in overall IT spending

IDC Prediction #1
Selling strategies that worked last year will not work in 2009

How Bad Could It Get? 2009 Worldwide IT Spending Downside Scenario Source: IDC Q3 2008 Worldwide Black Book, Downside Scenario Model

IDC Prediction #2
Companies that significantly reduce their sales and marketing investments in 2009 will be gone by mid 2010

IDC Forecasts Sales Expenses to Grow Slowly in 2009 Source: IDC’s Tech Sales Barometer 2009 , IDC's CMO Tech Marketing Barometer, 2008 , IDC’s CMO Tech Marketing Benchmarks Study 2008 and IDC Q3 ’08 Black Book Avg. % (1.7%) 3.5% 5.1% 2.6% Rate of Growth, Year over Year

IDC 2009 Tech Sales Barometer Executive Outlook
Key Research Findings
Revenue projections are on the positive side
Confidence is solid, but under challenge
The economy is having an expected impact on plans
But, investment strategies have not tanked

Revenue Projections Mostly on the Upside PROJECTED REVENUE GROWTH (relative to IDC segment projections for 2009) Source: IDC’s Tech Sales Barometer 2009 Percent of Respondents

But Confidence is Being Challenged
How do you feel about the prospects for sales success at your company during the next 6 months vs. 6 months ago?
Percent of Respondents Source: IDC’s Tech Sales Barometer 2009

The 2009 Economy Drowns Out All Other Management Issues Percentage of respondents citing factor Source: IDC’s Tech Sales Barometer 2009 Please describe the top three factors influencing your outlook for the next six months

IDC Prediction #3
Companies that blame their lack of selling on the economy will fail by mid 2010

Investment Risk Taking is Not Bad… How would you characterize your organization's sales investment/activity for the 2009 calendar year? (i.e., with respect to potentially increasing hiring and overall sales expenditures) “ Continuing to hire, but locking down expenses.” “ Will invest in markets where upside is seen, but divesting in markets that are particularly bad.” Percent of Respondents Source: IDC’s Tech Sales Barometer 2009

…But Sales Plans are Seeing an Impact To what extent is your company’s sales plan for 2009 being affected by the current economic environment? Percent of Respondents Source: IDC’s Tech Sales Barometer 2009

IDC 2009 Tech Sales Barometer Sales Program Investments
Sales programs will be cut, but quotas will not
As such, sales will be expected to deliver more with less
Sales Productivity is a major investment focus
Demand generation is also seeing gains

IDC Prediction #4
Sales organizations will be asked to do more with less
Doh!

Sales Will be Expected to Do More with Less Percent Change in Budget/Quota Source: IDC’s Tech Sales Barometer 2009

IDC Prediction #5
Companies have cut T&E budgets deeply. Most will lose valuable face time with customers and prospects
Those that shift headcount to inside sales will provide similar levels of customer touch at lower cost…and drive higher customer satisfaction

Sales Must Stay the Course, Despite Changes in Other Areas TRAVEL & ENTERTAINMENT BUDGET Percent of Respondents % of Respondents Source: IDC’s Tech Sales Barometer 2009 If you already have your FY 2009 plans in place for the following items, do you expect to adjust them in response to the rapidly changing global economic conditions?

IDC Prediction #6
Sales organizations that bolster dedicated investments in lead quality and demand generation will be rewarded with significantly higher sales productivity
This is no time to hide!

Demand Generation and Sales Enablement See Increases while Others Cut Source: IDC’s Tech Sales Barometer 2009 How will your overall sales investment in the following functional areas change in calendar year 2009 compared to calendar year 2008? Percentage Decreasing vs. Percentage Increasing

IDC Prediction #7
Organizations that cut sales training in 2009 will suffer
Organizations that bolster sales training in 2009 will prosper

Empowering The Sales Force Seeing Top Increases in Investment Percentage of Respondents Citing Area Please identify the sales program investment areas that have received the most increase in funding for calendar year 2009? Source: IDC’s Tech Sales Barometer 2009

Sales Rep Productivity of Greatest Importance Working from a total pool of 100 points, please assign a point rating for how important each of the following is to your organization's sales activities during the 2009 calendar year. Sales Activity Importance Rating (out of a possible 100)

Investment Continues in Emerging Markets Percent of Respondents How will your overall sales investment in the following regions change in calendar year 2009 compared to calendar year 2008? Source: IDC’s Tech Sales Barometer 2009

IDC 2009 Tech Sales Barometer People & Productivity Investments
Sales specialization is on the rise
Plenty of room for improvements in productivity
Sales & marketing alignment is still a challenge

IDC Prediction #8
Savvy organizations will use the economic downturn as justification to replace direct sales “laggards” with well enabled inside sales
Customer (and employee) satisfaction and sales productivity will rise accordingly

Sales Headcount Shifts to the Inside Percentage Decreasing vs. Percentage Increasing Source: IDC’s Tech Sales Barometer 2009 In what sales areas will you be changing headcount (in your organization) in calendar year 2009?

Productivity Improving, But Still Room for Improvement Percentage of Respondents Source: IDC’s Tech Sales Barometer 2009 How would you rate the overall sales productivity of your sales organization?

Marketing and Sales Still Need Greater Alignment On a scale of 1 to 100, where 1 is mis-aligned and 100 is perfectly aligned, please indicate the alignment rating between marketing and sales along the following dimensions: Average Alignment Rating Source: IDC’s Tech Sales Barometer 2009

IDC 2009 Tech Sales Barometer Selling in a Down Economy
Sales cycles are getting longer
Sales force empowerment a clear focus

Sales Cycles are Getting Longer… Over the last six months, how has the length of your sales cycle changed? Percentage of respondents Source: IDC’s Tech Sales Barometer 2009

…and More Leads are Needed to Win Over the last six months, how has the number of leads necessary to close a deal changed? Percentage of respondents Source: IDC’s Tech Sales Barometer 2009

IDC 2009 Tech Sales Barometer Executive Guidance

"Opportunity's favorite disguise is trouble ”
Frank Tyger

Short Term “FixIts”
Stay the Course - it takes a couple of weeks to wipe out a sales organization, 18 months to rebuild it
Do some House Cleaning – Get rid of low performers & reposition headcount as needed. Are tasks, people and resources properly aligned?
Empower your Sales Professionals – train your sales people in the language of the “down” economy
Boost lead quality – better sales mapping, demand generation, and lead qualification will improve sales ROI

Ongoing Improvements
Increase focus on sales methodology – boost investments in training & usage
Enforce good Account Planning Processes
Continue to evaluate match of resource and responsibilities – are $250K resources doing $10/hour work?
Ratchet up the use of sales metrics – use the economy as an “excuse” to focus on metrics (This can help in sales & marketing alignment)
Improve your Sales Enablement capabilities – Good sales enablement is a cornerstone of sales productivity

#9 If you remain confident & customer focused, understand the impact of the economy on your customer and strategize to serve them accordingly, your organization will be well positioned to thrive in 2010 and beyond
#10 Continued support of customers during the downturn will earn loyalty (build relationship capital) when the turnaround comes
The sales organization can lead the way through this economic environment All of your money comes from sales

The Sales Advisory Practice Team Lee Levitt Program Director Sales Advisory Practice Phone: 508-988-7974 Michael Gerard Research Vice President Executive Advisory Group Phone: 508-988-6758

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IDC 2009 Sales Barometer & Top Ten Predictions

by Lee Levitt on Jan 16, 2009

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IDC 2009 Sales Barometer & Top Ten Predictions — Presentation Transcript