Deal Desk
Operations
OVERVIEW & BEST PRACTICES
Samuel A Saavedra
Sales Operations Professional
Atlanta, GA USA
Deal Desk Overview - Introduction
 This is a set of slides that introduces the concept of a Deal Desk
versus the fragmented Deal Support processes in use today (pricing,
bid management, Legal review, Billing Review, etc etc)
 I have worked in most of the separated deal lifecycle processes
over a career almost 20 years long.
 I have also worked in advanced sales operations such as CISCO,
FISERV and Vodafone that utilized a Deal Desk to win market
advantage.
 Please contact me if you have any questions! Enjoy!
 Samuel A Saavedra
 LinkedIn Profile > https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelasaavedra/
Deal Desk Overview - Agenda
 What is a Deal Desk?
 Deal Desk - Organization Fit
 Why do you need one?
 Deal Desk Operations
 About the Author
What is A Deal Desk?
What is a Deal Desk?
 A Deal Desk is typically a department in Sales Operations or
Marketing that strives to aggregate the following Deal Cycle
functions:
 Complex / Non-standard Deal Review
 Proposal / RFP Pricing Response
 Price / Margin Escalations that can lead to a War Room
 Price / Margin review for Big Deals and Big Bets
 Contract Review & Negotiations
 Billing Review & Approval
 Legal & Compliance Review & Approval
Why You Need a Deal Desk
 Source, Twitter.com / @RevvSales content
Why Implement a Deal Desk?
Why create or utilize a Deal Desk?
 A Deal Desk offers several advantages compared to separate functions such as
Pricing, Bid Management, Contract Management, Billing and Legal & Compliance
Review:
 Deal Visibility throughout the approval pipeline – Apptus, Anaplan, SFDC & Zilliant offer
this
 Transparent Processes
 Centralized Deal Logic, Oversight and Stage Gate Approval Processes
 Immediate and automated Deal Routing to the next Approver
 A Scalable & Repeatable Process
 A set of processes that can handle all High-Touch, complex, and non-standard deals
 A set of processes that sets the stage for War Room escalations concerning solution
delivery, timing, and price
 A set of oversight and review processes crucial for the Big Deal Review and Big Bets /
Strategic Deal Review process
 A set of (hopefully) documented practices that can help with internal Audit controls
Deal Desk – Processes and Use Case Scenarios
 Source PwC Technology Institute study on Pricing & Profitability, 2014
Deal Desks help Sales Operations Win Deals
 Source, 2018 Sales Operations Optimization Study, CSO Insights – Miller Heiman
Deal Desks are key Sales Enablement functions!
 Source, 2018 Sales Operations Optimization Study, CSO Insights – Miller Heiman
Deal Desk functions can
include:
• Pricing
• Revenue
Management
• Proposal / RFP
Support
Deal Desks enable Lead to Cash Transformations
Lead to Cash platforms are fully integrated, end-to-end, software systems drive sales insights
and eliminate process inefficiencies
A Deal Desk can help with a Sales Funnel bottleneck
 Source, Zoho.com
* In the graphic,
deals have
progressed
through the
pipeline and
3.7% of the deals
are in the
Negotiation /
Revision stage
where they can
sometimes get
“stuck.”
* A transparent
Deal Desk
process can
change that
There are many Internal Stakeholders on a Large Enterprise Deal
 Source, Apptus – Symantech Webinar, “The Buzz Around Deal Desks”
Deal Desks function as Organization Hubs
 Source PwC Technology Institute study on Pricing & Profitability, 2014
• A Deal Desk can help
centralize the numerous
processes and demands of
several stakeholders when
pursuing a Must-Win Deal.
A Deal Desk coordinates key Deal Cycle functions
 Source, Apptus – Symantech Webinar, “The Buzz Around Deal Desks”
Go from This (A typically convoluted Quote process)
 Source, Revvsales.com
To This ! (A streamlined QTC Process)
 Source, Revvsales.com
A Deal Desk can
centralize and
aggregate many
of the processes
involved in a Deal
Cycle
Where are Deal Desks found?
• Usually in Sales Operations
• Sometimes in Marketing
The Deal Desk – A crucial part of Sales Operations
 Source, Apptus.com
Deal Desks – A key step in Quote-to-Cash Functionality
 Source, CRMevangelist.com
What does a Deal Desk do?
How a Deal Desk supports Sales Operations
 Source, SalesGlobe, 2016 SmartBrief.com “How deal desks are shaking sales organizations.”
Deal Desk Objectives
 Source PwC Technology Institute study on Pricing & Profitability, 2014
Deal Desk Objectives & Responsibilities ( 1 of 2)
 Source PwC Technology Institute study on Pricing & Profitability, 2014
Deal Desk Objectives & Responsibilities ( 2 of 2)
 Source PwC Technology Institute study on Pricing & Profitability, 2014
Deal Desk – Best Practices of Leading Companies (1/2)
 Source PwC Technology Institute study on Pricing & Profitability, 2014
Deal Desk – Best Practices of Leading Companies (2/x)
 Source PwC Technology Institute study on Pricing & Profitability, 2014
Deal Desks can provide an enterprise-wide Deal Dashboard
 Source, Zilliant.com
Provide your Deal
Desk team with
integrated deal
analysis tools like:
• Zilliant
• Apptus
• Salesforce.com
Deal Desks deliver large Process and Revenue Improvements!
 Source, Apptus.com
Key Deal Desk Processes
How a Deal Desk coordinates the Deal Cycle
 Source, Apptus – Symantech Webinar, “The Buzz Around Deal Desks”
How a Deal Desk coordinates the Deal Cycle
 Source, Apptus – Symantech Webinar, “The Buzz Around Deal Desks”
How a Deal Desk coordinates the Deal Cycle
 Source, Apptus – Symantech Webinar, “The Buzz Around Deal Desks”
How a Deal Desk coordinates the Deal Cycle
 Source, Apptus – Symantech Webinar, “The Buzz Around Deal Desks”
How a Deal Desk coordinates the Deal Cycle
 Source, Apptus – Symantech Webinar, “The Buzz Around Deal Desks”
How a Deal Desk coordinates the Deal Cycle
 Source, Apptus – Symantech Webinar, “The Buzz Around Deal Desks”
How a Deal Desk coordinates the Deal Cycle
 Source, Apptus – Symantech Webinar, “The Buzz Around Deal Desks”
How a Deal Desk coordinates the Deal Cycle
 Source, Apptus – Symantech Webinar, “The Buzz Around Deal Desks”
Deal Desk Activities through the Deal Lifecycle
 Source PwC Technology Institute study on Pricing & Profitability, 2014
Deal Desk involvement across the Sales Cycle
 Source PwC
Technology
Institute study on
Pricing &
Profitability, 2014
SECTION DIVIDER – TBD
Deal Desk – Key Metrics and Reports
 Source PwC Technology Institute study on Pricing & Profitability, 2014
About Me – Samuel Saavedra
Key Skill Area Places used Years of
Experience
Deal Desk Operations Vodafone, Verizon Business,
CISCO
8
Pricing Strategy Vodafone, Verizon Business,
Internap, ACI, Fiserv
10+
Contract Negotiation Vodafone, Verizon Business,
Internap, ACI, Fiserv
10+
Overall Business
Operations
IBM, Ericsson, AT&T / BellSouth,
Verizon, CISCO, ACI, Fiserv
15+
• Samuel A Saavedra
• Deal Desk Expert,
• Contract Negotiator
• (mb) 404 450-2066
• samuelsaavedra565@outlook.com
• https://samuelsaavedra.me
Thank you!
Please contact me with any questions.

Deal Desk Operations - An Overview

  • 1.
    Deal Desk Operations OVERVIEW &BEST PRACTICES Samuel A Saavedra Sales Operations Professional Atlanta, GA USA
  • 2.
    Deal Desk Overview- Introduction  This is a set of slides that introduces the concept of a Deal Desk versus the fragmented Deal Support processes in use today (pricing, bid management, Legal review, Billing Review, etc etc)  I have worked in most of the separated deal lifecycle processes over a career almost 20 years long.  I have also worked in advanced sales operations such as CISCO, FISERV and Vodafone that utilized a Deal Desk to win market advantage.  Please contact me if you have any questions! Enjoy!  Samuel A Saavedra  LinkedIn Profile > https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelasaavedra/
  • 3.
    Deal Desk Overview- Agenda  What is a Deal Desk?  Deal Desk - Organization Fit  Why do you need one?  Deal Desk Operations  About the Author
  • 4.
    What is ADeal Desk?
  • 5.
    What is aDeal Desk?  A Deal Desk is typically a department in Sales Operations or Marketing that strives to aggregate the following Deal Cycle functions:  Complex / Non-standard Deal Review  Proposal / RFP Pricing Response  Price / Margin Escalations that can lead to a War Room  Price / Margin review for Big Deals and Big Bets  Contract Review & Negotiations  Billing Review & Approval  Legal & Compliance Review & Approval
  • 6.
    Why You Needa Deal Desk  Source, Twitter.com / @RevvSales content
  • 7.
    Why Implement aDeal Desk?
  • 8.
    Why create orutilize a Deal Desk?  A Deal Desk offers several advantages compared to separate functions such as Pricing, Bid Management, Contract Management, Billing and Legal & Compliance Review:  Deal Visibility throughout the approval pipeline – Apptus, Anaplan, SFDC & Zilliant offer this  Transparent Processes  Centralized Deal Logic, Oversight and Stage Gate Approval Processes  Immediate and automated Deal Routing to the next Approver  A Scalable & Repeatable Process  A set of processes that can handle all High-Touch, complex, and non-standard deals  A set of processes that sets the stage for War Room escalations concerning solution delivery, timing, and price  A set of oversight and review processes crucial for the Big Deal Review and Big Bets / Strategic Deal Review process  A set of (hopefully) documented practices that can help with internal Audit controls
  • 9.
    Deal Desk –Processes and Use Case Scenarios  Source PwC Technology Institute study on Pricing & Profitability, 2014
  • 10.
    Deal Desks helpSales Operations Win Deals  Source, 2018 Sales Operations Optimization Study, CSO Insights – Miller Heiman
  • 11.
    Deal Desks arekey Sales Enablement functions!  Source, 2018 Sales Operations Optimization Study, CSO Insights – Miller Heiman Deal Desk functions can include: • Pricing • Revenue Management • Proposal / RFP Support
  • 12.
    Deal Desks enableLead to Cash Transformations Lead to Cash platforms are fully integrated, end-to-end, software systems drive sales insights and eliminate process inefficiencies
  • 13.
    A Deal Deskcan help with a Sales Funnel bottleneck  Source, Zoho.com * In the graphic, deals have progressed through the pipeline and 3.7% of the deals are in the Negotiation / Revision stage where they can sometimes get “stuck.” * A transparent Deal Desk process can change that
  • 14.
    There are manyInternal Stakeholders on a Large Enterprise Deal  Source, Apptus – Symantech Webinar, “The Buzz Around Deal Desks”
  • 15.
    Deal Desks functionas Organization Hubs  Source PwC Technology Institute study on Pricing & Profitability, 2014 • A Deal Desk can help centralize the numerous processes and demands of several stakeholders when pursuing a Must-Win Deal.
  • 16.
    A Deal Deskcoordinates key Deal Cycle functions  Source, Apptus – Symantech Webinar, “The Buzz Around Deal Desks”
  • 17.
    Go from This(A typically convoluted Quote process)  Source, Revvsales.com
  • 18.
    To This !(A streamlined QTC Process)  Source, Revvsales.com A Deal Desk can centralize and aggregate many of the processes involved in a Deal Cycle
  • 19.
    Where are DealDesks found? • Usually in Sales Operations • Sometimes in Marketing
  • 20.
    The Deal Desk– A crucial part of Sales Operations  Source, Apptus.com
  • 21.
    Deal Desks –A key step in Quote-to-Cash Functionality  Source, CRMevangelist.com
  • 22.
    What does aDeal Desk do?
  • 23.
    How a DealDesk supports Sales Operations  Source, SalesGlobe, 2016 SmartBrief.com “How deal desks are shaking sales organizations.”
  • 24.
    Deal Desk Objectives Source PwC Technology Institute study on Pricing & Profitability, 2014
  • 25.
    Deal Desk Objectives& Responsibilities ( 1 of 2)  Source PwC Technology Institute study on Pricing & Profitability, 2014
  • 26.
    Deal Desk Objectives& Responsibilities ( 2 of 2)  Source PwC Technology Institute study on Pricing & Profitability, 2014
  • 27.
    Deal Desk –Best Practices of Leading Companies (1/2)  Source PwC Technology Institute study on Pricing & Profitability, 2014
  • 28.
    Deal Desk –Best Practices of Leading Companies (2/x)  Source PwC Technology Institute study on Pricing & Profitability, 2014
  • 29.
    Deal Desks canprovide an enterprise-wide Deal Dashboard  Source, Zilliant.com Provide your Deal Desk team with integrated deal analysis tools like: • Zilliant • Apptus • Salesforce.com
  • 30.
    Deal Desks deliverlarge Process and Revenue Improvements!  Source, Apptus.com
  • 31.
    Key Deal DeskProcesses
  • 32.
    How a DealDesk coordinates the Deal Cycle  Source, Apptus – Symantech Webinar, “The Buzz Around Deal Desks”
  • 33.
    How a DealDesk coordinates the Deal Cycle  Source, Apptus – Symantech Webinar, “The Buzz Around Deal Desks”
  • 34.
    How a DealDesk coordinates the Deal Cycle  Source, Apptus – Symantech Webinar, “The Buzz Around Deal Desks”
  • 35.
    How a DealDesk coordinates the Deal Cycle  Source, Apptus – Symantech Webinar, “The Buzz Around Deal Desks”
  • 36.
    How a DealDesk coordinates the Deal Cycle  Source, Apptus – Symantech Webinar, “The Buzz Around Deal Desks”
  • 37.
    How a DealDesk coordinates the Deal Cycle  Source, Apptus – Symantech Webinar, “The Buzz Around Deal Desks”
  • 38.
    How a DealDesk coordinates the Deal Cycle  Source, Apptus – Symantech Webinar, “The Buzz Around Deal Desks”
  • 39.
    How a DealDesk coordinates the Deal Cycle  Source, Apptus – Symantech Webinar, “The Buzz Around Deal Desks”
  • 40.
    Deal Desk Activitiesthrough the Deal Lifecycle  Source PwC Technology Institute study on Pricing & Profitability, 2014
  • 41.
    Deal Desk involvementacross the Sales Cycle  Source PwC Technology Institute study on Pricing & Profitability, 2014
  • 42.
  • 43.
    Deal Desk –Key Metrics and Reports  Source PwC Technology Institute study on Pricing & Profitability, 2014
  • 44.
    About Me –Samuel Saavedra Key Skill Area Places used Years of Experience Deal Desk Operations Vodafone, Verizon Business, CISCO 8 Pricing Strategy Vodafone, Verizon Business, Internap, ACI, Fiserv 10+ Contract Negotiation Vodafone, Verizon Business, Internap, ACI, Fiserv 10+ Overall Business Operations IBM, Ericsson, AT&T / BellSouth, Verizon, CISCO, ACI, Fiserv 15+
  • 45.
    • Samuel ASaavedra • Deal Desk Expert, • Contract Negotiator • (mb) 404 450-2066 • samuelsaavedra565@outlook.com • https://samuelsaavedra.me Thank you! Please contact me with any questions.