Don’s experience providing support to Consumer Goods companies makes him the perfect individual to provide insight on what it takes to be successful when you set up a new TPM system. Kurt & Don talk about getting initiatives prioritized, selecting a vendor, deploying the system, and activating it in your organization.
Webinar Key Takeaways
Evaluating Vendor Capabilities: We highlighted the importance of assessing vendor modules to determine how well they align with your company’s specific needs. A key point is to identify whether features like target setting, and hierarchical tools are readily available out-of-the-box or require extensive customization. This clarity minimizes surprises during implementation.
The RFP Process: Whether your organization follows a formal procurement-led RFP process or a more informal approach, the goal remains the same: transparency. Clear communication about objectives allows vendors to showcase their true capabilities, preventing unmet expectations when moving from selection to deployment.
Common Deployment Pitfalls: We discussed how technical teams can sometimes overestimate their integration capabilities, causing delays. To mitigate this, it’s essential to conduct end-to-end system integration testing before training or planning. Additionally, balancing leadership involvement is crucial — overemphasizing financial reconciliation during deployment can detract from achieving strategic goals.
Aligning Business Drivers: Defining and aligning strategic business drivers with measurable metrics— like promotional activities or channel investments—helps in resource allocation and ROI evaluation. Developing complementary policies ensures compliance and reduces non-performance-related payouts.
Best Practices for Success: Deploying vendor systems successfully requires dedicated teams with clear roles, thorough technical preparation, and robust policies. Execution and effectiveness should remain top priorities to ensure the system delivers its expected value.
By focusing on these areas, your organization can navigate vendor selection and deployment with greater confidence and achieve measurable results. We hope these insights are valuable as you embark on your next project!
