Digital Transformation in Sales: Definition, Examples and Tips

Sales are one of the most important aspects of any company, and their effectiveness can make or break a business. Meanwhile, the advent of digital technologies has transformed every aspect of sales – from identifications and contact of prospects to the buying process itself. 

As companies undergo digital transformation in sales, it’s more important than ever to understand these changes and how to capitalize on them. It is also important to have useful tips on how businesses can overcome challenges while transitioning to a digitally-driven sales model.

What is Digital Transformation in Sales?

Digital transformation is the procedure of using digital technologies to create new or upgraded business processes, goods, and services. It can be used to create efficiencies and drive growth across an organization. In sales, digital transformation can help streamline processes, improve customer engagement, and boost sales productivity.

There are a number of ways that digital transformation can be used to improve sales. For example, it can be used to automate repetitive tasks, such as lead generation and follow-up. It can also be used to enhance customer engagement through personalized communications and targeted content. 

Additionally, digital transformation can help sales teams work more collaboratively and effectively by providing them with access to real-time data and insights. By leveraging the power of digital technologies, organizations can transform their sales operations and drive better results.

Why does digital transformation matter in sales?

By adopting digital transformation in their sales department, companies can benefit in various ways as below:

Increase productivity

When it comes to sales, productivity is key. That’s why an effective sales transformation strategy is so important. By streamlining operations and implementing technology to make workflows more efficient, sales transformation can boost productivity at both the individual and organizational levels. 

When done right, automation and the use of modern tools like conversation intelligence can free up reps from burdensome, administrative tasks so they can focus on higher-value initiatives. In other words, sales transformation can help your organization become more productive, efficient, and successful.

Gain a competitive advantage

A successful sales transformation rests on several key pillars: 

• It’s critical that your team is using the most up-to-date techniques and materials to deal with modern buyers effectively. 
• You need to provide customer interactions that are meaningful and based on cohesive messaging. This will give you an advantage over the competition. 
• It’s important to ensure that your sales transformation is properly executed. This means having a clear plan, measurable goals, and adequate resources in place. 

Improve pipeline visibility

In order to build an effective playbook, you first need to understand how your pipeline has grown and where it needs to be. you can do this by collecting and analyzing actionable metrics, such as deal size, rep forecast, and engagement activity. 

By investing in digital transformation, you will gain pipeline transparency, accurate forecasts, and predictable revenue. This will benefit your company in the long run by helping you make better decisions and grow your business.

Reach sales objectives

Digital transformation has been a buzzword in the business world for some time now, and for good reason. The right technology can help organizations to streamline their processes, improve communication and collaboration, and reduce costs. In the realm of sales, the benefits of digital transformation are especially pronounced. 

The right tools can help sales reps to better understand their customers, identify key patterns and trends, and take actions that result in more sales. In short, digital transformation can help sales organizations to reach their objectives.

An example of a successful sales transformation project

In order to benefit from the digital transformation in sales, ForceManager implemented a series of steps. First, they identified the areas in which they wanted to improve their sales process. They then looked for software that would help them automate and optimize those areas. After testing and evaluating several options, they chose the software that best fit their needs. Finally, they implemented the software and trained their sales team on how to use it. As a result of these efforts, ForceManager has been able to improve its sales process and increase its sales productivity.

ForceManager is a company that has successfully undergone a digital transformation in sales. By automating data entry and tracking, ForceManager has been able to reduce the time its sales team spends on administrative tasks by 30%. In addition, ForceManager’s use of data analytics has allowed it to improve close rates by 15%. As a result of its successful digital transformation, ForceManager has seen significant improvements in both efficiency and bottom-line results.

The most-notable challenges in sales digital transformation

The pressure is on sales teams to modernize their operations and benefit from digital transformation. However, digital transformation campaigns will not be without their challenges. 

• One significant obstacle is aligning internal and external customers. 
• Another is resistance to change within the organization, which can come from a variety of sources including fear of new technology or a lack of understanding of the benefits. 
• Costs can be a challenge, both in terms of the initial investment and ongoing maintenance. 
• Security is a risk that must be carefully considered when digitizing sales operations.

Foundations to make digital transformation in sales successful

Understanding the digital buying behavior of your targeted customers

As we all know, digital technology is rapidly changing the way customers buy products and services. If sales models don’t keep up with these changes, organizations risk losing out on potential sales. By understanding digital customer buying behavior, organizations can make sure their sales models are keeping up with the times. 

Re-allocating sales resources

In order to successfully implement digital sales transformation, you need to re-allocate sales resources and roles. Today’s sales teams have become specialists in driving qualified leads to closed deals and lasting relationships. 

However, the level of expertise now demanded at each stage is so high that multiple “selling” resources must work together. An important key to success is understanding the type of resources and roles for optimized customer engagement.

Changing coverage, quota, and compensation

Any digital sales transformation requires material changes in coverage, quota, and compensation in order to be successful. To change coverage, you need to determine the resources to land new customers and achieve long-term customer success and retention. 

Who gets revenue credit for what deals, accounts, and territories? What activity metrics are most crucial for each kind of sales resource? How should compensation incentives be set up and managed? All of these factors need to be taken into account when planning a digital sales transformation.

Automating sales workflows

In order to take advantage of digital sales transformation, you need to automate sales workflows. By automating key processes and tasks, your company can improve efficiency and optimize results. For example, you can use automation to manage customer data, generate leads, and track interactions. In addition, automation can help you identify opportunities and potential areas for improvement. 

Creating a data-driven sales transformation

In order to implement digital sales transformation, you need to change the way your sales team functions at its core. This means shifting from a traditional, single-channel sales process to one that is multi-channel and data-driven. By connecting with customers through multiple channels – such as email, social media, and phone – and using data to guide decisions, you can create a more efficient and effective sales team.

What to do to accelerate digital transformation in sales

In order to accelerate digital transformation in sales, businesses should take the following steps:

• Data preparation is critical to understanding the customer journey and using the right tools and processes. 
• By understanding the customer journey, businesses can identify pain points and optimize the sales process. 
• The right tools and processes can streamline the sales process and make it more efficient. 
• training ensures that sales teams are up-to-date on new technologies and can effectively use them to drive sales. 
• Metrics + coaching provide a way to measure success and identify areas for improvement. 
• And finally, sales enablement helps to ensure that sales teams have the resources they need to be successful.

In conclusion

Digital technology has transformed sales teams in recent years, and the trend is only going to continue. As more buyers move online and become immune to traditional sales tactics, it’s essential for sales reps to adapt their strategies. 

The guides about digital transformation in sales should help you start with your own digital transformation process, but don’t hesitate to reach out if you need more assistance. We want to see you succeed! What challenges have you faced when trying to go digital in your sales process? Drop your question right here and our experts will get back to you as soon as possible.