MANAGING CUSTOMER SIMULATION The customer simulation exercise of Minnesota Micromotors Inc, was a very intriguing one. It exposed me to a variety of moving pieces that enable a successful business performance across different objectives and parameters. The introductory note on the company and industry was helpful – in that it helped me to have a better understanding of the product and customer profile. This report also touched upon competition and growth prospects along with challenges. My overall strategy was to ensure that I have a good customer satisfaction as product quality and performance was most critical. While we did have customers A and D who were large customers and value conscious – quality and performance across all …show more content…
Customer satisfaction report suggested our goods were expensive and I had to bring down levels of discount to initial level. Meanwhile I tried to reduce discount level of customers A, B, C to compensate for the increase of discount offered to D – to ensure profitability of the overall business generated in the quarter. This ensured that profitability came back to regular levels. While I increased the discount levels to 20% for D – I also reduced the sales force time allocation gradually specific to D. While this was on – surprisingly the customer satisfaction levels of D didn’t show much improvement. Similarly – the customer satisfaction report of B & C were continuously suggesting more product improvement and sales consultation requirement. I tried to increase the sales force time allocation to them. The training and marketing communication spends was something I played with and reduced as my allocation to R&D increased. This did affect the quality of interactions of the sales force – what I could have tried was to increase the spends. While my effort was to ensure that I marry the product attributes and increase points of difference with increasing customer knowledge of the product – the reduction in sales volume and profitability impacted the spends on communication and training of sales force who could have helped bring in the points of differentiation. As per the class materials – changes in the sales force availability is critical – I tried to reduce
The company started off producing 20,000 units of mountain bikes. We did not change the production quantity. Last year our forecast sales were 24,000 when we only sold 19,866; therefore we thought it would be best to leave production at 20,000 bikes. Having excess inventory, we concluded that 20,000 units should be enough considering our quality has not changed and our advertising will not increase the sales dramatically. Although we had the choice to produce as much as 30,000 units, we felt as though we did not have sufficient money to increase production. We were interested in allocating the money towards marketing as opposed to production. We realized that without awareness, no matter how many units we make, sales would be inefficient.
Although the company did show an increased gross profit of $8,255,000 with $6,358,000 less Net Sales in 2013 versus 2012, that increase is due to the reduction in product Cost of Goods Sold by $14,613,000. Since increases in product price will negatively affect sales, one of management’s primary goals is to keep prices stable. This objective is achieved through implementation of cost cutting programs, investing in more efficient equipment, and automation of more steps in the production process.
The motivation of the sales force is so low that they think that the district managers are no more that the baby sitters. No right schedule is being released by the management, there is no sales management planning in the organization. The leadership runs from the top. The employees just want to make sales without having concern about the company in that they work. Moreover, the uncertain night calls and long distance travels for the reps and frequent changes in the sales organizational structure has made problem even worse.
Thank you for the opportunity to assess your sales data in order to provide recommendations for increasing your sales. The analysis and recommendations below are based on the data you provided, which covers a period from May 2004 through June 2006. The analysis below is based on this data alone. Therefore, our recommendations should be tempered by your knowledge of business realities and your market. Please let us know if we can answer any questions concerning the analysis or the recommendations provided.
As sales opportunity rises along with the amount and type of customer contact, production efficiency is lowered, resulting in an inverse relationship.
There are several things that our group would have done differently given a second time to run the simulation. First, we would have focused our attention and resources on segments A and D. These were the two segments we felt were our target customers based on their feedback and purchasing history. These two segments made up no less than 71% of our total number of purchases each quarter. Throughout the simulation we continued to allocate some, albeit small, amount of resources to the other segments. Particularly segment C, which ended up being “very satisfied” from a customer satisfaction standpoint during the last 10 quarters of the simulation. Comparatively, segment D was “satisfied” during this same period. We believe if we could have gotten segment D’s rating to change to “very satisfied”, this would have translated into more
I also undertook several other, less significant adjustments to try and improve performance. I routinely invested in training for my employees when customer satisfaction levels were dropping due to service-related issues. Further, I occasionally invested in advertising and ran sales to promote customer loyalty. I also closed my shop on the weekends, when I anticipated that fewer potential customers would be in the area (due to the store’s location in a business district). Lastly, on the rare occasion that I was offered discounts by one of my suppliers, I generally took advantage of that offer.
The use of 4 P’s, on the other hand, ensures maximizing the resources of the company. When considering price, place, product, and promotion, all aspects of the product/service are considered. Both distributors and customers are emphasized. Equally important, the company’s perspective is taken into account, especially in finding cost-effective ways to make, distribute, and promote products and services. The sales philosophy, which “engages an organization to seek out customers aggressively and persuade them to consume existing offerings,” is part only of the promotion part (Morgan 1996, p.20). This sales philosophy must be combined with cost philosophy, “The only way to improve our profits is to reduce our marketing and production costs,” to safeguard the profitability of products also.
I don’t think that I need to have an extensive sales force in order to be successful. I think the biggest decision that I made in 2015 Q2 was increasing the large customer discounts for segments B and D from 12% discount up to 14% discount. I noticed that last quarter both of these segments expressed their concern that they were not getting the additional discounts that they should for being such long time customers.
* MM possesses a competitive position in this segment in terms of quality product offering and close customer relationships through high level of customer support.
Low sales numbers, fraudulent sales data, and improved employee communication methods were several big issues plaguing the organization and the HR Department. PAC 's reliance on one customer for the majority of sales leads to low sales as the company cut back on purchases. In light of these sales, PAC should work to increase marketing activities in its present markets while working towards expanding to new potential ones. This course of action benefits PAC as it collectively helps generate more contracts and a stronger customer base for sales.
After analyzing the results from the previous quarter, it was determined that the prices set for each segment were not sufficient. Product sales priority were also not properly adjusted. With the R&D investments, sales priorities needed to be changed for the main focus to become the most profitable market segments. Prices were not competitive which in turned decreased revenue, market share, and profitability. To become more competitive we altered the prices in each market segment. The Workhorse product was the first to change, the price was lowered to $2500 in an attempt to increase sales; at this price Team 4 was still making a profit on this product, as well as making the price much more competitive. The Workhorse sales priority was also lowered to 3rd in Americas and 4th in APAC and EMEA. This product was not selling as well as we had hoped, and was no longer as profitable as it once was which led to this decision. Next, the Innovator product’s price was adjusted; this involved a price increase to $4100. This price was adjusted to include the new
It is imperative to satisfy customers and give them an amazing experience at the company. While it cost less to sell to existing customers and companies can increase profit by selling to the same customers; if customers are satisfied, there is more chance they will come back for more services or products. Satisfied customers are a free marketing for the company. However, it is the opposite if customers are dissatisfied. Dissatisfied customer will tell 8 to 10 people about his or her experience (O’Brien, A & Marakas, G. 2004). If by any reason, representatives see that the customer is not satisfy, they should act fast and fix the problem. Furthermore, there is more chance for sale representatives to sell to an existing customer that to a new customer. A good strategy for customer retention is to reward good customers. Companies can easily do
One major problem was the resignation of one of the company’s top salesmen who had the most difficult territory (9963), effective at the end of the year. If he shifts one of the more experiences salesmen into that area, it would disrupt service in an additional territory, which was undesirable because it took several months for a salesman to build up a good rapport with customers. This decision would affect the
Customer satisfaction is the backbone to being successful with in a business atmosphere. Steve and Dana were obviously not satisfied because their experience did not match their expectations (customer satisfaction was not reached). For this