Finding the right software for your sales partner marketing: Guide to system selection
Companies with a network of sales partners are often faced with the challenge of finding marketing software that enables both centralized control of marketing measures and sufficient local flexibility. A crucial aspect is to ensure a consistent brand presence across all sales partners, while at the same time giving regional partners the necessary freedom to adapt their content to local conditions and the local target group. This guide will help you to identify the appropriate requirements in five simple steps and show you what is important when selecting a suitable marketing management system in order to successfully master these challenges. If you would then like to define your own requirements, we also recommend our white paper on system selection.
What you should look out for when choosing a marketing portal for your sales partners
Choose the right reference model
One of the most important questions you should ask yourself before purchasing a marketing management system is the type of procurement model. Would you like to purchase the software once, develop a solution yourself or would you prefer to purchase the system flexibly as a SaaS solution? To answer this question and make a suitable decision, you should analyze the various models financially and weigh up their advantages and disadvantages.
A one-off purchase of a solution or even the in-house development of an internal system results in high costs for the company, especially at the beginning. As soon as the software is set up, the running costs remain low, but neither the structure nor the functionality is developed further.
In comparison, SaaS models (also known as license models) offer the option of purchasing a software solution for a monthly or annual license fee. There are no initial expenses, the budget is easier to plan and, ideally, the software is continuously developed and optimized by the manufacturer. The costs are usually based on the number of users or sales partners. This means that such a subscription model is individually scalable. The disadvantage, however, is that the company incurs fixed costs from the time of introduction and for the entire period of use, and an increasing number of users also entails higher costs. However, there are not only financial differences; the need for a separate server or location-independent use can also be reasons why a license model can be used more flexibly in many areas.
Flexible and user-friendly interface
The possibility of flexibility and individual personalization of the interface is an important aspect when it comes to finding a suitable system. When making your choice, make sure that the system can ideally be adapted to the specific requirements of your brand and business model through configurable modules and functions. If you have the necessary capacity in your company, it is advisable to choose a system in which you can set up the various areas yourself, maintain new advertising measures and make general changes. This means that you are not dependent on external service providers or the system manufacturer and can react efficiently and immediately to changes in your sales partner marketing. An easy-to-understand user interface plays a key role in implementing this in the best possible way for you, as it can significantly reduce the training effort for you and your sales partners. This allows sales partners to adapt and publish content and campaigns independently, even without in-depth marketing experience. This not only increases efficiency, but also makes more local marketing possible.
Onboarding and customer service
To make it easier for you to choose a suitable system, companies often offer detailed sales advice and the opportunity to test the software with test access to the demo system. This gives you a clear impression of the range of functions and user-friendliness. You can also try out the system in a realistic environment and adapt it to your specific requirements. Using these test phases allows you to compare the software with other solutions and helps you to make an informed decision.
However, before you decide on a provider, you should also check how you will be supported during system implementation and use. A competent provider not only offers general support, but also ensures that your specific requirements are taken into account individually. Ideally, you will be assigned a personal customer advisor from the onboarding stage. This person can provide you with ideal support during the implementation of the software as well as during continuous further development and adaptation to your needs.
Connection of external tools
To ensure that your marketing management system fits perfectly into your existing software environment, you should make sure that an open ecosystem is available. Open interfaces (APIs) enable the integration of external tools and platforms that can expand your marketing process and flexibly adapt it to current requirements. Ideally, you have the option of seamlessly connecting existing CRM, ERP or DAM systems to the system and using the data and content provided directly. This not only creates efficiency, but also makes it easier for your sales partners to always work with the latest content and data. An open ecosystem also offers you the flexibility to integrate new innovations quickly without having to make costly system changes. This allows you to remain competitive and always offer your sales partners the best technologies and continue to develop.
Ensuring data security
Last but not least, when selecting a system, you should ensure that the software does not cause any legal problems for you. Security standards and correct compliance with data protection regulations such as the GDPR serve to ensure that your data is fully protected. One way you can check whether the provider processes your data and the data of your sales partners securely is through ISO 27001 certification. ISO 27001 is a globally recognized standard for information security management systems (ISMS) that defines measures to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access. Encryption and detailed rights and role management therefore ensure that your data always remains secure. The system provider should also continuously ensure that potential security gaps are closed and new threats are averted, as this is the only way to guarantee legally compliant use.
If you would like to find out more about how marketing software such as the Local Marketing Platform can support your marketing success, take a look at our System selection checklist. It will help you to understand your requirements and find the right platform for your company.
We look forward to supporting you in the decision-making and implementation process. Please feel free to contact usto find out more about the possibilities and advantages of a system solution!