There are plenty of things you’d like to tell your vendors, but what does your vendor want you to know? We asked Ncontracts employees to draw on their decades of industry experience to tell us what they and their peers most want customers to know.
From the sales team to executives, here’s what they said:
Maybe some vendors are just looking for a quick sale, but most of us want you to find value in our products and services. Too many institutions spend money on software they aren’t using. If you’re having problems with implementation or are overwhelmed, reach out to your vendor. Many have staff members who can help you work through roadblocks.
Our team is full of subject matter experts, and we are happy to share our knowledge. This is true even if it’s not a question directly tied to the vendor’s product. We really care about making you successful and keeping your business.
You’re a smart consumer, and you’re going to shop around. We understand and respect that. If you tell us what other products or companies you’re considering, it can help us better understand what you’re looking for, show you what’s different about us, and ultimately help you get the best solution. We promise we won’t be mad.
Having all the stakeholders in the room isn’t just easier for us because we don’t have to do multiple demos for multiple audiences. It’s also easier for you. Having important decision makers in the room saves time so that you don’t get to the end of the line and get a ‘no.’ It also streamlines execution. Adoption rates improve when everyone across the different departments is involved from the beginning.Also, make sure everyone brings their hardest questions and most complicated pain points to the demo. We want to show you what we can do to solve your problems and make your institution more efficient. If we can’t meet those needs, it gives us real-world feedback on where to improve in the future.
We know you’re concerned about the bottom line, but cheapest isn’t always best. Replacing a solution that doesn’t work as well as you need it to or that is quickly outgrown costs both time and money. You want a solution that can grow with you, so think about long-term strategy and needs. We’re not trying to gauge you. Just like you, we’re a business that’s trying to do right by our customers while covering our costs.
There you have it, the other side of the vendor relationship. The vast majority of vendors really want to help your business grow and thrive.