Complete Story
09/27/2025
020. CRM That Works: A Hands-On Audit and Roadmap Workshop
Instructor: Brian Gardner
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Every month without a well-aligned CRM means lost opportunities, hidden margin leakage and inefficient sales activity. For many distributors, this is the reality. Adoption is weak, and ROI is low. Sales teams are likely working around CRM instead of with it, creating data silos and blind spots that compound over time. The reason? Too many distributors approach CRM as a technology purchase instead of a sales process improvement initiative. That results in feature-heavy systems that fail to deliver adoption, alignment or ROI. This workshop reframes CRM around business processes and shows participants how to build a practical, phased roadmap that ensures a CRM investment pays off. Drawing on the proven SalesProcess360 CRM Audit, this hands-on session will guide participants step by step through evaluating current sales processes, uncovering process gaps and prioritizing sales initiatives. And now, with the rise of AI in distribution, the stakes are even higher. AI can make it easier to analyze customer data, spot trends and uncover opportunities but it’s only as good as the data and processes behind it. Without a clean, consistent and well-adopted CRM, AI tools can’t deliver real insights. With the right foundation, however, AI becomes a powerful accelerator and can help sales teams work smarter, improve forecasting and maximize margins. This workshop isn’t about software demos or feature wish lists. It’s about linking CRM to ROI by tying it directly to sales processes, uncovering quick wins and creating a realistic adoption path. Participants will also leave with a clear understanding of how CRM maturity positions them to take advantage of AI without the risk of bad data leading to bad decisions.
Bookstore
Emotional Intelligence for Sales Success
Colleen Stanley
In Emotional Intelligence for Sales Success, you'll learn how to increase impulse control for better questioning and listening, which EI skills are related to likability and trust, how empathy leads to bigger sales conversations and more effective solutions, how emotional intelligence can improve prospecting efforts, which EI skills are most common among top sales producers, and much more.
Customers can get product information and price comparisons online. The true differentiator between you and a bot is your ability to deftly solve problems and build relationships. From business development to closing the deal, emotional intelligence will drive your performance - and your success.
