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SenseMaking from the Web
Common themes in this batch of articles cover accelerating transitions to the future of work, with Microsoft leading the way in redefining work vocabulary and practices. There’s a focus on value creation in business and the shift from traditional profit-centric business models to value creation for customers, which has shown positive responses from staff and…
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The discounted innovation in Software as a Service
I work with enterprise software customers in a post-sales role. I’m often asked to justify the ongoing costs that are part of the SaaS model, i.e. subscription based. Here are my thoughts that I am going to share next time I am asked. I like to think of it as discounted innovation. To begin explaining…
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Suite or best of breed strategies for customer success when enterprise software budgets are squeezed
It is in economic hardship that many offerings are put to the test and not least, the enterprise software offering. I’m reminded of this every day since I work supporting one of the most well-known suites out there, Microsoft 365 (disclosure). It was brought back to my attention by this post in The Information: Zoom…
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Marketing sales and customer success for 360 degree effectiveness
In line with some recent work I’ve been doing working with colleagues in sales and marketing, I created a doodle and had some brief additional thoughts around this topic. These thoughts in the form of a DanelDoodle are a little heavier on the sales side. I do work very closely with sales people because I…
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State of a category – customer success 2021
I’ve been in this space formally for almost 10 years now. I say formally because I’ve been doing the work a lot longer, just under another name. I’ve been passionate about it all these years and still am but after that long, you’ve got to question things. I’ve written on the state of customer success…
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Trending
Customer Success and Marketing functions are increasingly interrelated and working together. With scale motions and operations it’s driving customer experiences to new heights. I’m not sure its a new trend yet, I’ll be keeping an eye out to see where it goes. A trend watcher is an innovator that spots trends and determines if they…
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Customer success operations – some answers
I was asked by Brook Perry from ’nuffsaid if I would be interested in contributing to an article she was working on with others to get feedback on a set of questions covering customer success operations. Being close to my heart I agreed. I’ll update this post with a link to the article once it…
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Customer Success is not about tech or human touch but about the right touch
By touch I mean the way and frequency of times a customer is touched by representatives of a company, whether by technology (think BOTS, automations, etc.) or a human. I would also argue for less touch as there is a danger of bureaucracy creeping in to this fledgling profession, which comes on top of customer…
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The new customer success partnerships
Customer Success teams in SaaS companies (mostly what I am focusing on here) probably like to think they are the spearhead for making customers successful (as the name suggests). In truth, its not that simple (is it ever). First a little context on the two DanelDoodle’s I shared in this post. I use the Paper…
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Balance customer success at scale with high touch when new demand spikes
I’m extremely lucky to work in a space that supports remote working, where demand is booming. COVID-19 has driven demand in the opposite direction for many, effecting their very existing. For the lucky few, it can also be something of a double edged sword. Supporting your customers the right way regardless, is crucial.
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Role of Self Service in Customer Success
Customer success teams were put in place in technology SaaS and subscription companies to ensure that customers are successful in their use of the technology they invested in. They have become a core part of ensuring the customer derives long-term value and ultimately stays with the vendor (in other words renews the subscription). But has…
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The Future of Customer Success is Not Human
It’s a pretty provocative statement, I know. To be clear, I’m not suggesting humans won’t be involved any longer or that there won’t be a need for them. If anything, humans will be liberated to carry out the high-touch, heavy lifting work we are uniquely qualified to do and should be focusing on instead, like…
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Scaling your customer success efforts online – a guide
I mentor startups that go through Microsoft Accelerator’s London program. Because of recent experience I focus on customer success management practices and enterprise software startups, but not exclusively. I recently joined a startup (again) and here too I’m helping with building out a customer success practice. In all cases what often comes up is the…