Customer Development

Executive summary

Customer Development

A personal analysis, of my consulting service current position, is on customer development: which is evolving for a new approach. The realm, of customer development, is changing in its methods of obtaining clients. Consumers may have a different opinion on what is valuable or changing for them. However, the problem is what will work to gain those clients for a corporation. Ideally, the input is the likely option about a product or service. Today’s customer development is geared toward the consumer’s approval of a product or service. It is where ideas are put to the test. The people will decide if the company’s idea stands a chance or face ridicule. Nonetheless, this might not be the right approach. It is a better way for companies, which most organizations might agree on. A product or service in development needs to be scrutinized and it deserves feedback from potential clients. The response can be negative or positive. How would it do nationally or internationally? A market may be existent for your product or service idea: that would motivate consumers to buy. A connection may be made for the business model presented where this would be part of the discovery. Thereafter, a strategy is made on how to please the consumers during development. By opinion, it could make the difference and convince business owners. Owners of a business are encouraged to go out and meet the people: asking them questions about their business model, product or service. Customers notice these efforts in the beginning, which gives the organization time to continue its model: or to develop a different product or service. Many consumers can determine if it is worth your effort or a simple idea; this means using the time wisely so customer development can work for your organization. In addition to this perspective, social media has been contributing to customer development. Companies have not gone away from this venture because it is a working platform to sell products and services to people. It is known as social networking. The target market is traditional and digital, which includes three large companies: Facebook, Google and Twitter. Facebook has amassed 855 million users on mobile apps. Mobile apps help customers find vital information about any company. It started in 2014: which also contributes to customer development. In accordance, Facebook’s market share reached $267 billion in 2015. Google amounted to $450 billion and twitter gained $20 billion of market share. It is agreeable that these social networking sites can build clients for companies. They are seen on desktop computers, ipads, laptops and smartphones. Nevertheless, customer development has been broken down to 3 key players in the business; they are the main parts of social media: Facebook, Google and Twitter. The quality of service, provided to companies, seems immeasurable. Even so, Facebook has online users growing yearly on its homepage. It surpassed its first quarter of daily users on mobile apps: from 798 to 844 million.

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Service Methodology

I would undertake my proposed unique consulting service by aiding in the implementation of a customer development solution. This entails solving a specific customer related issue early in the process. Fortunately, business tools for consultants will be used to solve these issues (relating to customer development and loyalty): including a SWOT analysis for the enterprise. Consultative tools will be used to solve customer development problems. There are exceptional solutions that will be used over the implementation of a product or service. Therefore, a device comes with real world answers that can be used in the implementation phase: to provide coordination in the products development along with its marketable status. Furthermore, client feedback will be a valuable option for the company. Overall, customers can find flaws in products and services easily. Therefore, a series of consulting questions will be used to ensure a solid outlook for the product or service. A number of options can be agreed on by the organization based on a business plan. The corporation will make its final decision charting a course that may be successful. Customer development, with a sensible approach backed by, solutions will be a bonus to the organization. This service provides a readiness for any obstacles that may have stricken your efforts: providing a path that is sustainable or successful for your enterprise. However, the execution of the plan may require additional staffing or updated employee performance: to accommodate the development of customers. For example, hospitals across the country have been understaffed: for the shortage of nurses for so long. This provides a reason for meeting the demand for customers to develop (or patients to receive good healthcare) in any business industry.

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Service Options

Companies can elect whether they just require Appleton Greene for advice and support with the Bronze Client Service, for research and performance analysis with the Silver Client Service, for facilitating departmental workshops with the Gold Client Service, or for complete process planning, development, implementation, management and review, with the Platinum Client Service. Ultimately, there is a service to suit every situation and every budget and clients can elect to either upgrade or downgrade from one service to another as and when required, providing complete flexibility in order to ensure that the right level of support is available over a sustainable period of time, enabling the organization to compensate for any prescriptive or emergent changes relating to: Customer Service; E-business; Finance; Globalization; Human Resources; Information Technology; Legal; Management; Marketing; or Production.

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Service Mission

I would aim to undertake my proposed consulting service in lieu of a service mission for customer development. Therefore, a process is needed to implement a customer development mission for the organization: to ensure that they are carried out effectively. Problem solving and creative ideas are important steps to the process. Fortunately, this consulting service recommends client feedback in the process of solving customer development issues during an implementation plan. Creative ideas would be spurred by the discussion of client expectations. The corporation would seek insight into what can be accomplished during the process. The consulting service finds this agreeable and intriguing. In order for customers to develop, consultants have learned: that they need to search for the concern of consumers on products and services. This presents some responsibilities and goals to achieve by the enterprise. This service sees customer focus as the key factor in customer development. Ideally, there would be a lack of technology and customers in all: if there isn’t a focus for the mission. Nonetheless, employees would have to be motivated for performance expectations: where they come in contact with clients in brick-and-mortar businesses, the telephone or the internet. This connects to human resources, which is the department to address client concerns; which can run out of ideas in an internal environment. Employees may need communication with an alternate perspective, which will render them responsible to completing the task for client development; this service believes in this option: as it helps a company in this training perspective. Team work and collaboration would be determining choices in a process for customer development: to help meet expectations for the service mission.

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Service objectives

The following list represents the Key Service Objectives (KSO) for the Appleton Greene Customer Development service.

1. Customer service
   The consulting service, that I provide, is in customer service for client development. Customer service is the assistance provided to customers before, during and after a purchase: for a product or service. It provides clients a stage for feedback, guidance and information (on products and services). Its purpose is to satisfy clients and develop new customers. This is achievable for an enterprise in several parts: when implementing this consulting service (in customer service) for customer development. It is formulating a strategy for customer service, managing customer relations, creating an effective and cohesive model (while networking within or outside an organization). These objectives aid companies or businesses on achieving customer service for client development. It will be known through this consulting service that the process for strategy formulation is as follows: creating long-term objectives, evaluating the enterprise, comparing sales to long-term clients, checking departmental contributions, examining organizational performance and choosing the best strategy. The next process is to manage customer relations. The connection that will be made is through marketing, networking and focusing on long-term benefits. Nonetheless, customers can be gained from networking with (current) clients during customer relationships. In addition, communication between employee teams can enhance the workflow in accomplishing customer development. The final process is to have a cohesive team of employees. This process is, generally, important for a company. It would be a priority implementing this process: to set the team goals, provide a working environment, meeting expectations (or responsibilities), training employees, and allowing the team to develop. These customer service processes, for customer development, can lead to some core benefits for any organization. A practical application can lead to a company improving on strategy formulation, customer relations, team management, employee development, evaluation criteria, network management, communication skills, a working environment, training evaluation, support and assistance.
2. Human resources
   The consulting service, that I provide, is in human resources for client development. Human resources organize, recruit and direct employees of an organization. In addition, the managers (or their supervisors) can also implement training for employees on how to provide customer service to potential clients. Obviously, employees are the forefront for client development under the direction of human resource management: like sales associates. Often times, employees will meet potential customers on the job: where they will interact with them. Even so, the HR department will meet the challenges for client development. Fortunately, they can achieve customer development objectives in several ways implementing this consulting service: by creating a business strategy, reviewing human resources for performance and utilizing solutions. This can be sorted through the process that will benefit customer development. The first is the business strategy. Evidently, the process involves producing appropriate objectives in customer service for client development: on where to win them and how to keep going when management gets there, using core competencies for effectiveness and the means used to execute them. The next process (to be known) is the recruitment, which is important in providing the service needed for customer development: where the corporation is hiring effective workers to make a pleasant experience for customers. The process will be defined for customer development: by finding an opening and determining the need, listing the position’s description, planning on how to recruit, reviewing applications with human resource managers, posting the position on the internet, executing a recruitment plan, reviewing potential applicants for a position, starting interviews with potential candidates and completing the hiring process. Thereafter, the final process is finding a solution or more for customer development. It is a priority for client development in many ways. The first is to analyze your current process, rework it (making changes), implementing your work, monitoring it for progress, managing the flow from end to end and including technology for improvements. These human resource processes, for customer development, can lead to some core benefits for any organization. A practical application can lead to a company improving a business strategy, performance reporting, solution statements, progress reporting, recruitment & selection, process analysis, identifying opportunities, opportunity analysis, employee commitment and resource alignment.
3. Management
   The consulting service, that I provide, is in management for customer development. Management contributes to decision making for a company; it maintains business relationships with clients and generates new customers. They can control, organize, plan and lead. However, the purpose of implementing this consulting service is for a management department to achieve its objectives in developing customers: a management to customer relationship. The department can also achieve development by allowing customers to build relationships with suppliers. The process to use has been defined for customer development in management: by conducting team improvement activities, sharing information when appropriate, developing suppliers with capabilities, supervising the suppliers and converting (supplier) competitors into new opportunities. Another process includes cost management. The link is the benefit of managing the cost where the business can manage new customers: by cost estimating, cost budgeting and cost control. Ideally, this is figured by the toll expenses have on a business. Another thoughtful process is to generate clients from referrals: by checking current clients, looking for new customers and checking on potential prospects for business. It is known that generous leads benefit organizations. The connection that can be made is the success of referrals opposed to cold calling. For example, this can be suitable for most companies in developing clients: which is motivating to businesses and clients alike. Evidently, referrals are six times likely to generate customers than cold calling by companies. By opinion, this is agreeable as people tend to discourage random calls from companies who are looking to profit (failing to truly meet the needs of customer(s)). Management will want to use the best option for developing clients: to balance between referrals and cold calling for the development. These management processes, for customer development, can lead to some core benefits for any organization. A practical application can lead to improvements in a positioning statement, formal communication, refocusing attention, team building, supplier evaluation, time effectiveness, cost management, business growth, community relations and referral selling.
4. Market research
   The consulting service, that I provide, is in market research for customer development. Fortunately, market research is gathering information about a target market. It processes the information that corporations need for decision making: to selling products and services to consumers, businesses and the government. It determines what consumers want and seeks opportunities to get clients: reaching the development of customers. Therefore, it can be achievable to an enterprise when implementing this consulting service for customer development. The objectives are dividing a market into segments, understanding (and discussing) the market growth and putting information together about competitors. The first process entails segmenting, positioning and marketing: according to product, place, and promotion. In addition, it has some segments to consider within the process; which is the type of product or service, location, geography, consumer demand, age, income and more. The point is to make the research workable where the data can be entered efficiently for each segment. These market segments help when acknowledging purchase patterns for target groups. The idea is to begin organization and development: which will be an important direction for market research. The next process is the following: formulating a problem, using the scientific method, utilizing a method of research, collecting data, drawing a framework, using different techniques for collecting the data, comparing those by using a sample population, collecting data while maintaining a budget for the expense, interpret the results and create a report. The resources have to be planned carefully before implementing them. Then, the final process is gathering information about the competitors. Beneficially, this would be defined for customer development. The process is as follows: searching for information about the competitors and the market, making sure it is legal, collecting accurate data, networking to get competitive information and searching for trends to the type of business. These market research processes, for customer development, can lead to some core benefits for any organization. A practical application can lead to a company improving on segment marketing, market acceptance, competitive analysis, competitive positioning, target marketing, problem recognition, methods study, conceptual frame-working, data analysis and competitive advantage.
5. Competitor analysis
   The consulting service, that I provide, is in competitor analysis for client development. Practically, competitor analysis is an examination of the strengths and weaknesses between competing companies. An enterprise can (then) understand its competition and begin to solve its weaknesses. A company can achieve these objectives by implementing this consulting service for customer development: through competitor analysis. Often times, the plan is a competitive strategy that assesses a competitor’s business. This can be defined the processes leading to customer development. The first is to determine who your competitors are, how to control them, and conducting an analysis. This process is started with business research: when identifying competitors, studying customers, doing a SWOT analysis, studying the target audience and applying the results. Secondary research can make identification of competitors easier for an organization. Even so, the overall goal is to perform better than the competitor and draw customers. The next process is also defined for customer development. It is to control the competing business: by assuring that it works with the plan of the company. The process will set standards, examine its performance and make corrective changes. Then, the organization can begin the analysis. Accordingly, it is important for planning. It is the catalyst for an investigation and analysis: of the competitor(s). It starts by identifying the competitor(s), using existing clients or consumers to grade the competition, create an analysis for each potential competitor and using resources to control them. In competitive analysis, the immediate process is to do the research, put together the information, analyze it and decide where the organization stands (after the analysis).

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Achievements

Aflac

Aflac has shown its true colors by the outstanding service provided to customers. Supplemental insurance was the variety of plans provided for disability, cancer, hospital confinement, dental and more. As an independent insurance contractor (agent), I dealt with clients who found interest in the plans: and I received recognition from the organization for my commitment to selling health plans. Other independent contractors benefited from my meetings with businesses who were interested in the mission of the corporation. Evidently, the company pays cash to policyholders when they are sick. The thought was, the issue, to relieve clients of financial stress when it came to problems with their (physical) health: after being a policyholder. The breakdown is the trust involved in such plans when I did presentations in Spanish for potential clients: explaining the benefits and developing customers. It extended their livelihood knowing that a sickness cannot totally terminate their income: because of supplemental insurance benefits. A colleague benefited from my lead in signing up individuals for quality plans, which made a positive impact on the lives of the policyholders: because they were convinced of the true benefit of the company’s insurance policies.

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New Community

The company became a source for community development. They are known in the neighborhood for their hospital(s) and programs. When families became destitute, potential clients had little support from the government. However, the organization was built on improving the quality of lives for unfortunate people. The corporation found interest in using my services in the education department of their business. My project was to be immersed and to learn during teacher meetings on improving the quality of lives for individuals faced with a communication barrier: when learning to speak and understand the English language. Immigrants were part of this mission as any other individual can receive at New Community; it was open to all kinds of people who were usually poor, illiterate or disadvantaged because of income. My leadership qualities provided a good learning environment for students who were looking to become citizens in this great country. It included individuals whether they were disabled or normal. Students began to develop and my services were needed very much by the organization: which did fulfil the mission statement at the time. It was dictated by improving the quality of lives especially through education.

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Ambit Energy

The organization was the forefront on energy savings for struggling consumers paying for utilities. This business was a favorite provider for people that believed in what it offered. Obviously, many people were later drawn by its mission for helping customers save on gas and electricity: whereas developing customers. As an independent consultant, I embodied the practice of informing consumers on how to save on a good utility plan: using preferable rates given by the company (for certain locations). Rates were compared to what the consumer was currently paying. It was a historic moment when gas and utility giants became deregulated: allowing small companies to become secondary providers. Customers had benefited from its services and a friend. Later I became a client. Fortunately, this became an example of what customers favored: knowing that someone benefited from the plan as well. The application was practical. Teaching clients about the plan became easier: which indirectly increased the organizations client base. My client saw savings after the first payment. Being an independent consultant provided a direct channel for opportunist looking to save on a good plan.

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Ameriplan

The idea was what health plan a person had when a community of people did not have one. In a local city, people have been indirectly waiting to save on doctor visits (to a hospital or a clinic). Thereafter, this organization’s discount plans were selling very well for this community: which was the start to developing customers. Basically, the plans helped customers save on dental, accident and doctor visits. Definitely, I visited homes and did presentations as an independent contractor where clients benefited from the discount plans. The thought was meeting the needs of the people, which reminded me of consumer demand. The strength was in the company’s mission when a customer can decrease their bill for doctor visits: after all the details of the company’s plan have been explained to consumers. Therefore, people took advantage of it because they did not have health insurance. This created a niche market for me where I returned again for people who were in dire need of a health plan.

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CCLS

This enterprise seemed to be a great candidate for educating foreigners in the United States. Clients have received my services from educating them on language skills known internationally: as English. For the students, it was not their native language. However, what they received was exceptionally good. The company introduced more consumers for a second term and I received them. The organization has 850 schools worldwide: which seems to be receiving students yearly. I was able to achieve my goals because the company provided multimedia language programs: which benefited the students. The company’s strength is in the business model presented to customers and in the way conveyed: enhancing the development of customers.

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More detailed achievements, references and testimonials are confidentially available to clients upon request.

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Industries

This service is primarily available to the following industry sectors:

Energy

I perceive the current commercial position of the energy industry to be a lucrative business for many companies. Even so, the United States is the leader in the production of energy: where its energy sources are from nuclear power, coal, oil, gas, electricity, renewable energy and more. In addition, the US leads in the production of oil than Russia and Saudi Arabia. In respect, these statements are agreeable where the United States has current knowledge in extracting oil from shale rocks (with traces of hydrocarbons) in 2015. Hydrocarbon molecules are in petroleum oil; which contributes to the United States as a global leader in energy sources combined. Nonetheless, coal is another addition in states like Wyoming and Pennsylvania. They are also used to produce electricity where smart grids have been established for the efficient transmission of power. Electricity and utilities are abundant in the US where customers rely on these types of power. In addition, nuclear power aids in the production of electricity. Thus far, the US has the most nuclear power plants in the world; which generates $500 – $750 billion dollars for the United States. It delivers power to homes and businesses throughout the country. The facilities contribute to more jobs: as manpower and machines will be needed to maintain these systems of energy. Furthermore, federal law and regulatory policies ensure the effectiveness of these locations and the labor needed to maintain them. The United States has also solved the problem of depleting oil reserves in a process called renewable energy: they have a 420 percent increase of ethanol in 2010. So far, ethanol is used to power cars in countries such as Brazil. By opinion, the US would decrease their use of fossil fuels that contribute to greenhouse gases: as well as other nations. Greenhouse gases cause climate change, which is costly for countries affected by it. Nevertheless, the United States exported 700 to 800 million gallons of ethanol to foreign countries. Most of the production has been exported to foreign countries based on demand. One prominent company is ADM (Archer Daniels Midland Company), which is located in Chicago, Illinois. The company produces biofuels such as ethanol: where its market share reached 81.2 billion dollars in 2014. ADM is the leader in the production of biofuels in the US and it sells products to 6 continents worldwide. Its competitor is the POET Company, which produces 1.6 billion gallons of ethanol a year. Successfully, ADM produces 1.75 billion gallons per year. I perceive the future outlook of this industry to be based on new changes by 2020. Oil reserves will have declined by the fifth decade. Petroleum will be used heavily and it will be decreasing to lower levels: but not at a loss state. The conversion of petroleum would not be done easily due to cost. This would greatly affect the global economy. Other useful alternatives (for future) will include geothermal, hydrogen and solar energy. Evidence shows that hydrogen would be the likely source to replace oil.

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Healthcare

I perceive the current position of the healthcare industry to meet the needs of patients: which is to cure, prevent, rehabilitate, and aid patients with serious illnesses. In other healthcare industries, insurance companies cover all medical conditions: without a disqualification for pre-existing conditions. These changes were made to health laws regardi