Understanding Ship and Debit and Channel Incentive Management.
If structured correctly, the channel market is like playing dominos; seamlessly weaving its way towards its enviable end with consistency and ease. Unfortunately, channel incentive management and creating transactions with accurate channel incentive rebate reports isn’t quite as simple.
The business cycle is a complex landscape. Intricate to its core, entrenched with risk, doubt, and the very feasible threat of failure. But, perhaps there is a way to minimize defeat and maximize progression without losing valuable clients along the way. It appears that transparency and a solid channel incentive management process are key components for a long-term partnership.
Establishing transparency within your B2B hierarchy presents a plethora of opportunities. After all, inside a business are people, and people, like to be treated like…people.
One of the most effective strategies for developing a consistent ‘business culture’ within your industry is to provide a structured channel incentive program. Many, if not all, B2B channel incentive programs lose their intended value for a number of reasons. Most have to do with channel incentive management, but we won’t bore you with the specifics as to why.
A New Form of Channel Incentive Management
Enter the ship and debit process, a surprisingly unfamiliar, yet extremely profitable B2B rebate program. In such programs, a supplier credits its distributing partners’ marginal loss due to competitive pricing or market saturation. If the supplier’s “into stock” price is sold at a higher margin than its distributor, the supplier covers the marginal difference via a submitted claim.
From there, the claim is either deferred or accepted based on prearranged guidelines made specific by the manufacturer.
Greatest Challenges: Channel Incentive Management Process
On the surface, the channel incentive management process, ship and debit, may seem simple. However, when you take a closer look, the “approval” procedure is highly complex, requiring precise calculations. This often leads to disputed invoices, erroneous rebates, loss of income, loss of channel partners and an increase in work-inefficiency.
The less structured a manufacturer’s channel incentive management process and ship and debit program are, the less likely your ‘business channel model’ will be transparent, and/or overall a success.
Managing, employing and ensuring compliance regarding a ship and debit or channel incentive claim is a multifaceted procedure, which necessitates a sufficient amount of time and resources to be allocated concerning each claim. However, it’s virtually impossible to accurately measure claim request(s) if a business opts to use a manual process.
Essentially, the only strategy to successfully implement a ship and debit incentive program into a manufacturing business is to utilize an automated-streamlined platform, which provides manufacturers with structure and flexibility over claim guidelines. Additionally, implementing an automated system allows you to analyze (real-time) data of your industry, track sales, establish tangible pricing requirements and consistency within your business channel.
According to Steve Raymund, former CEO and chairman of Tech Data, one of (if not the biggest) issues with channel incentive management and the ship and debit model is that channel partners have come to “expect discounts” at the latest possible moment. These last-minute claims create a negative ripple effect; further delaying the price to the end-customer or point of sale (POS) transaction as well as slowing down production and allocating more time/money/energy/resources to manage special pricing agreements (SPA).
Greatest Benefits: Channel Incentive Management Process
Ultimately, and if deployed correctly, the ship and debit model can advance business operations dramatically. The mutual benefits of this type of channel incentive rebate program allow consumer demands and special pricing agreements enviably interchangeable. This is why employing a ‘closed-loop’ solution to the unpredictability of the marketplace is so valuable.
Core Strengths of the Ship and Debit
- Increase Productivity
- Establish a transparent relationship with a channel partner(s)
- Control costs
- Develop a consistent business process (internationally)
Leverage the Power of Automation to Rid your Team of ‘Channel Partner Ambiguity’
Founded in 1984, Computer Market Research (CMR) brings years of experience into the indirect channel sales industry. Through our state-of-the-art automated software, businesses can amplify their B2B marketing efforts via a clear and concise platform that robustly and intuitively assists the managerial process of channel partnerships.
Our services help businesses with:
- maximizing their marketing efforts with channel partners
- optimizing trade promotions
- customizing unique program
- building effective distribution channels
- establishing transparent and objective B2B communication