Future of Presales: The Rake Model (Part 1)

How the history and the future of presales intertwine

Keeping up with the rollercoaster of changes, or the ‘new normals’ if you will, is something we’re all facing in the middle of this COVID-19 commotion. But for presales in the IT and software industry it may feel like somewhat of a recognizable phenomenon. The comfort of a steady normal has been fading in this field since the millennium. It looks like the latest turn of events will determine a different ball game yet again. However, I don’t believe in the current common statement that forecasting is inexplicable in such a fluctuating situation. On the contrary, I myself envisioned a new point of view on the future of presales while in quarantine. It’s about a so-called ‘rake model’ and guess what: It fits perfectly into the new normal of remote working we’re finding ourselves in.

First things first, let’s review the old normal for a second. And by that I don’t mean the ‘pre COVID-19 situation’, but rather the way presales worked ten or even twenty years ago. As I wrote in one of my earlier blogs, the role of presales has been shifting in the buyer’s cycle of seven stages. Traditionally, the presales consultant stepped in in the fourth stage, where the evaluation takes place. This was fine in a time when software was a straightforward solution for one certain task or problem and the prospect was still new to the game. Back then, the account manager did the groundwork and when the buyer was ready to compare solutions, presales presented a smashing demo to prove the solution’s worth. It was all about filling in the practical details, so to say. However, the future of presales is here.

Software as added value for shaping a company’s vision

Nowadays, software is increasingly used to automate a whole range of business processes that used to require a lot of manual work and time. This next generation works smarter and more intuitive. Employees can focus on what really matters in their job, instead of composing endless Excel lists. Software keeps evolving with the speed of light. No wonder it is hard for presales to keep up. Especially since their task is not just knowing every technical detail of a system and elaborate on its functionalities. It’s painting an overall picture of the software’s abilities as well as your customer’s vision on the company future. Between all this you have to show to what extend your software has the best added value for shaping that vision. And let’s be honest here: that’s just a bit bonkers, right? It’s quite impossible to store all that information into one human head.

The Comb model

It’s not a surprise there are new developments in our presales industry. We’ve been seeing a subdivision. Fewer and fewer organisations feel the need for a presales consultant. A specialist which knows all the technical functionalities and possibilities of the software. And I agree. This comb model, where presales represents the shaft (the possibilities) and the row of teeth it holds (the functionalities), makes no sense. Especially when you take into consideration that the role of the customer has also changed in the last couple of years, as I wrote in my blog ‘Presales 3.0’. Because companies are keeping up with the times and have been learning a thing or two (or even three) about software. They know what they need and they’re well informed. Knowledgeable of what the market has to offer and what technical specifications match with their objectives. Decisions have been made before you reach the evaluation stage of the buyers’ cycle. As a result all your presales efforts will have missed the mark.

So, the crucial playing field has moved over to the earlier stages of the cycle: the need and feasibility stage. At which there is no structured buying process yet. Individuals within the company are browsing for potential software solutions. Let’s assume your marketing department has done its job and made sure your solution is one of the options the prospect is curious about. In that case, the first and foremost requirement is to present yourself not only as a presales consultant. The prospect requires a trusted advisor or thought leader: someone who knows exactly how the specific features of your software will help the prospect to reach his goals.

The T-model: Industry Principals and Solution Presales

The T-model allows you to be better informed than your customer. It doesn’t require you to know all the ins and outs of the technology. This model contains two different types of presales. Industry principals and/or customer advisors make up the first group. These presales know the bigger picture and stand in close contact with the customer. They will tend to be more like generalists or account managers and possibly never give demos again. That’s where the second group, the specialists or let’s call them subject matter experts, comes in. These presales consultants focus on specific functionalities so they can complement the knowledge gap that exists with the first group.

The Rake model: The future of presales

The T-model can be risky however, it could result in leaving the customer advisor high and dry. This could result from missed connections between the different of the fields of the two groups. This is where the ‘rake model’ comes in, the garden tool with the toothed bar on top. This model holds the same types of presales as in the T-model, but the deviating composition enables more cohesion. This entails that both groups can uphold a contentual conversation with the customer. Because that’s what presales is all about these days. I think the new playing field COVID-19 imposes on us actually provides convenient reinforcement in that sense. Curious to know how? Let’s examine that further in my next blog.

Natasja Bax
Founder of The DemoScene
President of Great Demo! EMEA