Effective Proof of Concepts with Keno Helmi

Keno Helmi is a five-time CRO with a wealth of experience in the technology industry. He has held leadership positions at companies such as PTC, HP, Digby, Duetto, Platform 9, and Pegasus. Currently, he serves as the CRO at Espressive. Keno discusses the importance of proof of value (POV) in the sales process. He explains that a POV is not just about validating the technology, but also about validating the business case. By setting clear success criteria and involving the economic buyer (EB) in the process, sales reps can increase the predictability of the outcome and improve their forecasting. Keno emphasizes the need for a champion to take the rep to the EB and highlights the importance of thorough qualification before engaging in a POV. He also shares best practices for running a successful POV, including defining objectives, setting clear success metrics, and involving the sales rep throughout the process. Keno concludes by discussing the importance of debriefing with the champion and presenting a comprehensive report or presentation to the EB after the POV. HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT [00:00:00] POC vs. POV: POC validates technology; POV validates both tech and business value. [00:05:19] Meeting the Economic Buyer is critical for authority and budget. [00:11:50] Don't do POCs too early; understand the customer's use case. [00:14:11] Champions expedite sales by taking you to the Economic Buyer. [00:18:17] POC should lead to a natural close, not put the customer in the market. [00:25:11] The go, no-go meeting with the Economic Buyer is decisive. [00:38:33] Share a comprehensive RFP or scoring template to guide the evaluation. [00:41:45] Leverage serendipitous visits from stakeholders to build additional champions. [00:43:29] Proactively bring in potential champions who may not be aware of the POV. [00:46:13] Actively engage during the POV, troubleshoot discreetly, and showcase successes. [00:48:16] Create a comprehensive report or presentation (Champion's Deck) summarizing technical and financial results. HIGHLIGHT QUOTES [00:10:28] "You want to do a P.O.V. to increase the predictability of the outcome, improve your forecasting, and potentially grow the business value of the deal." [00:13:25] "That person has earned the right to be called a champion and not a prospective champion. You do not have the right to call that person a champion until that person takes you to the economic buyer." [00:15:11] "You want to ensure that your test plan is going to be the scoring mechanism by which all vendors are evaluated." ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Connect with Keno: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keno-helmi-74779329/ More on Espressive: https://www.espressive.com/ Engineer Your Strongest SKO Yet: https://forc.mx/46BipZB