Sales drive the business world and the economy. However, sales in any business need to be managed to ensure that the business achieves its objectives. This is where the function of sales management comes into the business structure: it plays the key role of ensuring that salespeople succeed at selling. The profitability of the organisation depends on how successfully sales managers lead their sales force.

The sales manager is responsible for the strategic planning of the sales force, which includes the management of the selling process and organising the sales activities within the sales department. With the third edition of this textbook, the authors hope that both industry and academia will be able to use the information to better understand and implement the different functions of sales management. Concepts are presented in such a manner that a student new to the field will easily grasp them.

The pandemic that hit the world in 2020 has brought about many changes around the world. This has led to numerous changes in the world of business and new trends have emerged in the world of sales. Artificial intelligence became more prominent, the impact of videos increased and automation of sales processes became the order of the day.

One of the more noticeable sales trends that emerged in the past years is creativity. The business world changed and salespeople had to work harder to meet targets. This also led to more intense competition, which in turn, resulted in more innovative ways of doing business. Salespeople were forced to work smarter and not harder during these trying times. One of the cyber-age strategies focused on was the use of the Internet to drive sales. This, however, quickly became annoying to customers. To prevent this type of strategy from becoming an also-ran, it needs to be adjusted and adapted to be one step ahead. Creativity is called for in sales – not silliness!

It is clear that customer expectations of personal selling are constantly changing and that businesses must adapt to these changes. The days are gone where a business can tell customers what they want to hear; or will close a deal fast; or talk a lot to influence customers. Customers expect businesses to change the way they approach them.

In this edition of Personal Selling, the authors outline the key steps in the selling process that lead to a successful sale, from prospecting for a sale to the follow-up once the sale has been completed. In addition, it explains the role and place of personal selling, the impact it has on the economy and how it ties in with and supports marketing. The importance of communication in the act of selling, as well as different approaches and sales presentation methods, are explained and clarified, and a comprehensive discussion on how salespeople should manage themselves and their time is included.

Business-to-Business Marketing is the first B2B marketing book in South Africa written by local academics. Its content therefore includes material to which South African students of B2B marketing can relate more easily. This book is about businesses marketing their products and services to other businesses and covers concepts related to this environment. It gives valuable insights into business-to-business marketing management, as well as analysing B2B buying practices, supply chain management, the selection of business customers and the development of a B2B marketing strategy. It provides readers with an understanding of what B2B marketing is and how it differs from business-to-consumer (B2C) marketing. The book has a strong theoretical basis, while also exploring many case studies from a South African perspective.

This fourth edition of Strategic Marketing has been revised and updated to include the latest trends and examples in business. This edition provides a concise and thorough look at the strategic business issues todays managers must cope with.

The focus is on how organisations need to adapt and cope with the demands from the global and local business environment, and in the process better understand their responsibilities their own organisations needs and their own products and other offerings.

Over the years and with all the new developments in the world and technological advances, the four key questions all organisations must answer still remain as follows:

• Where are we now?
• Where do we want to be?
• How will we get there?
• Did we get there?

These questions sound easy and straight forward but it is not as simple as it sounds. It requires a thorough understanding of the organisation and all the elements in the business environment that can and will impact on the business. This edition addresses these questions in an easy to understand and practical manner and covers a range of topics including an analysis of the external business environment, a detailed analysis of customers and competitors, market analysis, analysing the internal environment. There after the focus moves to marketing strategy and metrics which is applicable to organisations and the importance thereof, and added to this is the management of customer experiences and market strategies, and a global view of strategic marketing from the organisation’s perspective.

Customer service is not a new topic in marketing. Although most marketing texts cover customer service in some form or another, the topic is generally not given the attention it deserves. In a society where customers are becoming more informed, more protected and more demanding than in the past, it makes good business sense to ensure that your customers receive a high level of customer service. After all, a happy customer is a satisfied customer, and a satisfied customer will remember the experience and purchase from you again and again.

Customer Service draws together the important issues regarding customer service. It addresses all the key elements which need to be considered when developing a service strategy for a business. The text is not only written with undergraduate students in mind, but also for the entire spectrum of businesses – both large and small – and for employees at all levels.

This book:

• Considers the topic of customer service within the context of its role in marketing strategy
• Stresses the importance and role of verbal and non-verbal communication
• Highlights the role that physical evidence plays in supporting a service strategy
• Addresses the causes of service failures and how to fix them
• Provides guidance on how to develop a service system
• Shows how technology can be used to enhance customer service
• Gives advice on how to develop and train staff to deliver exceptional customer service
• Addresses the important issues of quality, value, expectations and satisfaction and why they form the foundation of a service strategy
• Outlines the concept of customer experience management and how to apply it to a business