IN TODAY’S swiftly changing business environments, the race to stay competitive and grow faster is unrelenting. Companies are on the hunt for strategies that will not only keep them in the race but ideally, a stride ahead. A pronounced shift that has come to the fore recently is the migration from their own proprietary homegrown software solutions to third-party alternatives.

The backbone of everything in the direct selling space is our salesforce. We can create every tool necessary, however, it’s much more than that. Today’s salesforce is smarter, faster and savvier than ever before. They do their homework and research before they join companies.

With the massive increase in participation from everyday people in online marketplaces such as Amazon and Walmart, direct sellers are scrambling to prevent the unauthorized sale of their products online.

The right packaging allows you to demonstrate your company’s quality and personality with every delivery. It starts by visualizing your customer opening the box, which allows you to understand how to arrange the items for the most positive customer experience. Product packaging can also further your branding and help you deliver inviting marketing materials. When done well, it can save your company costs, reduce waste and lower the return rate.

Headless systems are especially attractive to companies in unique industries such as direct selling. With advancements in compensation platforms, they can consider separating the distributor back office from the back-end systems that store tree and commission data.

One of the most important things about planning and executing a successful incentive trip is mitigating potential surprises. A detailed and thorough site visit is your best bet to crafting a memorable event for you and for your distributors.