In this episode, I sit down with Frederik Taleman, founder and CEO of Hive CPQ, and Vera Vingerhoets, their Sales and Marketing Director. Join us to hear their insights on: Growth Strategies : Frederik shares how Hive is scaling rapidly by building a powerful reseller and system implementer network. Low-Code/No-Code Approach : Vera highlights the impact of this approach that empowers users to build configurators. Microsoft Dynamics Success : Hive is now integrated with the Microsoft Dynamics 365...
Nov 03, 2024•32 min•Ep. 335
Have you been wondering how to best leverage customer reference calls to make better CPQ Solution decisions? In this episode, we dive into the essential questions: who, what, when, where, why, and how. We'll share practical tips and best practices to make the most of these important and powerful calls.
Oct 27, 2024•14 min•Ep. 334
Unleash the power of modularity! This episode features Karl-Johan Linghede, a business veteran with over 25 years of experience, hailing from Stockholm, Sweden. He's the mastermind behind Modular Management, a company that's been revolutionizing how businesses handle complexity since its research roots in the 90s at Sweden's Royal Institute of Technology. Get ready to: Discover Karl-Johan's initial foray into the world of modularity and configurability. Learn the fascinating origin story of Modu...
Oct 20, 2024•32 min•Ep. 333
Ever wondered what Salesforce CPQ customers are asking about migrating to RLM? This episode dives deep with CPQ veteran Phil Rapp, who's seen it all from Big Machines to his own company, Ascribe IT. Phil unpacks current projects with Salesforce and Logik.io , shares insights from the Mile Hi Dreamin' event, and reveals the top integration needs and customization trends he's encountering. Learn what drives Phil's clients and get a glimpse into the future of CPQ! Bonus: Get Phil's perspective on t...
Oct 13, 2024•32 min•Ep. 332
Join us for an insightful conversation with Heather Hershey, the Digital Commerce Research Director at IDC. Heather, a self-made entrepreneur with a unique journey from adult learner to commerce expert, shares her personal experiences and industry insights. In this episode, we dive deep into the world of IDC Analyst Reports and explore the current state of CPQ. Heather discusses her early days in CPQ, the valuable lessons learned from recent ProductScape and MarketScape reports, and her surprisi...
Oct 06, 2024•34 min•Ep. 331
We're revisiting the dynamic duo behind CPQ.se , Magnus Fasth and Patrik Skjelfoss, to see how their Tacton-powered System Integration rocket is blasting off! In this episode, you'll discover: How CPQ.se went from launchpad to success story in just 5 years (spoiler: it involves getting mid-sized companies up and running with Tacton in 4-5 months!) The latest trend of making CPQ solutions available for external users The most critical CPQ challenges you NEED to know about (and how to conquer them...
Sep 29, 2024•32 min•Ep. 330
Attention CPQ enthusiasts! We've been overwhelmed with your interest in the CPQ Podcast since September 1st, and we appreciate your enthusiasm! To ensure we deliver the best possible content, we're taking a short, late-summer break until the end of September or early October. But fear not, we've already lined up some amazing guests for your listening pleasure when we return. In the meantime, dive deeper into the world of CPQ with these resources: CPQ Circle Subscription: Learn more about CPQ eac...
Sep 09, 2024•5 min•Ep. 329
In this episode, we sit down with Pascal Yammine, the dynamic CEO of Zilliant, to delve deep into the world of pricing, CPQ, and the future of revenue operations. Get ready to be inspired as Pascal shares his insights on: Zilliant's journey: Learn about Pascal's experience at the helm of Zilliant and how the company has evolved under his leadership. The power of partnership: Discover how Zilliant's collaboration with private equity partners and system integrators is driving innovation and growth...
Aug 25, 2024•30 min•Ep. 328
What does it take to win the Epicor Optimization Champion Award? In this special episode, we dive deep with @KerrieJordan, host of the "Manufacturing the Future" Podcast and Group Vice President for Product Management at @Epicor, to explore how @FramelessHardwareCompany (FHC) and @SKOSolutions earned this prestigious award for 2024. Join us as we delve into: The winning formula of Frameless Hardware Company (FHC) and SKO Solutions. The challenges they overcame before implementing Epicor CPQ. How...
Aug 18, 2024•22 min•Ep. 327
What does it take to win the Epicor CPQ Collaboration Champion Award? In part two of a special three-part series, we dive deep with @KerrieJordan , host of the "Manufacturing the Future" Podcast and Group Vice President for Product Management at @Epicor , to explore how @CMTP leveraged @EpicorCPQ to collaborate in their business. Join us as we uncover: The secret sauce behind CMTP's award-winning collaboration. The challenges they faced before implementing Epicor CPQ. How CMTP revolutionized the...
Aug 11, 2024•20 min•Ep. 326
What does it take to win the Epicor CPQ Innovation Champion Award? In part one of a special three-part series, we dive deep with @KerrieJordan , host of the "Manufacturing the Future" Podcast and Group Vice President for Product Management at @Epicor , to explore how @SchoolSpecialty leveraged @EpicorCPQ to innovate their business. Join us as we uncover: The secret sauce behind School Specialty's award-winning innovation. The challenges they faced before implementing Epicor CPQ. How School Speci...
Aug 04, 2024•27 min•Ep. 325
Are you a small or medium-sized business (SMB) looking to explore CPQ (Configure-Price-Quote) solutions? This episode is designed for you! We dive into the key considerations that SMBs should keep in mind when choosing a CPQ system. In this short and informative episode, we'll cover: Understanding CPQ Vendor Pricing: Get the facts upfront! We'll discuss the importance of transparent pricing models and how to avoid hidden fees associated with implementation, training, and ongoing maintenance. Fea...
Jul 28, 2024•14 min•Ep. 324
Ever considered a career in CPQ? This episode is your roadmap to success! CPQ veteran Vishal Belawade, Director of Business Applications, spills the beans on hot career paths, essential skills, and certifications you need to land your dream job. But wait, there's more! Vishal also shares a pivotal career moment that will inspire you. Thinking of switching from Salesforce CPQ to Revenue Lifecycle Management (RLM)? We've got you covered. Vishal dives deep into the advantages, potential challenges,...
Jul 21, 2024•31 min•Ep. 323
Join me in the latest episode of the CPQ Podcast as we delve into the groundbreaking CPQ Sales Report now available from Novus CPQ! 📊✨ This isn't just any report—it's a deep dive into a single CPQ solution, offering unparalleled insights. We go beyond the basics to provide: 🔍 A comprehensive breakdown of the solution's strengths 💡 Ideal use cases and best practices to maximize effectiveness Tune in to hear all about: 📝 What's inside the report 🛠️ How to utilize it to its full potential 📍 W...
Jul 14, 2024•15 min•Ep. 322
This episode of the CPQ Podcast features Noel Goggin, a seasoned leader with over 25 years of experience at companies like Aptos and Epicor Software. Now, at the helm of Conga, Noel sheds light on: pivotal moments that shaped his impressive career his unique leadership style Conga's company culture and how they empower their teams insights from influential figures like Jim Collins the power of mentorship - both the guidance he received and how he fosters it at Conga Conga's cutting-edge Revenue ...
Jul 07, 2024•32 min•Ep. 321
We're thrilled to welcome Laith Al-Hashimi, founder of the Sirocco Group, back to the CPQ Podcast! Since his last appearance in 2022, Laith's Swedish system integration company specializing in CRM and CPQ solutions has experienced tremendous growth globally. In this episode, Laith dives deep into several key topics: From University Startup to Industry Leader: Laith shares his inspiring story of launching his first company while still a student. Sirocco Group's Growth Trajectory: He discusses the...
Jun 30, 2024•32 min•Ep. 320
This episode of the CPQ Podcast features the inspiring Archana Vadya. With over 25 years of experience at giants like Oracle, Conga, and VMWare, she's taking the tech world by storm as the co-founder of PartneRite. Join us for a deep dive as Archana discusses: Her incredible journey: From a Finance MBA to a trailblazing tech entrepreneur. The startup hustle: How to navigate the exciting (and sometimes challenging) world of building a new company,especially in today's economic climate. The future...
Jun 23, 2024•33 min•Ep. 319
This episode of the CPQ Podcast features Derik Quinn, a CPQ expert with over 25 years of experience. Derik has worked with industry giants like Huron, Deloitte, and PwC, as well as boutique consultancies specializing in CPQ (like aMind). Join us as we delve into: Derik's journey: How maintaining a rigorous running routine keeps him sharp for the demands of the CPQ field. The evolving landscape: Challenges facing the high-tech CPQ industry, particularly the shift towards usage-based and consumpti...
Jun 16, 2024•30 min•Ep. 318
Get ready for a fascinating journey into the world of CPQ! This episode features Rick Huebner, the founder and CEO of VISTECH. Buckle up as Rick dives deep into his software development experience that began way back in the early 80s. But that's not all! We'll also explore: The VISTECH CPQ story: Discover how their CPQ adventure started in 2019 and how they're transforming an acquired solution into something truly innovative. No-code customization explained: Demystify what Rick means by "no-code...
Jun 09, 2024•30 min•Ep. 317
This episode features Wilma Eriksson, co-founder and newly appointed CEO of vloxq! Vloxq, is a Swedish startup, that is focused on Europe for the time being but also has worldwide customers in the US and Japan. In our conversation, we delve into: The origins of vloxq: We explore how Wilma and her team brought vloxq to life. Market fit mastery: We discuss vloxq's current position in terms of both product-market fit and go-to-market fit. The power of spreadsheets: Discover how vloxq leverages exis...
Jun 02, 2024•30 min•Ep. 316
This CPQ Podcast episode features Mitesh Sura, Practice Lead and Chief Growth Officer at GoCloudz. GoCloudz offers a modular CPQ solution built natively for the Salesforce platform. In this interview, Mitesh discusses: GoCloudz CPQ Functionality: Learn about the core functionalities of GoCloudz, including product configuration, quoting with PDF generation, and order management. Use Cases and Industries: Discover the industries and business scenarios where GoCloudz CPQ is most commonly applied. S...
May 26, 2024•30 min•Ep. 315
In this episode, we dive into the world of CPQ implementations with Chirag Gulati, CEO & Chief Architect of RevSolutions.co . Chirag brings experience working with various CPQ solutions and projects on Salesforce and Conga. Here's what you'll learn: The challenges and rewards of Chirag's experience with diverse CPQ implementations. Why RevSolutions.co prioritizes "rescue projects" and how they help companies get back on track. The pitfalls of over-customization and change management in CPQ p...
May 19, 2024•30 min•Ep. 314
This episode features a thought-provoking discussion about using Excel alongside CPQ with Dr. Sebastian Dewhurst, General Manager at EASA Software. We expect this topic to spark passionate views from our listeners! Here's what you can expect to learn: Why EASA Software's customers often prefer Excel spreadsheets to traditional CPQ solutions. How EASA's no-code platform "appifies" existing Excel spreadsheets, making them secure and user-friendly for industries like finance, insurance, and manufac...
May 12, 2024•33 min•Ep. 313
In this two-part CPQ Podcast episode we explore Salesforce's latest offering: Revenue Lifecycle Management (RLM). Brion Schweers, SVP at Salesforce Revenue Cloud, joins us to unpack RLM's capabilities. Part 1: Building a Flexible Revenue Engine RLM's composable architecture lets you build a custom revenue solution Powered by Salesforce Einstein: RLM leverages AI for intelligent automation throughout the revenue process. Headless for seamless integration: RLM integrates with existing systems for ...
May 08, 2024•19 min•Ep. 312
In this two-part CPQ Podcast episode we explore Salesforce's latest offering: Revenue Lifecycle Management (RLM). Brion Schweers, SVP at Salesforce Revenue Cloud, joins us to unpack RLM's capabilities. Part 1: Building a Flexible Revenue Engine RLM's composable architecture lets you build a custom revenue solution Powered by Salesforce Einstein: RLM leverages AI for intelligent automation throughout the revenue process. Headless for seamless integration: RLM integrates with existing systems for ...
May 05, 2024•24 min•Ep. 311
This episode dives into the world of QuoteWerks CPQ software with Brian Laufer, a QuoteWerks VP with extensive business experience since 2000. Here's what you'll learn: Why Saving Time Matters: Brian explains how QuoteWerks helps businesses streamline processes and free up time. Industry Agnostic Approach: Discover why QuoteWerks caters to an audience across various industries. Introducing QuoteWerks v24: Brian unveils the newest software version, highlighting its three key focus areas, includin...
Apr 28, 2024•31 min•Ep. 310
In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, join me as I chat with Suren Reddy from Cloudely. Suren sheds light on their latest product, "Config," and delves into their System Integration Services tailored for Salesforce, Conga, and Logik.io . Throughout the discussion, Suren covers: The role of artificial intelligence within their proprietary solution and its application in supporting off-the-shelf solutions. The significance of plug-and-play systems. Integration packages designed to connect CPQ with o...
Apr 21, 2024•30 min•Ep. 309
Join us for an interview with Tiffany Devlin-Drye (Principal Consultant) and John Lehrkind (Salesforce Practice Leader) from Pierce Washington! About Pierce Washington System integrator specializing in Salesforce, Logik.io , and Oracle CPQ Backed by private equity investors Team of approximately 100 consultants Locations: Bay Area, USA and London, UK Podcast Discussion: This episode dives into the world of CPQ with insights from Pierce Washington's experts. We'll cover: Salesforce's New Revenue ...
Apr 14, 2024•33 min•Ep. 308
Join me as I speak with Bill Butler, Global Solution Owner for SAP CPQ at SAP. Bill brings over 25 years of CPQ experience across various vendors like FPX, PROS, and CallidusCloud (now SAP CPQ). He also has leadership experience with system integrator and visual vendor companies. In this episode, Bill dives into key topics including: Integrating CPQ solutions with other systems Legal considerations surrounding AI use in CPQ The cost of customization and AI implementation Challenges faced by comp...
Apr 07, 2024•32 min•Ep. 307
Learn more about the future of sales with AI! This episode features John Bruno, VP of Strategy at PROS, who dives deep into the world of AI-powered CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote). John, a CPQ expert (formerly Forrester Analyst), discusses: How AI is revolutionizing CPQ, boosting margins, and raising conversion rates. Machine Learning and generative AI. Why John values collaboration with System Integrators. PROS' cutting-edge "smart CPQ" solution with real-time quoting. The power of neural network...
Mar 31, 2024•32 min•Ep. 306
