What do you do if your product or service has limitations?

Transparency and realistic expectations should go hand in hand. All projects are limited in some way by the products and services they use. So understanding this from the start saves a lot of time and fosters cooperation between parties. There is no silver bullet and no substitute for the work that has to be done.

Being upfront and transparent about them is my 1st . Additionally : You MUST Understand the Limitations: YOU must test and evaluate the system Educate Customers: Communicate the limitations. Provide explanations of why they exist Offer solutions to mitigate the impact of the limitations. ('walk arounds', complementary products/services, customized solutions) Focus on product strengths: How they address primary needs and deliver value despite the limitations. Manage (realistic) Expectations: what the product can and can't do. Don't overpromise! Proactively gather feedback . Relay info to product/R&D. Work closely with product/R&D to address limitations over time ->strive to improve the product based on feedback + market

When facing product or service limitations, transparency is key. I openly discuss these limitations with clients, explaining the context and how they might impact their specific needs. It’s important to focus on the strengths and unique benefits of our offerings while being honest about any drawbacks. I also provide alternative solutions or workarounds that can help mitigate these limitations. Engaging with the product team to relay feedback is crucial, as it can lead to future improvements. This approach builds trust with clients, demonstrating commitment to their success and integrity in our dealings.

Acredito por experiência que o apontamento de limita??es deve ser claras para que haja um entendimento claro e objetivo da cena, porém o apoio em outros pontos, pontos que trazem e agregam valor dentro do contexto deve ser usado também de forma aberta, clara e objetiva.

In my experience, all of these go hand in hand. All products/services have limitations and gaps. Honesty goes a long way in relationship building and customer loyalty/trust. Ask relevant, open ended questions, clarify any concerns, empathize, and find where your product or service fits the bill. Be innovative and offer multiple solutions that have been thoroughly analyzed. A problem solver is a highly valuable asset that’s often greater than any limitation.

All products have limitations because of technological constraints, design choices, or strategic decisions. When discussing the limitation and offering a potential solution, remember that discovery is key to understand *why* they need that functionality in the first place. It could be that someone has made a decision around that limitation because it's what they are comfortable with or think is safe, they don't actually need it, or that alternative may be a better long term solution. For example, maybe a product is only available on the cloud and the customer sees this as a limitation because they want it on-premises. Deep dive into the why before offering a solution, or pushing your product team to create an on-premises version.

Be a "value add" to your clients and a positive augmentation to the product or service you are representing. No product, service or company can claim to stand on its own at ALL times. Know your product and service and KNOW where you can add that value for your client.

Being able to anticipate customer needs based on market trends, competitor presence and customer consumption patterns distinguishes a great sales engineer from a good sales engineer. And on the flip side, being able to communicate current limitations with workarounds builds customer trust and empathy.

To overcome limitations, start by pinpointing the core strengths of your product or service. Get feedback from customers to understand what they value most and prioritize enhancements accordingly. Continuous improvement to stay ahead in market. Educate, discuss or provide training to related stakeholders to empower customers in maximizing the value of your offering. Clearly communicate your unique strengths in sales pitch or marketing messaging to attract customers. Be always flexible to adapt to changing market conditions and evolving needs.

When our product has system limitations, and our IT department is actively working on solutions, it's important to communicate this to our clients. By doing so, we show our dedication to improving our services and being transparent about the challenges we face. This not only builds trust but also reassures clients that we are committed to providing them with the best possible solutions.

Number one is to have a plan to address the limitations. That way when you acknowledge them with a client you can focus on the plan to remove the limitations!

One of the things talking to a lot of prospects comes around not having a specific integration. We are in the process of adding more integrations, yet I have learned that from our pre-existing integrations, most prospects are able to leverage those in the interim until we roll out the integration they were introduced in. By getting them to use one of our existing integrations, we can get them to get used the workflow and still find ways to value while then making it much easier for them to use our product once the new integration is in place.

Deeply assess the scale of the limitation. Does this limitation prevent them from achieving the results they want? How does this limitation compare to the limits they face on their current platform or other platforms they are evaluating. Are these limitations intentional and actually serve and protect the customer in a positive way?