Benefits of Claiming Early

Get the benefit of your working capital sooner by claiming your MDF funds earlier!

In a dynamic and competitive business world, cash flow is king. An effective way to improve your cash flow and get the benefit of your working capital sooner is by claiming your Marketing Development Funds (MDF) earlier.

As a company that prides itself on offering one of the leading MDF programs in the industry, we are committed to help our partners maximize their MDF investment to drive pipeline and revenue for their business. In this article, we will delve into the benefits of claiming MDF early and provide practical tips to ensure you get the most out of your MDF program.

The Pitfalls of Procrastination

It’s a common scenario: partners often wait until the ultimate deadline to submit claims for completed activities. Procrastination might be hard-wired in our human behavioral processes, but it comes with significant risks. For instance, if there are any issues with the claim or if you forget to claim, your claiming deadline may pass, and funds would expire. This not only affects your cash flow but also means missed opportunities for business growth.

Best Practice: Claim Early, Reap Benefits Sooner

To avoid these pitfalls, we encourage partners to adopt a best practice: submit their claims immediately after the activity. This simple shift in practice brings several benefits:

• Faster Reimbursement: By claiming early, you will be reimbursed sooner. This improves your cash flow, allowing you to reinvest in your business quickly.
• Easier Claim Administration: Right after activity execution, it will be much easier to collect the necessary Proof of Execution (POE) for your claim. The longer you wait, the harder it might get to collect these documents.
• Early Issue Resolution: If there is an issue with a claim, it can be resolved sooner when you claim early. This ensures your funds are not at risk and gives you peace of mind.
• Deadline Compliancy: Early claiming helps you avoid the risk of missing the claim deadline, thereby protecting your investment.
• Instant Pipeline Creation: Uploading leads is an integral part of claiming your demand generation activities. The sooner you claim, the faster you will build up your pipeline.
• Repurposing Unused Earned Funds: An activity may cost less than originally planned. Claiming early will release any unused funds so you can repurpose them to run additional activities.

Supporting Our Partners

To support our partners in adopting this best practice, we send automated notifications reminding them about any activities that still need to be claimed. These reminders serve as a nudge, helping partners to stay on top of their claims and ensuring no funds are left unclaimed.

For more information on claiming deadlines, partners can visit the Dell Technologies Partner Portal to review the MDF Use Policy. This resource provides comprehensive information on the claiming process, helping partners navigate the MDF program effectively.

In Summary

Claiming your MDF funds earlier is a strategic move that can significantly benefit your business. It not only ensures faster reimbursement, improving your cash flow, but also helps in early issue resolution and deadline compliance. So, don’t wait until the last minute. Claim early and get the benefit of your working capital sooner! Remember, every unclaimed fund is a missed opportunity. Make the most of your MDF benefit by claiming early and often.

- Jeffrey Maes

Global MDF Field Alignment, Enablement & Insights