The goLocal Methodology: What It Is and Examples of How It Works.
I am originally from Chile, and I arrived in the Czech Republic in 2010, which was 13 years ago. During this period, I have primarily assisted numerous companies in expanding into other markets, including Latin America, Europe, and the United States. I have had the opportunity to be involved in expansion projects for companies of different segments and types, ranging from B2C to B2B, and providing services with values ranging from $20 to several hundred thousand dollars in ARR.
The Methodology goLocal began to take shape during my incredible time as part of the Go Local team at Avast Software. In that particular project, my challenge was to eliminate friction and improve the conversion rate across Latin America. This methodology, fine-tuned across hundreds of real business scenarios, optimally brings a balance between cost savings and revenue growth.
The approach and mindset deeply impacted me and enhanced my ability to improve business results. Today, many friends jokingly refer to me as 'Hey goLocal, how are you today?' due to the numerous posts and discussions surrounding this concept :).
The framework of the goLocal Methodology is simple and effective. Its aim is to bring clarity and consistency when striving to achieve any business goal. Here is an overview and glossary of the terminology:
1.- Goal: The objective or desired outcome that the team is working towards.
2.- Process: A series of steps or actions taken to accomplish the objective. It encompasses the activities or procedures that the team follows to reach their desired outcome.
3.- Friction: Obstacles or challenges that hinder the team from achieving the goal. Friction can be anything that slows down or impedes progress towards the objective.
4.- Angle to tackle: Refers to the specific aspect of the goal or problem that is most important to focus on when seeking solutions. It is the main perspective or lens through which the problem is analyzed, and the area where improvement is most needed. Some examples: Velocity, Quantity, or Quality.
The "angle" will vary significantly depending on various factors such as the industry, and the nature of the business, among others.
5.- KPI: Key Performance Indicator. This is a specific metric used to measure and assess progress in eliminating any friction associated with a particular activity.
6.- Accelerator: Tools, techniques, training, or strategies that help the team overcome friction and achieve the goal. Accelerators are anything that speeds up or improves progress toward the objective.
Let's work through a simple example:
Scenario: A European B2B tech company is in the expansion stage, planning to roll out its services globally.
Goal: Acquire the first 5 clients in the United States by the end of 2023.
Let's apply the goLocal Methodology:
The example I shared earlier only shows a glimpse of what this methodology can achieve. The upcoming steps lead to a pipeline of interconnected initiatives, each specifically tailored to suit a particular scenario and environment.
If you have any business goals you want to work on using the goLocal methodology, I'm here to assist you happily. In the upcoming sections, I'll provide more examples that demonstrate how goLocal can help you overcome obstacles and discover new opportunities.