KAM Learnings

At Imonic, we are often asked what are some of the key lessons and learnings that we would share for an organisation or brand looking to adopt or progress their Strategic Account Management or Key Account Management (SAM/KAM) Approach.

Here we take a look at some of those key learnings related to the implementation of SAM/KAM and have highlighted separately, in two tables, those learnings that are at a strategy or programme management level, versus those learnings at an Account Team level.

What we see as must 'Do' lessons for success in KAM: At a Strategy & Programme Level:

Issue

Confusion about what KAM is and what you are setting out to achieve with KAM

Do

Create & Communicate a clear ambition for KAM in your country

  • Consider an external as well as internal perspective for your ambition
  • Be clear on how KAM integrates with other strategic priorities (eg MCM/OCE, CRM, Selling Models etc)
  • Set out the new ways of working required

Impact

Everyone is clear what KAM is to your business, where it fits with other priorities and why you need to work this way

Issue

Capability building confined to the Account Teams

Do

Build the capability of leadership; particularly for:

  • Setting the country ambition
  • Understanding the key stages of the Account Management process
  • Reviewing, challenging and approving Account Plans

Impact

When leadership are both competent and actively engaged in KAM – they drive the evolution and continual improvement in the quality of Account Management

Issue

Functional priorities and compliance obstacles allow silo-working to dominate

Do

Promote the power of shared goals and the benefits of cross-functional working

  • The degree of internal collaboration is aligned with the model of external engagement
  • Coordinate stakeholder interactions across functions to achieve shared goals

Impact

Stakeholders recognize a joined-up way of working & better sequenced activity reaches account objectives quicker

What we see as must 'Do' lessons for success in KAM: At an Account Team Level:

Issue

Account level data & insights gathering process is undertaken to various standards across the business

Do

Formalise an insight gathering process for each key account

  • Create a mechanism to collect & consider a broad set of data to identify new insights and unmet needs
  • Ensure the full cross functional team is aligned on the key themes identified for the account

Impact

Drives higher quality & innovative Account Team objectives. Creates deeper stakeholder engagement based on relevant insights

Issue

KAM Objectives being too brand focussed

Do

Consider a ‘Triple Win’ approach throughout your KAM process

  • Assess the value to Patient, Account and Pharma, through key steps of your KAM Process (e.g. Data collection, prioritizing opportunities etc.)

Impact

Account Teams focus on those opportunities that will yield most benefit to patients, the account and the brand/company

Issue

Offering Solutions and services in a copy & paste format across multiple accounts

Do

Develop & implement Solutions & Services based on unmet needs

  • Focus resources on developing solutions and services based on unmet needs common in other key accounts
  • Implementation of solutions and services needs to consider account position (e.g. priority of unmet need, timing, willingness to partner)

Impact

Solutions and Services add real value and create genuine partnerships with key accounts