Many companies have implemented targeted Strategic Account Management (SAM) training programs for their most-valued customers and prospects, but the level of investment in such programs is often up for debate. The key question becomes: How can we measure the effectiveness and profit contribution of Strategic Account Management?

What value will be realized through measuring SAM?
Measuring and communicating value increases the likelihood of the SAM training and methodology sticking. Morale and momentum increase when management reviews what they expect. It’s difficult to carve out time to plan, so focus on two areas:
Regularly check-in with your teams about their account plans
Coach your team members
Both are very effective way to encourage and keep your colleagues on task. Ultimately these strategies will help drive targeted long-term partnerships and business results.
What are the foundational principles of measuring SAM?
Efficiency and Simplicity. Ensure you can efficiently measure the outcomes you expect and keep the process as simple as possible. Between three and six key metrics is optimal—anything more often results in diminishing returns.
Consider these questions as you select your metrics:
Which metrics can be sourced from standard reporting systems?
Which requires development of a unique report?
Which metrics are qualitative and require subjective input?
With what frequency should you measure–monthly, quarterly, semi-annually?
It’s critical to make sure everyone is on the same page while compiling the metrics.
Account-Specific Metrics. In order to achieve the greatest accountability, SAM metrics should be account-specific. Some of these metrics will be qualitative and some quantitative. When we evaluate things like strategies, relationships, and plans, some subjectivity is necessary. However, if our definition of success doesn’t involve some numbers, the goal quickly becomes too subjective and fuzzy. Numbers bring clarity.
The ultimate answer to “what should be measured” depends on what your company expects from your SAM training program. We offer the following questions to help guide your discussions.
What outcomes / behaviors do you want from your SAM program
What improvements are you expecting?
Why are you investing in this program?
How will you define success?
Can we measure what we expect and how?
Strategic accounts tend to be more complex so the sales cycles are often longer and the stakes are much higher. It’s important to measure success at more than one point throughout the sales process, using both lagging and leading indicators.
Leading indicators provide visibility into the likelihood of success. They help us define how we are doing and what we may need to do differently to improve the ultimate outcome.
Lagging indicators surface at the end of a cycle or phase. They are important in defining whether we achieved our goal. Combining both leading and lagging indicators enables us to improve our ability to forecast success and do something about it before it’s too late!
Communications. These metrics need to be visible up and down the management chain so that they are actionable. The principles and metrics described in this article can be incorporated within a scorecard for rapid, visual, high-impact communications. In the example below, the revenue, pipeline, and customer satisfaction results are tracked by account through the standard reporting systems. The Call Plan utilization, Executive Relationship calls, and Account Reviews are tracked during regularly scheduled conversations between the account manager and sales manager.
To ensure that the strategic account investment receives the focus it deserves, a regularly reviewed measurement system is vital. This system works well to track and communicate our ability to fulfill the needs of our most important customers. Our clients invest heavily in programs that give them a competitive advantage with their most important customers—this investment must be measured and nurtured.