MANAGING A LARGE CORPORATE PRINTING CONTRACT
I manage a small digital printing business. A large corporation has approached us with an offer to handle their printing needs. This could double our business, but our current resources are not sufficient to meet their demands. My team is excited about the opportunity but overwhelmed by the scale.
What should I do? Please advise using 7SFS
Here’s how you can approach this opportunity using the 7 Steps Fulfilment System (7SFS):
1. CELEBRATE & BE GRATEFUL
Celebrate the fact that a large corporation has recognised your printing business for its quality and professionalism. This is a fantastic opportunity to double your business and establish a long-term corporate partnership.
Be grateful for your team’s excitement and willingness to take on this large project. Their enthusiasm is a key asset in overcoming the challenges ahead.
2. ALIGN YOUR FULFILMENT VISION
Ensure that taking on this corporate contract aligns with your long-term vision for growth. Consider how this project fits into your overall strategy, such as expanding your capacity, improving operations, and establishing your reputation with larger clients.
Define the goals for this new contract. This could include scaling production, maintaining quality, and delivering on time while ensuring you keep your existing customers satisfied.
3. KNOW YOUR WIN
Success means taking on the corporate client without compromising the quality of your service for existing clients. Managing resources effectively will ensure you maintain your reputation while growing.
Identify success metrics, such as timely deliveries, client satisfaction, production output, and the ability to manage increased workload without overwhelming your team.
4. KNOW YOUR CLIENT'S WIN
The large corporation expects high-quality printing services delivered on time and within their specifications. Ensure you understand their specific needs and priorities.
Maintain open communication with the corporate client. Let them know the scope of what you can deliver, timelines, and any potential adjustments that may need to be made to meet their needs.
5. SIGN WIN-WIN AGREEMENT OR NO DEAL
Assess whether your current team and equipment can handle the increased workload. Consider whether you need to hire temporary staff, invest in new equipment, or outsource part of the work to meet demand.
Work with the corporate client to ensure that the timelines and volume expectations are realistic for your business. You may need to negotiate staggered deliveries or adjust timelines to ensure you maintain quality.
6. DELIVER WITH EXCELLENCE
As your production scales, it’s crucial to maintain high standards of quality. Implement quality control processes to ensure that the volume increase doesn’t compromise the output that your business is known for.
Streamline workflows and improve operational efficiency. You may need to adjust how your team works, automate certain processes, or introduce new systems to handle the increased workload.
7. ACHIEVE WITH JOY
Celebrate the successful onboarding of the corporate client with your team. Recognise their efforts in preparing for and managing the larger workload.
After handling the initial wave of orders, reflect on what worked and what challenges arose. Use this experience to improve your operations, capacity, and processes so you’re better prepared for future growth opportunities.
By following these steps, you can take on this large corporate client with confidence, managing the increased workload while maintaining quality and ensuring your team’s enthusiasm remains high. This project can serve as a stepping stone for further growth and success.