Top 5 Challenges Faced by Cross-Border SMBs and How E-Proposal Platforms Can Help

‘The world is your oyster’ has become more tangible in today’s dynamic world of international businesses. However, increased opportunities also come with competition — from large conglomerates in the same industry or other small businesses looking to dip their toes in the global market.

Alongside competition brings unique challenges for SMBs, especially for cross-border operations. In the dynamic world of international business, small sales teams often face a unique set of challenges when operating across borders.

However, technological advancements, particularly e-proposals with built-in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems offer innovative solutions to these challenges.

Here are the top five challenges and how the right platforms can help address them.

1. Cultural Differences and Communication Barriers

Challenge: Business isn’t just about wits and sales, but building a trusting relationship — a relationship that is enough for your clients to go ‘take my money’.

However, cultural differences and communication barriers stand in the way. Sure, you may speak the same language, but how about business etiquette that can lead to misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and ultimately, lost sales opportunities?

Here are some examples from Business Daily

Solution: platforms that are made strategically to help bridge these gaps by providing templates and automated translation features that ensure your message is clear and culturally appropriate.

For example, CRM and analytic tools such as HubSpot, SalesForce, Monday.com, REALIZR AI, etc help provide customization based on client profiles, ensuring that communications are tailored to fit cultural norms and preferences.

2. Time Zone Differences

Challenge: Managing clients and prospects across various time zones can be incredibly challenging. Coordinating meetings, follow-ups, and timely responses often become cumbersome and can lead to missed opportunities.

Solution: I am one of those annoying Generation Z employees that will log out of work the moment my working hours are over. However, there would be times where I ever so willingly review some files and work conversations. But my patience is close to none if I have to skim through all those annoying email threads, and unread messages just to find a person.

A good solution would probably look like this:

• Automated reminders
• Easily accessed conversations from specific proposals.
• No buzzing notifications from chatting applications.

3. Difficulties Relaying the Right Message

Challenge: Many cross-border businesses work with products or solutions that require specific showcasing. Many would turn to Canva or Google Slides for designing. The problem comes when you have to create something more intricate, like videos or bots for a better explanation.

Solution: The best solution is if embedding and integrations are kept to the minimum. For example, a product that can help you maintain professionalism while providing creative AI multimedia tools for product showcase. Additionally, based on such online showcases, you would be given a better idea of what works and what doesn’t.

4. Managing Remote Teams

Challenge: I’ve met multiple founders who are happy working in small teams and hiring part-timers or interns when specific projects get too difficult to handle. Coordinating and managing a sales team spread across multiple countries or even remotely can lead to issues with collaboration, consistency in messaging, and performance tracking.

Solution: Other than Customer Relation Management (CRM), Human Resource Management (HRM) can also decide the fate of your sales KPIs. What if your intern or part-timer leaves and holds important information while communicating with ongoing projects?

This is where multiple platforms can be annoying and ineffective during handovers. However, imagine having chatrooms, team management, and all sales discussions collected neatly on one platform. You might not even need an additional part-timer!

5. Security and Privacy

Challenge: When dealing with online contracts, one of the main concerns people have would be security breaches resulting in confidential information leakages. However. these threats exist as long as your information is provided to third-party applications.

Solution: Although integrations and embedded information are unavoidable, reducing reliance on other applications can certainly help lower such vulnerabilities. Sale-specific platforms do just that — they offer tools that certain workflows require, allowing for less bothersome third party embedding necessities.

How REALIZER Makes a Difference

REALIZER stands out as a comprehensive solution for cross-border sales teams. Its e-proposal and CRM integration streamline the sales process, making it easier to manage international clients and teams. Here’s how it excels:

• Customization and Personalization: REALIZER’s templates and automated tools allow for high levels of customization, ensuring that proposals resonate with clients from diverse backgrounds.
• Automation and Efficiency: By automating routine tasks like follow-ups and compliance checks, REALIZER frees up sales teams to focus on building relationships and closing deals.
• Real-Time Collaboration: With real-time data sharing and communication tools, teams can work together more effectively, regardless of location.
• Accurate and Up-to-Date Information: The CRM ensures that all client interactions and data are current, providing a solid foundation for making informed decisions and tailoring proposals.

In conclusion, while cross-border sales present unique challenges, solutions like REALIZER’s e-proposals with built-in CRM capabilities offer powerful tools to overcome these obstacles. By enhancing communication, ensuring compliance, and streamlining operations, REALIZER helps small sales teams thrive in the global marketplace.