How do you continuously improve your POC skills and processes?

1 Assess your current POC performance

The first step to improve your POC skills and processes is to evaluate your current POC performance. You can do this by collecting and analyzing data from your previous POCs, such as success rate, customer satisfaction, time to completion, scope, and feedback. You can also benchmark your POC performance against industry standards, competitors, or peers. This will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, as well as any gaps or opportunities for improvement.

2 Define your POC goals and metrics

The next step is to define your POC goals and metrics. You should have clear and specific objectives for each POC, based on the customer's pain points, requirements, and desired outcomes. You should also have measurable and realistic indicators to track your progress and results, such as POC completion rate, conversion rate, revenue, ROI, or NPS. Having well-defined goals and metrics will help you focus your efforts, communicate your value proposition, and justify your investment.

3 Optimize your POC process and tools

The third step is to optimize your POC process and tools. You should have a standardized and streamlined POC process that covers all the stages, from planning and scoping, to execution and evaluation. You should also have the right tools and resources to support your POC process, such as templates, checklists, scripts, demos, documentation, or software. Optimizing your POC process and tools will help you save time, reduce errors, increase efficiency, and enhance quality.

4 Learn from your POC feedback and outcomes

The fourth step is to learn from your POC feedback and outcomes. You should always solicit and analyze feedback from your customers, prospects, and stakeholders, both during and after the POC. You should also review and measure your POC outcomes, such as customer satisfaction, conversion, retention, or referrals. Learning from your POC feedback and outcomes will help you understand what worked and what didn't, what you can improve or replicate, and what you can leverage or avoid.

5 Update your POC skills and knowledge

The fifth step is to update your POC skills and knowledge. You should always seek to improve your POC skills and knowledge, by taking courses, reading books, watching videos, attending webinars, or joining communities. You should also keep up with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in your industry, domain, and solution. Updating your POC skills and knowledge will help you stay relevant, competitive, and confident.

6 Experiment with new POC approaches and techniques

The sixth step is to experiment with new POC approaches and techniques. You should always be open to trying new POC approaches and techniques, such as remote POCs, video POCs, interactive POCs, or gamified POCs. You should also test and validate your new POC approaches and techniques, by measuring their impact, effectiveness, and feedback. Experimenting with new POC approaches and techniques will help you innovate, differentiate, and delight your customers.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?