The organizational buying process contains eight stages, or key phrases, which are listed in Figure 4.5. Although these stages parallel those of the consumer buying process, there are important differences that have a direct bearing on the marketing strategy. The complete process occurs in the case of a new task. Even in this situation, however, the process is far more formal for the industrial buying process than for the consumer buying process.
Most of the information an industrial buyer receives is delivered through direct contacts such as sales representatives or information packets. It is unlikely that an industrial buyer would use information provided through a trade ad as the sole basis for making a decision.
- Problem recognition. The process begins when someone in the organization recognizes a problem or need that can be met by acquiring a good or service. Problem recognition can occur as a result of internal or external stimuli. External stimuli can be a presentation by a salesperson, an ad, or information picked up at a trade show.
- General need description. Having recognized that a need exists, the buyers must add further refinement to its description. Working with engineers, users, purchasing agents, and others, the buyer identifies and prioritizes important product characteristics. Table 4.1 lists several sources of information for many industrial customers. Armed with extensive product knowledge, this individual is capable of addressing virtually all the product-related concerns of a typical customer. To a lesser extent, trade advertising provides valuable information to smaller or isolated customers. Noteworthy is the extensive use of direct marketing techniques (for example, toll-free numbers and information cards) in conjunction with trade ads. Finally, public relations plays a significant role through the placement of stories in various trade journals.
- Product specification. Technical specifications come next. This is usually the responsibility of the engineering department. Engineers design several alternatives, depending on the priority list established earlier.
- Supplier search. The buyer now tries to identify the most appropriate vendor. The buyer can examine trade directories, perform a computer search, or phone other companies for recommendations. Marketers can participate in this stage by contacting possible opinion leaders and soliciting support or by contacting the buyer directly. Personal selling plays a major role at this stage.
- Proposal solicitation. Qualified suppliers are next invited to submit proposals. Some suppliers send only a catalog or a sales representative. Proposal development is a complex task that requires extensive research and skilled writing and presentation. In extreme cases, such proposals are comparable to complete marketing strategies found in the consumer sector.
- Supplier selection. At this stage, the various proposals are screened and a choice is made. A significant part of this selection is evaluating the vendor. One study indicated that purchasing managers felt that the vendor was often more important than the proposal. Purchasing managers listed the three most important characteristics of the vendor as delivery capability, consistent quality, and fair price. Another study found that the relative importance of different attributes varies with the type of buying situations. For example, for routine-order products, delivery, reliability, price, and supplier reputation are highly important. These factors can serve as appeals in sales presentations and in trade ads.
- Order-routine specification. The buyer now writes the final order with the chosen supplier, listing the technical specifications, the quantity needed, the warranty, and so on.
- Performance review. In this final stage, the buyer reviews the supplier's performance. This may be a very simple or a very complex process.
|
Source |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Salespeople |
Sales personnel representing manufacturers or distributors of the product in question. |
|
Technical sources |
Engineering types of personnel internal or external to the subject's firm. |
|
Personnel in buyer's firm |
Peer group references (e.g. other purchasing agents in the subject's firm). |
|
Purchasing agents in other companies |
Peer group references external to the buyer's firm. |
|
Trade association |
Cooperatives voluntarily joined by business competitors designed to assist its members and industry in dealing with mutual problems (e.g. National Association of Purchasing Management). |
|
Advertising in trade journals |
Commercial messages placed by the manufacturer or distributor of the product in question. |
|
Articles in trade journals |
Messages relating to the product in question but not under the control of the manufacturer or distributor. |
|
Vendor files |
Information pertaining to the values of various sources of supply as developed and maintained by the buyer's firm. |
|
Trade registers |
Buyer guides providing listings of suppliers and other marketing information (e.g. Thomas' Register). |
|
Product literature |
Specific product and vendor information supplied by the manufacturing or distributing firm. |
Newsline: The future of the consumer
Experts say consumers in the new millennium will throw some surprising twists and turns into the business of target marketing, overturning some of the traditional thinking about what we will
buy, how we will live, and where we will work. "The 21st century will be the century of the consumer," says Roger Blackwell, a professor of marketing. "Marketers will have to push their
understanding beyond knowing what people buy to knowing why they buy." The 2010s will be the "Linked Decade", defined by a busy, mature, ethnically heterogeneous group of consumers who are
confident in their ability to read anything, buy anything, and experience anything.
Several fundamental demographic changes will serve as the underpinning for this new consumer mind-set: the aging of the baby boom generation, the increasing importance of children as
consumers, a growing chasm between society's haves and have-nots. and the world's increasingly diverse population.
Given that demographic backdrop. what will be the most powerful values shaping the consumer mind-set? The following possibilities have been proposed:
- The Shrinking Day—Harried baby boomers will create a time famine for themselves by working more hours and committing to more family and community obligations.
- The Connectedness Craze—The urge to connect will pervade all aspects of consumers' lives and increasingly consumers will turn to the World Wide Web for a sense of community between buyers and sellers, information suppliers and consumers, and friends and family.
- The Body vs. Soul Conundrum—Consumers will continue their obsession with fitness and spirituality, while at the same time consuming record amounts of take-out food.
- The Triumph of Individualism—Work, family, and purchase processes will reflect the consumer's need to be treated as a unique individual.
Review
- Organizational buyer behavior is different from consumer behavior:
- Many individuals make the buying decision.
- Behavior is motivated by both rational and emotional factors.
- Decisions include a range of complex technical decisions.
- Lag time exists between contact and actual decision.
- Organizations cannot be grouped into precise categories.
- The following stages are involved in the organizational buying decision:
- problem recognition
- general need description
- product specification
- supplier's research
- proposal solicitation
- supplier selection
- order-routine specification
- performance review
The Wall Street Journal (wsj.com)
In practice
Understanding buyer behavior is a complicated process, with many factors influencing the process. Why and what products are purchased baffles marketers as much as understanding why certain
products are not purchased. Ultimately, understanding buyer behavior influences the marketing mix used for a product.
Marketers must be able to answer two critical questions when assessing consumer and organizational buyer behavior: (a) How do buyers make purchase decisions? and (b) What factors influence
decisions and in what way? Answering these questions correctly impacts the success of any product.
Consumer and organizational buyer behavior differ significantly. While considerable research about consumer purchasing decisions has been conducted, minimal research has been done about
organizational buyer behavior. Marketers must understand the different factors and influences affecting each group and the impact of these on purchase decisions.
Cisco Systems, Inc., provides networking solutions that connect computer devices and networks for businesses. Check out Cisco's website at www.cisco.com.
Under Solutions for Your Network, click on Overview. A menu will appear
to the left with information for customers such as Large Enterprises, Small and Medium Businesses, and Government entities. Click on one of
those links now to read about product offerings for these customers.
The Business Focus section of Marketplace provides information about various business activities, including purchasing. On the
Marketplace home page, click on Business Focus on the left menu.
For information about consumer buying behavior, go to the Interactive Journal's Front Section and click on Marketplace. Click on
Marketing/Media. Look for articles in the Advertising section. These articles discuss examples of advertising efforts that various companies
employ to influence consumer buying decisions. Information about retail sales can also be found in Marketing/Media.
Deliverable
Using the Interactive Journal's Business Index feature under Journal Atlas on the left menu, select a
consumer products company featured in today's Interactive Journal. Visit that company's website and search the Interactive Journal for information that will help you identify the Situational
and External Influences for customers purchasing the company's product(s).
Questions
- How can marketers use the Internet to influence consumer buyer behavior? Organizational buyer behavior?
- How has business-to-business (B2B) commerce affected purchasing transactions?
- What new factors or influences do you foresee impacting consumer buyer behavior? Organizational buyer behavior?
- What ethical considerations (if any) do advertisers face when they try to influence buyer behavior?
- 24867 reads
