Often, you hear people say, “business as usual,” or, “everything is status quo,” as if it’s a good thing. But is it?

I just participated in an intriguing webinar about the status quo presented by Corporate Visions’ Tim Riesterer. Tim shared that 60 percent of companies looking to change the way they do things never actually change. Those companies go through an exhausting process, which also requires resources from potential vendors, to bid on business that never bears any fruit. This statistic got me thinking about how much status quo exists in the world of fulfillment.

RFPs Enable the Status Quo
Many companies use the RFP tool with a goal to learn what’s new. However, the way most RFPs are crafted limits the bidder’s ability to share real insights or customize solutions that are relevant. Fulfillment is a highly complex process that out of the box solutions can’t support. Yet, most RFPs ask bidders to answer questions that are positioned around how the company conducts their current business, limiting access to information that can drive true solution innovation.

When the Status Quo Hurts
At the end of the day, the RFP event usually results in the incumbent lowering their price and possibly implementing some basic improvements. This is often perceived as a win, but is saving 5-10 percent really helping companies with their fulfillment?

Far too many times I have seen companies that need a drastic overhaul, but they are so focused on saving costs using their current process, they can’t see past the status quo. Millions of marketing dollars are going to waste and marketers don’t even know it because they are too close to the process. They don’t know or acknowledge what is broken, so they can’t fix it.

How to Go Beyond the Status Quo
Companies that truly want to improve their business, lower their total cost of ownership, and beat out the competition need to engage in dialogue with companies who specialize in fulfillment. Expert providers will let you take a tour of their fulfillment center, or offer a free consultation or assessment. Take advantage of these tools to help you quit the status quo once and for all. For more information on marketing fulfillment best practices, visit our learning center.