How has your company handled in-person meetings during Covid?

I'll start by saying that I live in NYS and, as you can imagine with King Cuomo at the helm, I've been locked down tighter than a....well, something that's really fucking tight!

 

The executives at my company are also VERY cautious when it comes to our protocols.   I am curious to know what other outside sales reps have experienced.  Is your company allowing you to meet in person?  Are there protocols that must be followed?  How did it impact your ability to hunt for new business and/or nurture existing?   I look forward to learning about what others have and are currently experiencing.

 

Thanks:)


-Captain_Q

2
LordBusiness
Politicker
2
Chief Revenue Officer
We've been no go on in person and travel since probably June of last year (if I can remember).  Honestly, can't really see clients/prospects having "meet up with sales rep" high on their list of things to do after covid though? Also, now that a lot of sales teams have proven they can be successful without it, a lot of T+E budgets won't be skyrocketing even after "normal" comes back 
Captain_Q
Arsonist
0
Sr. Account Executive
Hey Lord, Appreciate your feedback!  What industry are you in?   I will say that one of the benefits of Covid is that people are more willing to meet via video call rather than in person.  So, that will def help in a hybrid model.  However, I have a full list of deals that I lost because I wasn't in person and my competition was.  Definitely going to be the case by case moving forward.  

Of course, you'd reference T&E, coming from a CRO;)

Thanks!

-Capt. 
BigCheese
Notorious Answer
2
Agency Recruiter
I was with a different company when the roner hit (office size 60-70), and went 100% WFH right away. They're still 100% WFH, no meetings w/ clients either.

At a new company now, and there's just 6 of us in our specific office, but we're 100% in-office since September.  No meetings w/ clients, however. 

We've all been pretty covid-conscious and have had to sporadically WFH for a few days due to contact tracing. Hasn't really been problematic. Our type of work is a lot easier to do in the office, so it's nice to have a smaller amount of people and be able to come in.
salesnerd
WR Officer
2
Head of Growth
Like others, we’re almost completely WFH. The only time we’ve met in person with external folks it’s been investors or advisors and even then it’s been outdoor coffee/lunch meetings. 

95% of our business was remote pre-COVID though, so it’s not a drastic difference. 
Captain_Q
Arsonist
0
Sr. Account Executive
Hey Salesnerd!  Appreciate your reply.  Do gain any new customers since you were already so well versed with video meetings?

Thanks!

-Capt
washedD1soccer
Politicker
2
Regional Sales Manager
I’m in medical device sales and I have been in the operating room and in-person for meetings since day 1 of the pandemic (over 40 flights since September of 2020). My company issued a blanket be safe statement and then pretty much just relied on each individual rep’s judgment. 

Some reps have stayed home the whole time and it has showed in their numbers. I decided I needed to get out due to my territory needing a lot of TLC. 
Captain_Q
Arsonist
0
Sr. Account Executive
Hey WashedD1soccer,  I appreciate your feedback!   I sell cloud-based telephony(VoIP).  My largest vertical is medical practices.  They were fine to meet the entire time but everyone else wasn't having it.   My numbers definitely showed the results of not meeting in person!   

I can't believe that some of your colleagues voluntarily chose to not meet in person...silly fuckers!   

Keep grinding!

-Capt
LoneMaverick
Executive
1
Strategic Account Leader
No I’m person meetings.

No word on when.

No customer/prospective has requested them
SalesEveryday
Praised Answer
1
Account Executive
We haven’t had any in person meetings. All zoom meetings 
Cyberjarre
Politicker
0
BDR
Efficiency in driving results should be rewarded!
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