Are Gross sales Reps Dashing Again to the Workplace? [New Data]

Over the previous three years, the workforce has seen a large shift in the direction of distant work — and the gross sales trade was no exception.

Quick ahead to at the moment, and plenty of gross sales professionals are questioning if the workforce is prime for one more shift — however this time, again to the workplace.

To seek out some solutions, we surveyed 100+ gross sales professionals to uncover whether or not they’re returning to the workplace or not. Let’s dive in.

The Present Panorama

Here is a benchmark of the place salespeople are working proper now:

Presently, working in-office is the dominant association for gross sales professionals, adopted by distant work (33%) and hybrid (26%).

There is a good probability these numbers will fluctuate because the 12 months progresses. Let’s take a pulse verify on the place salespeople plan to work this 12 months:

Salespeople are nearly evenly divided about the place they plan to work in 2023. A 3rd plan to work distant, whereas one other third plan to work hybrid.

Hybrid work, specifically, has been choosing up steam over the previous few years, as many workplaces see it as a comprise between distant and in-office work. This was confirmed in a 2022 survey by Microsoft that discovered hybrid work fashions proceed to rise year-over-year.

Employers appear to be taking discover: 38% have upgraded their expertise to permit for extra hybrid collaboration, and 22% have lowered workplace house.

The place do salespeople favor to work in 2023?

Out of the three choices — in-office, distant, and hybrid — salespeople favor to work distant. Hybrid and in-office work are neck-and-neck for second place.

All three choices have distinctive benefits and drawbacks. As an example, with distant work, salespeople can skip the commute, work versatile hours, and execute day-to-day promoting actions with no hitch.

On the similar time, gross sales entails a sure human aspect that may get stifled in digital gross sales. Plus, salespeople are nonetheless ironing out greatest practices and methods for distant work. As an example, one examine discovered that solely 26% of patrons imagine salespeople are expert at main a digital discovery assembly.

For gross sales leaders, discovering a cheerful medium between their groups’ office preferences and the enterprise’ total wants is the problem. In some instances, as you will see within the subsequent part, these elements do not align.

Would salespeople change workplaces to work remotely?

Greater than a 3rd of gross sales professionals would change workplaces if required to return to the workplace, with an extra 21% undecided.

One other examine discovered that 1 in 4 workers are actively in search of new job alternatives that present larger flexibility and work-life steadiness — that are notable perks of distant work.

What does this imply for you?

It is no secret that worker expectations and preferences shifted in the course of the pandemic, and dealing in-office is met with blended critiques.

In the event you’re a gross sales chief, it is time to take inventory of how distant promoting impacts your workforce and their skill to carry out. In the end, what you promote, your trade, and your organization’s wants and priorities will drastically affect the way you construction your workforce in 2023.