CFOs in manufacturing and distribution report using a mix of financial strategies to drive growth and profitability, according to new research from Vendavo. The 2024-2025 Top Growth Drivers Report for Manufacturing and Distribution reveals top strategies and their implications.
Vendavo’s research found manufacturers and distributors in North America and Europe are driving growth today and into 2025 by enhancing channel/partner programs (60%), implementing a rebate/incentive program (56%), optimizing prices (54%), and using advanced sales processes and tools, or revenue operations (RevOps) (54%).
“A volatile global economic economy is causing manufacturers and distributors to shift their financial strategies out of the status quo and into a mix of strong partnerships, smart pricing, and advanced sales and incentive initiatives,” says Eric Carrasquilla, CEO, Vendavo. “Unifying pricing, selling and rebate strategies is key to growth.”
Key Takeaways:
- Manufacturers and distributors report rebate programs are widely effective but challenging. Increased revenues from these initiatives were reported by 86% of respondents in North America and 78% in Europe, and 85% say their customers love the programs. While these programs incentivize more purchases and increase revenue, 60% in North America and 70% in Europe say they are also costly and operationally challenging.
- Rebate automation is key. More than half (51%) of respondents report they rely on an in-house application or manual processes like spreadsheets and email to manage rebates, even though purpose-built automation eases the administrative burden and lowers compliance risk.
- Price optimization is part of the growth equation. Manufacturers and distributors rely on various approaches to price products and services, and often multiple simultaneously. A value-based pricing approach was most commonly used by manufacturers (23%), while 23% of distributors say they rely most on a market-based technique.
- Implementing AI is challenge number one. AI can bring a new level of intelligence to pricing, selling, and rebate strategies, but 18% of finance teams consider implementing it their primary challenge in the next 12 months. Making progress with AI could help manufacturers and distributors with their second biggest challenge, understanding customer expectations (14%).
