Given the new normal of limited resources, economic uncertainty, and the concurrent imperative to swiftly adopt the newest technologies, B2B organizations face incredible pressure to deliver. Portfolio marketing and product management leaders must collaboratively align to accelerate the best customer outcomes and business results.
As you enter your financial planning cycles for the next 12 months, now is the time to make strategic decisions on where to increase, decrease, or experiment with your budget for 2025. Forrester’s recently published Budget Planning Guide 2025: Portfolio Marketing And Product (client-only access) provides specific guidance to achieve this.
We recommend four “must-dos” for portfolio marketing and product leaders:
- Shift the focus from business value to customer value. Customer obsession requires organizations to jettison legacy mindsets and inside-out perspectives that prioritize bottom-line value over customer needs. A key area to focus on is moving away from “launching” every release or update that may deliver output but ultimately compromises customer outcomes. Instead, invest in solving your buyers’ most critical challenges, and communicate intentionally about new and updated offerings. Weave new product introductions into needs-oriented campaigns that prioritize buyer needs over vendor capabilities. This approach optimizes your resources and ensures that the buyer’s story stays fresh and engaging.
- Harmonize portfolio marketing and product efforts. Eliminate interdepartmental barriers and foster collaboration to create synergistic portfolio marketing and product management teams. Promote cross-training and alignment of skills and goals to enable these teams to work together more seamlessly, eliminate inefficiencies, and avoid wasted effort. Conduct regular lunch-and-learn sessions and cross-training opportunities to help individuals understand the interdependent nature of their responsibilities and the criticality of interlock.
- Align new technologies with talent. Organizations face the challenge of matching current personnel with rising technology spending. Upskilling, reassignments, and new hires become essential to fully harness the potential of these new tools — for example, leveraging generative AI (genAI) in product strategy and development. By merging skilled teams with advanced technology, organizations can generate powerful insights and cultivate a culture of innovation. Encourage collaboration and cross-functional teamwork to leverage diverse perspectives and generate breakthrough ideas.
- Empower your team to venture beyond their comfort zone. As B2B buyer and customer behavior changes alongside digital transformation and adoption of emerging technologies — especially genAI tools — your team’s skills should also evolve. To fully realize the benefits of automation and efficiencies gained from new technologies, your portfolio and product teams must be willing and empowered to grow beyond their traditional roles and responsibilities. One area to experiment with is encouraging your team to take a more proactive role in developing their data capabilities. Consider appointing a data champion to enhance your team’s data skills, maximize insight and data sharing (including combining user and buyer data), and align key performance indicators across functions.
Find More Budget Planning Insights And Advice
Read the Budget Planning Guide report before you start your planning cycle so you can anticipate next year’s headwinds and tailwinds. If you’re a Forrester client, schedule a guidance session with one of our B2B portfolio marketing and product analysts, and sign up for our Budget Planning Guide peer discussion on September 18 to strategize alongside portfolio marketing and product leaders on your plans, priorities, and initiatives for the upcoming year.
Not yet a Forrester client? Explore our complimentary Budget Planning Guide resources.
