Why you should stop using excel for quoting

In the latest episode of the Tekpon SaaS Podcast, host Cristian Dina welcomes Wilma Eriksson, the CEO and co-founder of vloxq CPQ, to discuss the company’s innovative solution for complex pricing and quoting. The conversation delves into the significant pain points that vloxq CPQ alleviates for businesses, the features of their platform, and insightful advice for budding entrepreneurs.

The episode starts with introductions, where Wilma Eriksson explains the mission of vloxq CPQ—to help companies with complex pricing reduce risk during the quoting and billing process. Traditionally, many organizations rely on spreadsheets for quoting, which can become unwieldy and error-prone. vloxq CPQ offers a streamlined solution that integrates with major CRM systems, customizes based on each company’s unique needs, and ensures profitability and clarity throughout the pricing strategy.

Wilma highlights many companies’ primary challenge: managing pricing strategies during economically volatile times. Management teams often have a theoretical understanding of pricing, but the practical implementation can quickly spiral out of control, especially with varying products, solutions, and discount structures. By implementing vloxq CPQ, companies regain control over their pricing strategies, leading to better margin management and more transparent, more compelling customer quotes.

Wilma shares amusing anecdotes about the company’s inception and her career journey, transitioning from a show-jumping enthusiast to a sales professional in SaaS. Her entrepreneurial path has taught her critical lessons, like the importance of a well-structured ownership setup and the value of networking for finding and nurturing early customers. Aspiring entrepreneurs should seek guidance, share experiences, and listen to others to avoid common pitfalls and accelerate growth.

Wilma also offers advice for new sales professionals and founders. For sales, she suggests joining either a small organization to learn by doing or a larger company to get structured training. For founders, she stresses the importance of selecting co-founders strategically and maintaining a balanced team dynamic.

This episode thoroughly explores how modern CPQ solutions can transform complex pricing strategies while offering real-world advice for those looking to navigate the entrepreneurial landscape.