Business negotiations did not come to a halt during the pandemic, they adapted and changed to account for the inability to meet face to face whether initially or during the course of negotiations. While this has provided some disadvantages, remote negotiation has brought with it some advantages that will be with us for years to come. So whether you are negotiating the purchase of a business or an important Master Services Agreement, take care to use the tools available to you to prosper with your business negotiations in a remote environment.
“B2B enterprises depend on collaborating with other businesses for survival and growth. This often requires face-to-face (F2F) meetings with other professionals. What do you do when the ability to travel is constrained and F2F sales or negotiation meetings are canceled? You have only two choices: Stop business, or conduct activities using current communication technologies. Since most of us will not cease doing business, we opt for the latter, whether we do so through online meetings, video and teleconferences, or collaboration platforms. Some may even use email and texting. Negotiations by means other than F2F can be less costly and time-consuming. You can avoid travel and negotiate from your home or office with access to data and your staff’s expertise to address items on the agenda. And, selecting negotiation locations isn’t an issue.Working from your own location allows you to utilize web resources that you may be reluctant to access in F2F meetings. For example, if a customer mentions your competition, you can access information on your competitor while you are engaged in negotiation. However, this multitasking can be distracting and can impair productivity.So, when negotiating remotely, we must deal with the disadvantages of alternate platforms.”
Read: Prospering In Your Business Negotiations Despite Global Crises – Negotiation Insights