
Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) should be a strategic platform for growth, yet many suppliers fail to capitalise on them. Despite high expectations for upselling and cross-selling, traditional QBRs often fall short due to poor stakeholder engagement, a lack of innovation-focused discussions, and an overemphasis on historical performance.
Key challenges
Many suppliers see QBRs as an opportunity to drive commercial discussions, but common pitfalls prevent them from achieving this. Research highlights three key challenges that hinder suppliers from maximising their QBRs:
- Limited visibility – Only 58% of senior leaders know whether new products or services are being discussed in QBRs.
- Missed stakeholder engagement – 87% of suppliers believe they could generate more upsell opportunities if they reached the right decision-makers.
- Backward-looking focus – Many QBRs centre on past service-level agreements rather than forward-looking, value-driven conversations.
Optimising QBRs for growth
To make QBRs a driver of revenue rather than a retrospective report, suppliers must take a more strategic, outcome-focused approach. By rethinking their structure, suppliers can turn these meetings into valuable opportunities for long-term business success:
- Prioritise innovation and value – Shift QBR discussions from historical metrics to new services, solutions and opportunities aligned with customer needs.
- Engage the right stakeholders – Ensure QBRs involve senior decision-makers who influence purchasing decisions.
- Measure and adapt – Use engagement metrics, customer feedback and performance data to refine QBR strategies for stronger business impact.
- Align QBRs with customer objectives – Link upselling and cross-selling efforts to customer priorities, such as cost efficiency, innovation, or sustainability.
Final thoughts
QBRs should be more than a performance review—they should be a platform for business growth. By refining their approach, suppliers can maximise upsell opportunities, strengthen customer relationships, and drive long-term value.
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