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Hilary Collins, Terry O'Sullivan, Steven Pearson, Adrian Thomas, and Penny Walters

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is intended for anyone who wants to learn about attracting and retaining customers. No previous experience of studying sales or marketing is required, but some basic knowledge of how businesses work would be beneficial. Find further information about OU registration, the assessment module and MBA in the entry requirements . If you are aiming to use your study of courses in the Digital Economy program to obtain academic credit, please be aware that the final planned presentation of the Open University Assessment Course BXM871 Managing in the Digital Economy starts July 2020. Please ensure that you allow yourself enough time to obtain all four Certificates of Achievement from courses in the program before registering for the Assessment Course. Details of runs of the relevant FutureLearn courses in 2019 and 2020 are available here .

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Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is intended for anyone who wants to learn about attracting and retaining customers. No previous experience of studying sales or marketing is required, but some basic knowledge of how businesses work would be beneficial. Find further information about OU registration, the assessment module and MBA in the entry requirements . If you are aiming to use your study of courses in the Digital Economy program to obtain academic credit, please be aware that the final planned presentation of the Open University Assessment Course BXM871 Managing in the Digital Economy starts July 2020. Please ensure that you allow yourself enough time to obtain all four Certificates of Achievement from courses in the program before registering for the Assessment Course. Details of runs of the relevant FutureLearn courses in 2019 and 2020 are available here .

Topics Covered

  • How technologies such as big data, the cloud and open-source are driving the digital economy
  • Insight in the context of sales
  • How customer insight is enabled by the digital economy
  • Tools and technologies that enable businesses to use big data to access and deliver value
  • How digital engagement works, and the importance of personalisation
  • How the move to digital selling is being enacted across the globe
  • Key trends in the digital economy and the impact on customer insight

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Reviews summary

Digital sales & customer insight for business

According to learners, this course offers a truly insightful journey into the digital economy, particularly focusing on how businesses can leverage customer insights for sales. Students found the content highly relevant and up-to-date, with practical examples and actionable strategies that make complex concepts easy to grasp. Many appreciated its comprehensive overview and well-organized structure, noting it provides a solid foundation for understanding modern sales and marketing. The course is described as engaging and accessible, even for those who are not tech experts, making it suitable for professionals in marketing, sales, and small business owners. While largely positive, one reviewer noted it's a good introduction but perhaps not exhaustive for experienced professionals seeking advanced analytical tools. The peer interaction on forums was also highlighted as a valuable learning aspect.
Forum discussions enhanced learning with diverse perspectives.
"The peer interaction on the forums was also a valuable part of the learning experience, allowing for diverse perspectives."
"The discussions on ethical considerations of data use were particularly thought-provoking."
"It really broadened my perspective on digital selling and customer engagement."
Content is clear and structured, making complex topics easy to grasp.
"The content was highly relevant and up-to-date, making complex concepts easy to grasp."
"The course structure was well-organized, guiding me through each topic logically."
"The material was engaging and presented in an accessible manner, which is great for someone like me who isn't a tech expert..."
Broad, current overview of digital sales and customer insight.
"This course offered a truly insightful journey into the digital economy, especially focusing on how businesses can leverage customer insights for sales."
"An exceptional course that provided a comprehensive overview of how customer insight drives success in the digital age."
"This course is a must for understanding modern sales and marketing strategies."
Provides strategies and examples for real-world application.
"I particularly appreciated the practical examples and case studies that demonstrated real-world applications."
"The instructors did an excellent job of breaking down theories into actionable strategies."
"It provided a solid foundation and gave me confidence in approaching digital transformation within my small business."
Good intro, but less depth for advanced professionals.
"I felt some parts could have gone into more depth, especially concerning advanced analytical tools."
"It's a great starting point, but perhaps not exhaustive for experienced professionals."
"Overall, a very good course, but there's room for a bit more advanced content."

Activities

Coming soon We're preparing activities for The Digital Economy: Selling Through Customer Insight. These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.

Career center

Learners who complete The Digital Economy: Selling Through Customer Insight will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We haven't picked any books for this reading list yet.
Foundational text in understanding complex sales. Based on extensive research, it introduces the SPIN questioning model (Situation, Problem, Implication, Need-Payoff) which is crucial for effective customer conversations in larger sales. It's an essential read for anyone looking to move beyond basic transactional selling and is often referenced in sales training programs.
Provides a step-by-step guide to building a successful sales team. It valuable resource for sales managers who want to improve the performance of their teams.
Written by the former Chief Revenue Officer at HubSpot, this book focuses on building a scalable and predictable sales model using data, technology, and inbound methodologies. It's particularly relevant for those interested in modern sales operations, sales technology, and the intersection of sales and marketing.
Offers concise and actionable sales advice in a straightforward manner. It focuses on key principles and attitudes for sales success, making it an easy and motivating read for salespeople at any stage of their career. It's a good resource for quick tips and a confidence boost.
Identifies the 25 habits that are common among highly successful salespeople. It valuable resource for salespeople who want to improve their sales skills.
Provides a step-by-step guide to closing sales. It valuable resource for salespeople who want to improve their closing rates.
Delves into the psychology behind why people say 'yes' and outlines six universal principles of persuasion. Understanding these principles is invaluable for salespeople seeking to ethically influence customer decisions. It provides a strong theoretical foundation for sales techniques.
Provides insights into the role of emotional intelligence in sales success. It valuable resource for salespeople who want to learn how to build relationships and connect with their customers on an emotional level.
Provides a comprehensive overview of sales management. It valuable resource for sales managers who want to learn how to manage a sales team effectively.
Challenges traditional relationship-building in sales and proposes that top performers are 'Challengers' who push customer thinking. It provides a framework for understanding different sales profiles and how to effectively challenge customers to create value. It's highly relevant for B2B sales professionals and sales leaders.
While not exclusively a sales book, this classic offers timeless principles on human relationships, communication, and influence that are directly applicable to sales. It provides foundational social skills essential for building rapport and trust with prospects and customers. is valuable for anyone, regardless of their experience level in sales.
Argues that everyone is in sales, regardless of their profession. It explores the changing landscape of sales and emphasizes the importance of skills like attunement, empathy, and clarity. It provides a broader perspective on influence and persuasion, making it relevant for a wide audience, including those not in traditional sales roles.
Targeted at sales managers, this book provides practical guidance on leading and managing a sales team effectively. It covers essential aspects of sales leadership, including coaching, performance management, and creating a winning sales culture. It's an important resource for those in or aspiring to sales leadership roles.
Is considered a bible for B2B sales development, outlining the 'Cold Calling 2.0' methodology for generating predictable revenue. It's highly valuable for sales development representatives, sales leaders, and entrepreneurs focused on building effective outbound sales processes.
Advocates for a problem-centric approach to sales, focusing on identifying and solving the customer's core business problems. It challenges traditional sales thinking and provides a framework for having more impactful sales conversations. It's relevant for salespeople looking to elevate their consulting skills.
A classic in strategic sales, this book introduces the Miller Heiman methodology for managing complex sales cycles. It provides tools and frameworks for understanding the political landscape within a customer organization and developing effective sales strategies. is particularly valuable for enterprise sales professionals.

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