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As a six-month newcomer to the world of pricing, I’m on a steep learning trajectory.  I’ve been deeply mired in pricing conversations here at PROS, and this past week offered another trek on my personal journey to become more adept in the language of pricing.

Last week’s Professional Pricing Society provided a tremendous opportunity to view the industry with some of its key players and to hear from them about their own insights on the importance of pricing. PPS offers pricing professionals an opportunity to learn together, side-by-side, in an environment where pricing conversations are second to none.  The PPS 22^nd Annual Fall Conference, which was held last week at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, attracts people from across the world. In fact, one of the more animated conversations I had was with a pricing executive from New Zealand.

I was able to play a voyeuristic role, listening to our customers, partners, prospects and interested parties conduct discussions with the PROS team, who were generous and enthusiastic in their feedback.

I also made it a point to sit with people who weren’t part of our organization and to learn about their businesses. These pricing pros cut across a wide swathe of industries, from bio-tech firms, to technology, chemical, healthcare, electronics and consulting companies, to name just a few. I met PROS partners who were well-represented at PPS, and who also shared their enthusiasm of the work they do, helping their clients and customers to achieve greater profitability.

PROS Senior Vice President of Pricing Excellence Craig Zawada delivered a keynote at the event titled “Pricing – Good to Great.” He was in great company with a number of other high-profile pricing professionals, including Deloitte’s Julie Mehan and Dr. George Tacke, CEO of Simon-Kutcher, to name just a few.

The glaring observation is that everyone at the conference shares a passion for pricing on two fronts – making sure they take care of customers and helping keep their companies profitable.  My personal logic tells me that profitable companies hire new employees, so there’s nothing more important to jumpstarting the global economy than strong, growing companies. I’m glad the cast from PPS and its members see it that way too.

The PPS 7^th Annual European pricing event will be held Nov. 30-Dec. 2 at Barcelona’s Princess Sofia Gran Hotel. If you’re even thinking it’s a good idea, do yourself a favor and go. Or as Nike says, just do it. It’s time well spent learning from industry professionals who love what they do and who willingly help others learn. PROS will be there, so if you go, stop by our booth. You’ll be glad you did.

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Yvonne Donaldson

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