Why a Business Developer Is Not a Luxury but a Necessity

Being a Business Developer is not just a job – it’s a way of seeing the world. Successful Business Developers possess certain traits that come naturally to them: they are curious, future-oriented, analytical, and have a strong strategic mindset.

Many companies make the mistake of simply assigning existing employees to the role of a Business Developer. However, if someone lacks these skills – and this is not just about technical knowledge – it’s like taking a production worker and suddenly making them an accountant, expecting them to do the job flawlessly from day one. That makes no sense.

Likewise, cutting costs on a Business Developer is not a smart move. Even if the results aren’t immediately visible, this role is crucial for ensuring the medium- and long-term stability of a company. I always say: think backward.

Imagine being three to five years in the future. The market has changed drastically, an unexpected competitor has taken significant market share, or your product is no longer in demand. At that moment, the question arises: wouldn’t it have been worth investing in a Business Developer years ago? Preventive action usually costs far less than losing 10, 20, or even 30% of your revenue.

The best examples: the German automotive industry, Kodak, Nokia, or Varta – brands that focused too much on short-term success and neglected their medium- and long-term future.

If a company focuses only on how to maximize revenue in the next quarter, it will face bitter experiences in the coming one to two years—because the world is changing faster than ever.

A Business Developer is not a luxury but an investment in the future. Those who fail to think ahead today risk becoming irrelevant in just a few years.