Every sales agent has had that frustrating moment on the phone: the lead poses a question you’re not prepared for; you fumble the answer; you lose the sale. All that time and effort wasted. If only there were a way to know a potential customer’s specific concerns ahead of time.
In today’s world, there is: artificial intelligence. Even if you already use AI in some form, you may not be implementing it to its highest potential for your sales team. Properly channeled, AI can cater to the customer’s schedule, gather background information to equip your sales agents, and ultimately lead to more successful sales.
Start on the customer’s schedule
Nobody likes having their day interrupted, especially if that interruption involves spending money. That’s why the first key to AI implementation for sales success is to start on the customer’s schedule.
With the right AI program, a lead can fill out a form to indicate interest in your product or service and then be contacted by AI at a time that works for them. Conversely, if you want to reach out to leads instead of waiting for them to find you, AI can initiate a conversation with potential customers via text or phone call. This saves your sales team from having to cold call and deal with voicemails, wrong numbers, or upset customers.
Another way to utilize AI in the sales field is to “strike the iron while it’s hot.” With certain AI software, a potential customer can receive a text or call within 2-5 minutes of their interest form submission. This ensures that the next step on the pathway to a sale is taken while their concern is still top of mind.
Let AI gather background information
If you use AI as your first point of contact with leads, it is crucial that the software you use is also able to gather and navigate robust information. As technology continues to advance, customers expect fast, accurate, and socially competent artificial interactions.
This means that an AI text or phone call should be able to communicate in full sentences, navigate interruptions by the lead, and document their responses in an accessible format for your sales team to reference.
Many people are under the impression that artificial voices are unable to have a real conversation with them, but this is no longer the case. Leads will be wowed by an AI program that can change course when they bring up their concerns and remembers what was said earlier in the conversation.
The best AI programs will excel at machine learning: the more conversations they have with your leads, the better they’ll get at fielding questions and concerns. It’s important to know if the AI company you choose aggregates this information for development purposes or keeps it private for your own company.
Set your sales team up for success
Finally, a good AI program will set up each sales agent for success. All of the information that was gathered during the initial contact can be summarized, organized, and presented to the sales agent in an easy-to-read format. Then they can call the lead with confidence, equipped with answers for all of their questions and concerns.
If you’re ready to take your sales team to the next level with artificial intelligence, follow these steps:
- Take note of your existing software. Some AI programs are only compatible with certain APIs or CRMs. When shopping for AI, you must know what you already have to work with.
- Come up with a ballpark budget. Get a sense of how much you could spend on AI implementation. Decide if ongoing monthly expenses are feasible because some programs require a subscription.
- Take advantage of free trials and demos. Shop around and try out as many programs as you can. Most should have some sort of try-before-you-buy option.
- Select a program. Commit to an AI program and a timeline during which you expect it to make a difference in your sales. Set a date to reassess outcomes and make sure it’s delivering on its promise.
- Communicate your plan to your team. It is important that AI implementation is framed as an asset to your sales team, not a tactic for downsizing.
- Watch your sales team increase their success! If implemented correctly, AI should equip and assist your team to make more sales and keep customers happier.
While researching options for your team, be sure to give Pipes.ai a try. Our lead validation software was born because we didn’t see what we were looking for on the market. So, we set out to create it ourselves in 2018 and have been improving it ever since. With a white glove customer service approach, high privacy standards, and 1-2 day installation, Pipes.ai might be just the software you need. Try our AI today.
