How to Boost B2B Sales Using AI

How to Boost B2B Sales Using AI

Welcome to the digital age, where artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t just a buzzword but a best friend to B2B sales strategies. Gone are the days when AI was only known for beating humans at chess; today, it’s here to revolutionize how we sell, write and even chat up our customers. Let’s explore how AI can enhance B2B sales, transforming routine tasks into a more dynamic and efficient process.

Crafting Customer Profiles and Tailor-Made Content

First on our list is turning AI into your personal Sherlock Holmes for customer profiling. Imagine having the ability to:

  • Sift through mountains of data to uncover customer preferences, behaviors and needs
  • Create detailed customer profiles
  • Anticipate customer needs
  • Identify messaging that will be highly relevant and personal to customers

But wait, there’s more! AI doesn’t just stop at profiling; it moonlights as a content creator too. Picture an AI algorithm whipping up personalized emails, proposals, and even witty social media posts that hit just the right note. It’s like having a ghostwriter who knows your audience better than they know themselves, ensuring your message isn’t just a shot in the dark but a direct hit.

The best part: AI democratizes content marketing for SMB and mid-market businesses. Generative AI is free in some cases, if you use AI tools like Gemini and ChatGPT. In other cases, AI-generated content is included in channel marketing platforms that take AI content further by:

  • Packaging Content Into Multimedia Marketing Campaigns
  • Automatically sending marketing campaigns, such as newsletters
  • Automatically syndicating content to connected social media pages

This makes it possible for SMB and mid-market companies to market like enterprise organizations for a fraction of the cost and without an entire marketing team.

Try it: Write a social media post about the latest trends in channel marketing.

AI As the Sales Coach You Never Knew You Needed

Ever wished for a sales coach that’s available 24/7, doesn’t drink your coffee, and is always in a good mood? Enter AI, your new mentor. AI can help sales reps hone their skills by:

  • Roleplaying interactions, from pitching to objection handling
  • Allow salespeople to run conversational scenarios in a safe space where the only thing at stake is your AI’s patience (don’t worry, it’s infinite)
  • Reduce the time it takes to create documents such as installation instructions or delay notification letters
  • Analyze, record and transcribe sales calls

AI doesn’t just throw you into the deep end; it provides feedback that’s based on real data. It analyzes sales calls and interactions, offering tips to polish your approach until you shine brighter than a diamond in a sales meeting.

Try it (using writing or with a voice plug-in): Let’s role play to book an appointment. I’m a SaaS sales rep and you are a VP of marketing.

Try it: Please provide coaching feedback on how to improve my pitch.

On-Demand Customer Service: The AI Way

In today’s fast-paced world, information and service must be there when customers need it, at light speed. This is where AI chatbots come in, providing instant answers to customer inquiries, any time of day. These bots are so sophisticated they can:

  • Answer questions
  • Schedule meetings
  • Provide linked or downloadable resources
  • And even flirt with leads (strictly in a professional manner, of course)

What to look for: When evaluating AI chat tools, your requirements should include:

  • Measure it: This effort should substantially save on opex costs, to the tune or 30-40%, ensure you have a baseline measurement and track progress.
  • Integrate: Ensure the tool integrates with your CRM and ticketing systems.
  • Scalability: There are likely use cases across your business including Customer Service, Sales, HR, etc.
  • Security: AI can feel scary, but not if you have the right security measures in place. Enroll IT support early.

But when things get too complex, AI knows when to step back and let humans take over. This tag team ensures that customers get the attention they deserve without unnecessary wait times, making your service as smooth as a buttered slide.

Incorporating AI into B2B sales is not just about embracing technology; it’s about setting the stage for a more personalized, efficient and engaging sales process. With AI as your sidekick, you’re not just selling; you’re revolutionizing the game with a touch of humor and a lot of smarts. So, here’s to making B2B sales fun, effective and maybe just a little bit futuristic. After all, who said business can’t have a bit of laughter?

Author

  • Tara Yukawa

    In her current role as vice president of global operations at Extu, Tara Yukawa harnesses her strategic acumen and data-driven mindset to steer the company's operational excellence worldwide. Her leadership is instrumental in driving efficiencies and spotting opportunities for growth, underpinned by a commitment to servant leadership and the belief that team success benefits all stakeholders.

    View all posts

Get our newsletter and digital focus reports

Stay current on learning and development trends, best practices, research, new products and technologies, case studies and much more.