85% of business leaders are “very excited” about deploying generative AI. While AI has a range of top applications, its advantages are especially powerful for sales. 

AI in sales is already getting proven results, boosting revenue by up to 15%, among other benefits. Yet, it’s essential to thoughtfully integrate sales AI so you can achieve the best outcomes.

Here we’ll discuss the benefits, tools and best uses of generative AI in sales. We’ll also go over our preferred platform, Microsoft Copilot for Sales, which we expertly employ so you can maximize client resources and attain more sales.  

AI in sales today 

The sales industry is currently buzzing with the potential of generative AI. For many companies, incorporating AI into workflows and tools is still on the horizon. In fact, 78% are worried about missing out on generative AI’s competitive advantages. 

It’s clear that AI in sales is still in the early adoption phase. Even so, high-performers are already reaping the benefits of this new technology, with those using AI 1.3x more likely to see revenue increases. 

Just consider that these leading brands have started AI implementation, including:

  • KLM. Handles 60% of customer inquiries with its AI-driven BlueBot.
  • Coca-Cola. Optimizes digital ad campaigns via a new AI-backed platform called Albert. 
  • Takeda Oncology. Boosts sales conversations through AI-powered insights for relevant messaging. 

Ultimately, this is just the tip of the iceberg. It’s likely that a mass movement towards AI for sales is forthcoming. Studies suggest that 90% of business leaders expect to use GenAI solutions “often” in the next two years. 

Benefits of generative AI in sales 

(Source: McKinsey)

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There’s a lot of hype around the benefits of generative AI today. The dynamic nature of sales tasks means that this industry has lots to gain from AI.

Initial results from AI in sales are promising, with 84% seeing a boost in sales and quicker customer resolution. Overall, you can expect positive pay-offs such as:

  • Operations efficiency and team productivity; 
  • Enhanced customer experiences (i.e. quicker resolution time, personalization, etc.);
  • More sales;
  • Lower costs (via resource allocation, data-driven insights, forecasting, etc.); 
  • Data-driven decision-making;
  • Innovation;
  • Risk management.

AI tools for B2B sales

AI tools for B2B sales are starting to flood the market, offering effective new sales processes. 

Most of these technologies are focused on helping you customize your own AI sales workflows and tools. At Nearsure, we’re keen on the advantages of Microsoft Copilot for sales (which we’ll discuss below). 

That said, there’s a plethora of options for setting up AI in sales. To give you a sense of what’s out there, here are some popular picks:

How is AI used in sales?

(Source: McKinsey)

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Despite the huge potential of AI in sales, 53% of sellers aren’t sure how to make the most of value from generative AI. To help businesses and their salesforce reimagine their processes, below you’ll find the best use cases for sales AI. 

1. AI tools for sales teams 

To start, AI can be implemented on your sales teams to boost productivity and limit time-intensive tasks. 52% of sellers report that AI tools for sales are “very to somewhat important” for their daily work.

In particular, AI is great for lead generation, with sellers attaining 50% more prospects when using these tools. Additionally, AI can elevate sales team efforts for:

  • Prospect research;
  • Scorecards for potential deals;
  • Call/meeting summaries;
  • Contact management; 
  • Team performance management;
  • Sales coaching.

On the whole, AI can cut out demanding manual tasks, saving professionals an average of two hours and 15 minutes. In turn, this enables sellers to focus on their core skills, such as relationship building. Overall, 78% think AI can free up their time to concentrate on critical sales areas. 

2. AI in sales operations efficiency

In this same vein, AI can be incorporated into business processes for greater efficiency. Initial studies show AI’s potential to boost efficiency by 10-15%.

Specifically, AI in operations is mainly used as an automation tool. For instance, it can be leveraged to set up:

  • Customer onboarding;
  • Follow-up emails;
  • Outbound calls;
  • A/B tests;
  • Competitor monitoring;
  • Compliance monitoring.

Another major area that impacts the sales team is creating virtual agents to support efforts. Chatbots and voice assistants can completely revolutionize business processes. For example, 57% of companies report chatbots have boosted their ROI significantly.

3. AI in sales content

AI is also an interesting tool for streamlining content creation. Sales professionals have a high demand for content in their day-to-day, such as:

  • Customer outreach;
  • Sale scripts;
  • Sales pitches;
  • Presentations;
  • Media (videos, images, etc.).

Today 76% of professionals are using AI for content creation, which saves them valuable time. 

4. AI for customer engagement

Moreover, AI can improve interactions with customers, leading to stronger satisfaction and a higher likelihood of a sale. 

Personalized outreach is a big area that AI for sales can support. A whopping 69% of sellers “somewhat or strongly agree” that AI can help customize customer experiences. 

Specifically, AI can recommend ways to customize your conversations and recommend products for specific users. Virtual chatbots are a major channel for carrying out these AI-powered conversations. 

In addition to conversation intelligence, AI can boost customer engagement via:

  • Dynamic content;
  • Up/cross-selling recommendations;
  • Dynamic customer journey mapping;
  • Sentiment analysis.

5. AI in sales analytics

Sales analytics encompasses any data points that help make key decisions for seller efforts. 73% of professionals say AI enables new data insights. As a result, these sales teams can optimize processes and customer relationships. 

Data points such as churn, behavioral patterns, audience targeting, predictive pricing, content performance, etc. can be essential for a more effective sales strategy. You can also glean insights about your own internal performance by using AI to analyze your sales calls, deal sizes, etc. 

6. AI in sales forecasting 

Predictive insights are another main advantage of AI in sales. Forecasting can aid teams in allocating their resources effectively and ultimately get more deals. With the right data, AI models can calculate the busiest time for sales calls, the likelihood of a deal, high-value opportunities, next quarter revenue, etc. 

7. AI for revenue boosting 

Last but not least, AI in sales can spur more revenue in the long run. McKinsey reports suggest AI can boost revenue by up to 15% and sales ROI between 10-20%. This makes sense when you consider the full range of applications for sales AI discussed here. These AI-driven efforts can lower operations costs, unlock new markets, improve customer loyalty, optimize prices and more. 

Understanding Microsoft Copilot for sales 

At Nearsure, we hand-select the best AI tools for sales to ensure our clients are well-equipped to meet their business objectives. For the sales industry, we leverage our preferred tool, Microsoft Copilot. Here’s why we think it’s a top choice to maximize sales teams. 

What is Microsoft Copilot Studio for Sales?

Copilot for Sales is specifically designed for sellers. It incorporates GenAI into workflows and tools, such as Salesforce and Microsoft 365 Sales. The idea is to boost sales efforts through data-driven insights and opportunities to automate. 

What Microsoft Sales Copilot can do for your team

Microsoft Copilot has a wide range of meaningful applications for sales. Some of the most high-demand areas include:

  • Sales content creation (such as emails, meeting summaries, pitch decks, presentations, etc.);
  • Customer personalization;
  • Call insights and analysis;
  • Lead contact management;  
  • Workflow and collaboration optimization; 
  • Sales performance insights;
  • Customized AI agents and tools.

Depending on your business goals, your team may leverage one or more of these key areas. Copilot for Sales also gives you the flexibility to customize other sales tasks as well.  

How we leverage Copilot for Sales at Nearsure 

At Nearsure, our developers are veterans of Copilot for Sales and ready to personalize your sales workflows, tools and content according to your parameters. 

To get started, our specialists will get to know your long-term objectives. Once defined, we will collaborate closely to identify opportunities and iterate models that enable quick gains. 

We’ll also create a roadmap of recommendations for how AI can be implemented within your sales team in future stages. 

Achieving next-gen AI in sales

AI has become an impressive competitive advantage for companies who have adopted it early. Even so, many businesses aren’t ready for AI. In fact, 60% of leaders say Gen AI doesn’t yet integrate with their tech stack. 

Technical difficulties like this can slow down your big plans for AI in sales. As you work out the details, lean on a top-ranked AI partner. At Nearsure, our skilled AI engineers are ready to unlock powerful advantages for your sales team. Get in touch with our winning AI team today.