Generative AI is a new way of thinking about how we leverage technology to solve problems. It's not just about automation and efficiency, but also creating systems that can learn from their own data. Here's what that means when it comes to sales.

Sales-tech has evolved over the years

Sales technology has come a long way from the days of cold calling and manual data entry. With the advent of the internet and mobile devices, sales teams now have access to a wealth of tools and platforms that make it easier to connect with potential customers and close deals.

One of the most exciting developments in sales-tech is the rise of generative AI. This type of artificial intelligence has the ability to generate new ideas, content, and strategies based on a given set of data and rules. This has the potential to revolutionize the way sales teams approach their work.

What is generative AI and what will it enable sales teams to do?

Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that uses machine learning algorithms to generate new ideas and content based on a given set of data and rules. This can include anything from product recommendations and personalized emails to sales scripts and marketing materials. One of the most prolific forms of generative AI is LLMs (large language models). Large language models are AI models that are capable of understanding, processing, and synthesizing written information.

By using generative AI and LLMs, sales teams will be able to automate many of the tedious and time-consuming tasks associated with sales. This will free up more time for them to focus on more high-level tasks, such as building relationships with customers and developing new strategies.

Additionally, generative AI will enable sales teams to personalize their approaches to each individual customer. By analyzing a customer's past behavior and preferences, generative AI can generate personalized recommendations and messages that are more likely to resonate with the customer. This can help sales teams to close more deals and build stronger relationships with their customers.

Here's a chart from Sequoia venture capital around the evolution of AI:

What generative AI tools do professionals already use?

Generative AI is still a relatively new technology, but there are already several tools on the market that professional teams are already using to optimize their jobs.

These include:

• Github Copilot: Software engineers are using this generative AI to automate writing code. Copilot is trained on millions of lines of code found on Github.
• Mutiny: Marketers are using Mutiny to optimize website copy and ensure that the content found on websites convert at the highest rates.
• Moveworks: IT teams at large enterprises are using Movework’s AI to chat and solve common IT requests for employees.

As you see, generative AI is already being used and it’s time that sales teams adopt it as well.

Will generative AI replace us?

While generative AI has the potential to automate many of the tasks associated with sales, it is not going to replace sales teams altogether. While generative AI can generate ideas and content based on a given set of data and rules, it lacks the human intuition and empathy that are essential for building relationships with customers.

Furthermore, generative AI still requires human oversight and input to function effectively. Most generative AI tools today require that humans still need to manually review and approve the ideas and content generated. AI fundamentally lacks what humans have around empathy and often context. For this reason, humans often need to provide the necessary data and rules for the AI to work with. This can be seen in most AI-powered sales tools today.

How can I leverage generative AI today to level up?

If you're looking to leverage the power of generative AI in your sales efforts, here are some steps you can take:

1. Choose the right generative AI tool for your needs. - There are many different generative AI tools on the market, so it's important to research and compare them to find the one that best fits your needs. Consider factors such as price, features, and integration with your existing sales tools. (Take a look at SellScale if you haven’t already 😉)
2. Provide the necessary data and rules - Generative AI relies on data and rules to generate ideas and content, so it's important to provide the AI with the right information to work with. This may include customer data, sales data, and other relevant information.
3. Use and adjust! - Generative AI works for you! As you continue using the tools, make tweaks to the parameters and rules until you’re satisfied with the consistent output.

Generative AI is the future of sales, and it will change the way we do our jobs. It’s important for you to understand what it is so you know whether or not your company should invest in this technology.

This type of technology has already been implemented by many companies in various domains (coding, marketing, design), so if any part of this sounds interesting, please reach out! We'd love to work with anyone who wants an advantage over their competitors when it comes to sales.

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This post was made in partnership with an AI-writing co-pilot.