For most people, their very first contact with Artificial Intelligence (AI) was through Siri, Apple’s assistant who answers questions, makes suggestions, and suggests a GPS route, among others. Siri is an AI Assistant, and there are others like her: Alexa (Amazon), Cortana (Micrsoft), and Google’s Assistant (for their Google Home and Google Play) are among the more familiar.
Artificial Intelligence in machines or devices allows them to simulate human intelligence, so your nifty smartphone or laptop can actually perform certain tasks for you. Think of it as having your very own (virtual) personal assistant.
Techopedia explains AI as: “an area of computer science that emphasizes the creation of intelligent machines that work and react like humans.”
ZDNet says that “at a very high level artificial intelligence can be split into two broad types: narrow AI and general AI.” Narrow AI is what we see in most computers or devices today; general AI is more advanced. It is “the type of adaptable intellect found in humans, a flexible form of intelligence capable of learning how to carry out vastly different tasks, anything from haircutting to building spreadsheets, or to reason about a wide variety of topics based on its accumulated experience.” Basically, think The Terminator.
Techopedia further notes that some of the activities computers with artificial intelligence are designed for include:
- Speech recognition
- Learning
- Planning
- Problem solving
Given everything Artificial Intelligence does, it only makes sense that it has penetrated the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform, which essentially manages customer data, information, interactions—in the hope of improving service relationships, customer retention, and sales. And quite frankly, the AI + CRM combination is powerful. Lucrativ is one such CRM that utilizes AI, in the form of Lucy.
So how, exactly, does AI help you as a sales professional?
AI is very competent at analyzing data—this is what enables it to do planning and problem solving. This is how it is able to provide insight. As a sales professional, planning, strategy, problem solving, and insight are important in your business. And with these tools in your pocket, you can improve upon every stage of the sales process: prospecting, acceleration, and retention.
Here are the specific ways AI in your CRM can help you drive sales and retain customers:
- Boost Productivity: AI can help you automate routine tasks, saving you time and resources and ultimately helping you with day-to-day tasks and boosting your daily productivity
- Data Management and Analysis: AI can efficiently analyze and interpret every data you plug in to your CRM.
- Improved Segmentation and Qualified Leads: All the intelligent data allow you to do smarter segmentation of your list: age, gender, location, customer journey, etc. This is of great value to you when doing your email marketing, prospecting and pursuing leads, or basically at any time you need to personalize any task for a particular client base—which is always.
- Accurate, Quick Response: With efficient data management and analysis, every member in the team is provided with valuable intel that allows them to respond to all inquiries and messages more quickly and accurately
- Forecasting and Strategy: Again, with smart data management and analysis, you can predict customer behavior, anticipate their needs, and create a more informed sales strategy
- Improved Customer Satisfaction: AI allows you to create more relevant and personalized experiences for your clients—thereby improving their satisfaction, strengthening your relationship with them, and increasing the possibility of customer retention.
CRM is an invaluable tool in sales, and AI makes it even more vitally important. You can request a demo today to see for yourself.
