AI is raising its profile and becoming a permanent attribute of sales teams’ work. It also helps them save time, be organized, and concentrate more on developing good customer relationships. By applying artificial intelligence, salespeople can identify prospects, increase communication effectiveness, and advance organizational strategies.
In this article, we’ll explore real AI use cases in sales, its advantages and disadvantages, and its primary trends for the future.
AI-Powered Tools for Sales Teams: AI in Sales Examples
The use of AI in sales has wholly overhauled how the sales teams do their work. These tools provide the ease of doing mundane work, aid decision-making, and make the sales process ding. From customer management to better interaction with clients, from sales lead generation to some other points, AI is an irreplaceable part of contemporary sales processes.
Today’s AI for sales teams includes a wide range of intelligent platforms that help reps stay focused on what matters: selling. Here’s a breakdown of key technologies driving the transformation.
AI-Driven CRMs
CRM systems supported by artificial intelligence are beneficial for sales, as the latter enables the organization of the information received about clients. In this area, these tools simplify the process of collecting and structuring data to ensure that salespersons mainly dedicate their time to selling.
Here are some of the key benefits of AI-driven CRMs:
- Organize customer data: AI keeps client data current and organized while logging every interaction and relevant information. This means that the salesperson does not have to look for information that may be stuck in someone’s file or document, only to be inaccurate or missing data.
- Recommend next steps: Thanks to historical data and analysis of current behavior, AI can recommend which actions should be taken next, for example, call the client back shortly or send an e-mail with a specific address. This helps salespeople take the prospects through the funnel as follows.
- Reduce manual tasks: Data entry is one of the most time-consuming parts of sales. AI eliminates this burden by automating data capture and entry, freeing up salespeople to focus on closing deals.
For instance, Einstein from Salesforce or AI tools offered by HubSpot keeps track of how a customer behaves, helping the sales team adjust their sales pitch. These tools allow salespeople to reduce essential details that are left unnoticed and, thus, provide a better experience to clients.
AI Chatbots and Virtual Assistants
Of all the categories that we addressed, it is easy to say that both AI chatbot and AI virtual assistant is the most valuable tools for sales teams. These tools address simple but critical tasks, freeing up the salesperson’s time to focus on valuable tasks such as making sales or nurturing essential customer relationships.
Here’s how chatbots and virtual assistants are transforming the sales process:
- Answer customer questions: It gives customers immediate solutions for frequently asked questions about the products or service, for example, description, cost, or stock status. This way, the potential customers do not have to wait for answers and can have a better experience.
- Qualify leads: Virtual assistants can ask preliminary questions to identify whether a prospect is worth pursuing. By qualifying leads automatically, sales teams can focus their energy on high-potential opportunities.
- Schedule meetings: AI tools can manage calendars and set up appointments without needing back-and-forth emails. This saves time and ensures that meetings are scheduled efficiently.
For example, a chatbot is mainly deployed at Drift to filter traffic and schedule sales calls — an ideal use case that illustrates how AI is used in sales for lead routing and engagement.. With the help of automated lead processing processes, sales teams can focus more on responsible clients than actual buyers. Chatbots also ensure that no question remains unanswered and keep the potential customer interested.
AI-powered assistants also play a growing role in forecasting. Sales teams now explore how to use virtual assistants for sales forecasting, using AI to analyze historical trends and generate real-time projections.
Tools enhanced with artificial intelligence are now considered a significant asset to the sales departments. Starting with customer data with the help of AI-based integrated CRMs to handling customer inquiries and even appointment settings, these platforms increase sales efficiency.
How AI Helps in the Sales Process
AI supports sales teams at every stage of the sales process. From finding potential customers to closing deals, it simplifies tasks and boosts efficiency. Let’s see how AI plays a role in the key steps of the sales journey.
Finding and Scoring Leads
Finding the right customers is a big challenge in sales. AI helps by:
- Identifying potential customers: AI analyzes data from websites, social media, and past purchases to spot people interested in your product or service.
- Scoring leads: AI ranks leads based on how likely they are to make a purchase. This allows sales teams to focus on the most promising opportunities.
For example, tools like Leadspace use AI to analyze customer data and highlight the best leads for sales teams to pursue.
Use of Virtual Assistants for Sales Forecasting
Sales forecasting is the act of estimating future sales by using data collected at an earlier time. AI improves this process by:
- Analyzing trends: AI examines past sales and customer behavior to spot patterns.
- Helping with planning: Teams can use AI insights to set realistic goals and plan their resources.
- Reducing risks: Accurate forecasts mean fewer surprises and better decision-making.
Tools like Gong and Clari offer AI-powered sales forecasting features, helping teams stay ahead of the game.
Practical AI Use Cases in Sales
AI isn’t just a future trend—it’s already deeply embedded in the sales process. From streamlining admin work to helping teams close more deals, here are some of the most common and effective AI use cases in sales:
- Lead scoring: AI analyzes behavioral data, engagement signals, and firmographics to prioritize leads based on likelihood to convert.
- Predictive email follow-ups: Smart tools automatically schedule and send timely follow-up emails to keep leads warm.
- Sales coaching: AI can evaluate recorded sales calls and suggest improvements for tone, objection handling, and pitch timing.
- Proposal and email generation: Generative AI tools assist in writing customized sales proposals and email outreach.
- Smart meeting scheduling: AI assistants can find calendar availability and book demos without back-and-forth.
- CRM enrichment: AI keeps contact details up to date and logs activities automatically.
These examples demonstrate the uses of AI in sales across every stage of the buyer journey—from discovery to close. Understanding how AI is used in sales can help teams identify the right opportunities for automation and impact.
How to Use AI in Sales
If you’re wondering how to use artificial intelligence in sales or looking to get started, begin by mapping your sales process and pinpointing where reps spend the most manual time. Then ask: could AI assist here?
Here’s a simple framework for implementation:
- Start with one high-friction area, like lead qualification or follow-ups.
- Choose a tool that integrates easily with your CRM or workflow.
- Train your team and monitor outcomes.
- Iterate and expand based on what delivers results.
Whether you’re trying to save time, increase win rates, or provide a better customer experience, AI can help. The key is to align your goals with the tool’s strengths. For teams exploring how AI can help sales, this measured approach offers a strong foundation.
7 Best Ways to Use AI in Sales
There are countless tools on the market—but here are seven of the most effective, high-impact ways to use AI in sales right now:
1. Score and Prioritize Leads Automatically
AI tools analyze behavioral, demographic, and firmographic data to identify high-intent prospects. This ensures your sales team focuses on the leads most likely to convert, saving time and improving efficiency.
Best for: SDR teams overwhelmed with cold leads
2. Personalize Outreach with AI-Generated Emails
AI can generate and adapt emails based on the recipient’s role, behavior, or buying stage. This allows for 1:1-level personalization—at scale—without manually rewriting every message.
Best for: Increasing open and reply rates
3. Automate Meeting Scheduling
Virtual assistants powered by AI can handle calendar availability, time zone differences, and reminders—making scheduling seamless for both reps and prospects.
Best for: Saving time during the early-stage funnel
4. Coach Sales Teams with AI Call Analysis
AI listens to sales calls, transcribes them, and provides coaching insights—highlighting talk time, objection handling, tone, and keyword usage. This scales training across the entire team.
Best for: Upleveling rep performance and consistency
5. Forecast Pipeline More Accurately
AI can analyze historical trends, buyer behavior, and rep activity to deliver more accurate and dynamic sales forecasts. This helps leaders allocate resources and plan revenue with confidence.
Best for: Sales managers and revenue ops teams
6. Create Proposals and Sales Content Faster
Generative AI platforms can draft sales proposals, product comparisons, battle cards, and slide decks in minutes—reducing prep time and improving pitch quality.
Best for: Mid- to late-stage sales cycle support
7. Track Rep and Deal Performance in Real Time
AI-powered dashboards give you live visibility into pipeline movement, rep activity, and deal health. No more waiting for end-of-week reports—get insights on the fly.
Best for: Team leaders and VPs of Sales
AI for Large Sales Teams
Large sales teams face a unique set of challenges—managing hundreds of leads, maintaining CRM consistency, training dozens of reps, and ensuring that messaging stays on brand. This is where the AI advantage for large sales teams becomes especially powerful.
Here’s how enterprise sales orgs benefit from AI:
- Automated lead routing ensures every rep gets the right opportunity at the right time.
- Sales call coaching scales across teams with AI-analyzed feedback.
- CRM hygiene is easier to maintain when AI keeps contact records accurate and up to date.
- Performance dashboards let managers monitor rep activity across regions, channels, or verticals.
- Email automation tools keep messaging consistent and personalized—no matter how many prospects you’re reaching.
The true value of AI for large sales teams lies in scale. What works for 10 reps also works for 100 — with the right AI infrastructure in place.
Benefits of Using AI in Sales
Using AI in sales brings several advantages. It saves time, helps teams work smarter, and improves results. Here are some key benefits:
Saving Time
AI can perform routine work like data input, sending reminders emails, or creating meetings. This means that much time is released from the process and is free, through which salespeople can be engaged in other duties such as selling.
Better Customer Understanding
AI helps sales teams learn more about their customers by analyzing preferences and behaviors. This makes it easier to:
- Offer personalized solutions.
- Address customer needs effectively.
- Build trust and long-term relationships.
For example, AI recommendation systems to offer products of customer interest make the interaction significant.
Improved Decision-Making
AI provides sales teams with accurate, data-driven insights. This reduces guesswork and helps teams:
- Decide which leads to prioritize.
- Choose the best sales strategies.
- Plan practical outreach efforts.
Fewer Errors
By handling data entry and analysis, AI reduces the chances of mistakes. This means sales teams can rely on accurate information for planning and execution.
Reducing Cart Abandonments
One of the most common pain points for online sellers is cart abandonment. AI-driven tools now offer intelligent cart abandonment solutions that retarget users with personalized offers and reminders—dramatically increasing recovery rates.
Boosting Conversion Rates
One of the most compelling reasons to use AI in sales is its ability to improve conversion rates across the entire funnel. By leveraging real-time data and predictive insights, AI helps sales teams engage the right leads at the right time—with the right message.
Here’s how AI boosts conversions:
- Lead prioritization ensures reps focus on high-intent prospects who are more likely to buy.
- Personalized outreach crafted by AI improves email open rates, response rates, and engagement.
- Behavior-based recommendations guide reps on when to follow up, what content to send, or how to handle objections.
- Real-time feedback and call coaching allow teams to refine pitches continuously based on AI-analyzed interactions.
By eliminating guesswork and improving timing, AI increases efficiency—and helps reps close more deals, faster. It’s a clear example of ai used in sales move from reactive to proactive selling.
Challenges of Using AI in Sales
Of course, AI is helpful, but it has problems as well. However, the sales teams need to overcome the following hurdles to get the most out of these tools. Let’s take a look at some common challenges:
Data Issues
AI tools depend on good-quality data. When the input data is inconsistent, contaminated or out of date, the output from the AI will also be substandard. To avoid this, companies need to:
- Regularly clean and update their data.
- Use reliable sources for data collection.
Integration with Existing Systems
Sometimes, it is hard to integrate artificial intelligence into a existing system. Even some firms have old software installed in their systems, which is incompatible with working with new AI-related tools. To fix this, businesses need to:
- Invest in compatible software.
- Work with IT teams to ensure smooth integration.
Training and Adoption
Not all salespeople are comfortable using AI tools. To address this, companies should:
- Provide proper training.
- Show how AI can make their work easier, not replace it.
- Encourage feedback and make adjustments based on user needs.
Real-World Examples of Using AI in Sales:
1. Retailer Boosts Online Sales with AI Chatbots
During the 2024 holiday season, a major retailer leveraged AI-powered chatbots to assist customers with product inquiries and returns. This implementation led to a 4% year-over-year increase in online sales in the U.S., with AI influencing $229 billion in global online sales. The chatbots provided instant support, enhancing customer satisfaction and driving higher conversion rates.
2. LinkedIn’s Account Prioritization Engine Increases Renewals
LinkedIn developed an AI-driven Account Prioritization Engine to assist sales representatives in identifying high-potential accounts. By utilizing machine learning models and providing explainable insights, the tool led to an 8.08% increase in renewal bookings, demonstrating the power of AI in strategic account management.
3. Fashion Retailer Personalizes Marketing with AI
Victoria’s Secret transformed its email marketing strategy by implementing AI to personalize content based on individual customer preferences. This shift resulted in double-digit increases in revenue per email, click-through rates, and conversion rates, showcasing the effectiveness of AI in enhancing customer engagement and driving sales.
AI doesn’t just support transactions—it enhances eCommerce personalization by analyzing shopper behavior and dynamically recommending products that match user intent.
Future Trends in AI for Sales
Machine learning is an ever-developing field, and AI’s application in sales is bound to expand even further in the next few years. Here are some trends to watch:
Personalized Sales Approaches
AI will make it easier to create customized strategies for each customer. By analyzing data, it can:
- Suggest products based on customer preferences.
- Help tailor communication styles.
- Find what additional products could be sold to consumers on the same day or in the future.
Better Analytics
Advanced AI tools will give sales teams access to even more detailed analytics. This will help them:
- Predict customer needs.
- Track sales performance in real time.
- Adjust strategies on the fly.
AI for Content Creation
AI can help create sales materials like emails, proposals, and presentations. This saves time and ensures consistency across teams.
The use of AI in marketing continues to expand beyond automation. From dynamic pricing to personalized content at scale, the integration of sales and AI in marketing is redefining go-to-market strategies.
Team Collaboration
AI will reduce the difficulty of inter-department sales, marketing, and customer service collaboration. This will be a great way to create a better customer impression for them.
Conclusion
AI is no longer a buzzword in sales. This is a straightforward and effective tool that, when applied in a team scenario, allows the team to get more done and more effectively. These ideas range from essentially automating pre-call work and enhancing the call prospecting process itself to delivering a wealth of helpful client insights that can positively impact the behavior of salespeople.
In as much as there are challenges, it is essential to realize that much more is to be gained from AI. It is now possible for companies to get the best out of artificial intelligence by solving problems like data quality and training. On its part, sales teams can thus compete effectively due to AI support to needs in the market.
FAQs
What is an example of AI in sales?
An example of AI in sales is using chatbots to answer customer queries instantly. These bots can handle common questions like product details or pricing, saving sales teams time while keeping customers engaged.
Can AI be used in sales?
Yes, sales widely use AI to automate tasks, analyze customer data, and identify high-potential leads. It helps teams work more efficiently and focus on building stronger customer relationships.
What are the AI skills in sales?
AI skills in sales include using tools for lead scoring, customer behavior analysis, and sales forecasting. Salespeople also benefit from understanding how to use AI-powered CRMs and virtual assistants effectively.
What is the best AI sales tool?
The best AI sales tool depends on your needs. Tools like Salesforce Einstein and HubSpot are great for CRM, while Drift is ideal for chatbots and lead qualification.
How do you use AI for sales leads?
AI helps find and prioritize sales leads by analyzing website data, social media, and purchase history. It ranks leads based on their buying likelihood, assisting teams to focus on the most promising prospects.
How can AI help increase sales conversions?
AI boosts conversions by prioritizing high-intent leads, personalizing outreach, and improving timing — key examples of how AI is used in sales to close deals faster.
How to use virtual assistants for sales forecasting?
Use virtual assistants to analyze historical data, predict trends, and generate real-time forecasts. Knowing how to use virtual assistants for sales forecasting helps teams plan smarter and avoid pipeline surprises.
How does ai improve the efficiency of sales teams?
AI reduces manual work, updates CRM data, and ranks leads—showing how AI is used in sales to save time. An AI chatbot for a sales team can also handle early-stage conversations, freeing reps to focus on selling.
How can I use ai in sales?
Start with tasks like lead scoring, follow-ups, or forecasting. Use tools like AI chatbots for your sales team or predictive CRMs. That’s how AI is used in sales to boost productivity and results.
What is the AI advantage for large sales teams?
AI helps large teams scale efficiently by automating tasks, standardizing outreach, and tracking performance. The AI advantage for large sales teams is consistency and speed—especially with tools like AI chatbots and dashboards.