You've learned how AI accesses current information through web search. But that's just one example of AI using "tools."
Modern AI can do much more than generate text - it can actually perform actions and use other software to help you close deals.
Engagement Message
What sales tasks beyond writing emails would you want AI to help you with?
Think of AI tools like a sales rep's digital toolkit. Each tool gives AI a new superpower - updating CRM records, calculating pricing, or researching prospects.
Without tools, AI is limited to what it learned during training. With tools, it becomes an active sales assistant.
Engagement Message
Can you imagine AI helping with lead qualification or commission calculations?
Here's how it works: When AI realizes it needs to perform a specific sales task (like pricing), it calls the right tool.
The tool does the work, sends results back to AI, and then AI uses those results in its response to you.
It's like having a sales assistant who can instantly access your CRM, pricing sheets, and competitor data!
Engagement Message
Have you ever needed to switch between multiple systems during one sales conversation?
Popular sales AI tools include CRM integrations for updating leads, pricing calculators for custom quotes, and web research for prospect intelligence.
There are also tools for scheduling demos, sending follow-up sequences, and pulling data from sales databases through APIs.
Engagement Message
Which of these tool categories would save you the most time in your sales process?
The sales impact is huge. Instead of you manually switching between Salesforce, pricing sheets, and LinkedIn, AI can coordinate all these tools automatically.
This means faster lead qualification, accurate quotes, and the ability to research prospects while you're on calls.
Engagement Message
What multi-step sales process could benefit from this automation?
However, giving AI access to sales tools requires careful setup. You need to define which tools AI can use and what customer data it can access.
Most sales AI platforms let you control these permissions, ensuring AI only touches the leads and deals you authorize.
Engagement Message
How important is it to you that AI actions with customer data are controlled and transparent?
The future is even more exciting. AI sales agents are being developed that can work across your entire sales stack, automating complete deal workflows.
Imagine AI that can qualify a lead, create a custom proposal, and schedule a follow-up call - all from one prospect inquiry.
Engagement Message
What complete sales process would you want AI to handle automatically?
Type
Swipe Left or Right
Practice Question
Let's test your understanding of AI tools in sales!
For each scenario below, swipe left if it shows AI using an external tool, or swipe right if it's just using its training knowledge:
Labels
- Left Label: Using External Tools
- Right Label: Using Training Knowledge
Left Label Items
- AI updates lead status in your CRM after a demo
- AI pulls current pricing from your database for a custom quote
- AI researches prospect's company financials before your call
Right Label Items
- AI explains effective sales objection handling techniques
- AI writes a cold email template for SaaS products
- AI suggests negotiation strategies for enterprise deals
