How AI transforms B2B sales processes for telcos and techcos

August 6, 2024

CloudSense Team

In a landscape where administrative tasks dominate, product catalogs are complex and legacy systems disrupt, AI emerges as a key solution, projected to attain a $10.4 billion value by 2030¹ in the telco industry, offering capabilities far beyond traditional operational capabilities.

For businesses to succeed today, they need a sales process that adapts quickly and meets customer needs efficiently, at every touch point. Enhancing sales productivity, AI reshapes strategies for telcos to cross- and up-sell, offering unprecedented adaptability in business operations.

AI-driven technologies provide access to data-driven insights, automate mundane processes, and deliver tailored customer experiences, enabling sales teams to focus on more strategic initiatives.

Let’s further explore how telcos unlock operational efficiency, customer satisfaction and higher revenues with the help of AI.

Managing Data with AI

Data is one of the most valuable assets for telcos, but its true potential is only realized when properly utilized. AI plays a pivotal role in transforming raw data into valuable insights.

AI excels in data analytics, uncovering business insights and making informed recommendations. Traditionally, data used in sales processes were scattered across spreadsheets, emails and the minds of sales reps. Modern solutions allow AI to identify sales and pricing trends, optimize decisions and validate opportunities. This enables sales managers to train sales reps on effective strategies using these insights.

AI quickly analyzes complex data to answer critical questions, such as whether price reductions or specific product bundles drive sales. Often, AI may reveal unexpected factors, like response time, that significantly impacts sales. This helps reps avoid unnecessary discounting or bundling and focus on streamlining processes.

Additionally, AI highlights patterns and bottlenecks that may otherwise go unnoticed, providing sales teams with actionable insights for data-driven decisions. In doing so, B2B selling becomes more targeted, optimizing quoting and selling processes whilst reducing errors.

Telcos can stay ahead of competition thanks to AI’s predictive analytics. Using historical data to forecast future needs, identify up-selling and cross-selling opportunities, sales teams are able to nurture customer relationships and close deals more effectively.

Predictive analytics provides insights into future opportunities, allowing businesses to anticipate needs and focus on strategic customer engagement. By understanding market trends, and customer behavior, AI optimizes sales processes and personalizes offerings.

Improving Efficiency with AI

AI significantly enhances operational efficiency in telecommunications, especially when it comes to complex applications. While automation keeps processes running smoothly, AI tackles intricate tasks with 70% of telecom companies² reporting increased operational efficiency with AI, accelerating service delivery, optimizing end-to-end processes.

AI is notorious for its ability to automate mundane tasks, such as order entry fulfillment and tracking, cutting order processing time by up to 93% and order processing costs by 86%³. This allows sales teams to focus on building relationships and closing deals, rather than administrative tasks.

On average, AI helps sales professionals save 2 hours and 15 minutes daily. Its ability to predict demand fluctuations and deliver personalized experiences empower teams to focus on complex, strategic decision making. With its ability to input data seamlessly, and retrieve information faster than manual efforts, it’s no wonder Accenture⁴ predicts that AI could boost productivity by 40% by 2035.

Price Optimization with AI

AI empowers telcos to optimize their pricing strategies by dynamically adjusting prices based on real-time market conditions, business objectives and customer data. Through analyzing competitors, market trends and customers’ willingness to pay, AI provides recommendations for pricing structures that align with current market conditions.

Telcos are able to make informed pricing decisions thanks to AI’s predictive analytics. This not only helps in maintaining competitiveness but also in enhancing profitability by identifying the most effective pricing strategies, all in real time.

Enhancing Customer Experiences with AI

AI plays a pivotal role in meeting and exceeding customer demands by providing personalized, real-time assistance. It analyzes customer interactions, allowing sales teams to understand pain points and foster long-term relationships. Real-time assessments detect frustration points, providing immediate solutions to improve customer satisfaction.

AI identifies churn risks through data analysis, enabling proactive measures to ensure customer retention. It offers tailored plans to those who run out of data and predicts which customers are at risk of leaving.

With rising customer expectations, AI automates service processes, offering quick answers through an omnichannel experience. This real-time responsiveness helps businesses maintain a competitive edge by keeping customers satisfied and engaged.

By expediting order processing and ensuring precise delivery timelines, AI elevates customer satisfaction levels, ensuring that telcos can meet and exceed customer demands effectively.