Carrie Kepple, owner and managing director of Styles Studios and an IHRSA board member, has seen how technology can transform customer service. She pushed for more automation at Les Mills despite the objections of more experienced executives. But she knew that today’s consumer wants a more streamlined process accessible by mobile technology.
“Sometimes you just don't want to talk to a human,” she says. “You want to get straight to the point when it comes to speed of transaction, of efficiency in your life, because time is precious. Redesigning member experience is about their needs, not yours.”
According to data from research firm Gartner, 85% of all customer interactions will be handled without a human agent by 2020. AI CRM is here to stay. But it’s what AI can do for your sales efforts that can have the biggest impact on your revenue.
5 Ways AI Can Boost Sales
Today’s AI-assisted CRM software has many advantages that can help increase membership and improve operational efficiencies. Here are just five ways AI can help your sales results.
1. Lower labor costs.
To do the work of a highly sophisticated AI system, you’d need an entire staff of salespeople. Not only does an AI sales assistant do the work of many, it only has to be trained once, and it learns as it goes along. AI is always on and always gaining knowledge. It’s the ultimate 24/7 employee.
2. Better lead conversion.
An AI sales assistant can provide more targeted and accurate communications with prospects. And leads won’t go stale. AI can identify the most likely sales targets and keep working them. According to an executive at Salesforce: “A sales rep can only be as productive as the time spent selling. Machine learning identifies patterns to determine which leads are most likely to be converted into a deal.”
3. Integration and improvement of other club services.
Instead of having some operations siloed away from sales, an AI system can utilize data from other resources and do it quickly. Used wisely, an AI sales assistant can sell much more than memberships. It can sell personal trainer packages and increase other non-dues revenue streams. Research shows that 91% of consumers are more likely to shop with brands that remember them and provide relevant recommendations using AI.