Bots in Sales: Helping, Not Replacing Human Connection

Imagine a world of bots calling bots. Bots emailing bots. Bots commenting on bot-generated posts. Bots pitch-slapping bots.

Bots, bots, bots, bots, bots...

Is this the "utopia" of fully automated AI sales assistants? A Bot-Topia? 

Sure, automating tasks helps to streamline processes. 

But is it worth eliminating those pesky human traits like empathy, creativity, and emotional intelligence? Is it really a time-saver?

Now, automating tasks certainly can enhance operational efficiency and make life easier. It cuts down on the boring stuff and frees up time. But, should we let bots handle everything? Maybe not. 

Here’s why keeping the human touch matters in sales.

The Human Advantage

Think about what makes a great salesperson stand out. It’s not just about making the sale; it’s about understanding the person on the other side of the conversation. Humans are good at reading the room, catching subtle cues, and shifting tactics on the fly. A bot? Not so much.

Sure, a bot can send out emails faster than you can say "autobots roll out," but can it understand a client’s hesitation or joke about the weather? Nope. That personal flair — like the quirky email sign-offs or the occasional typo — shows there’s a real person involved. And that’s valuable.

When Bots Can Be Of Help

Bots aren’t all bad, though. They’re fantastic at handling the routine tasks that nobody really wants (or needs) to do. Scheduling meetings. Helping craft follow-up emails. Researching the customer and providing useful insights. Bots can manage all that with ease. This helps salespeople focus on the part of their job that really needs a human touch — building relationships and understanding the client’s needs and goals.

The Risks of Over-Automation

Going full autobot with sales automation tools can backfire very quickly. It can turn potential customers away because it feels too robotic, impersonal or irrelevant. Ever gotten one of those generic sales emails that missed the mark? That’s what happens when bots carry too much of the load. It’s annoying and doesn’t really make anyone want to buy.

Striking the Right Balance

The trick is to use automation to enhance human interactions, not replace them. Let bots handle the data and the drudgery while humans handle the conversations. This way, each interaction with a customer feels personalized and genuine. It’s about using the best of both worlds to create a better sales process.

Stay Human

We messy mortals need to think twice before handing over all the keys to any "AI overlords."

Human intuition is everything in sales — understanding context, motivation, personality quirks. This isn't possible for AI. It just makes predictions at what might sound good to a human. We humans can think on our feet, shift tactics seamlessly based on subtle emotional cues. A little quirkiness and the occasional typo are small prices for that humanity.

So let's not hand over the reins just yet. Maximum efficiency is tempting, but at what cost? We humans still reign supreme in the nuanced art of sales, marketing, and genuinely connecting.

[In the voice of Optimus Prime] Autobots, stand down!

Fellow humans, this one's still ours! Let's cling to our human flair and foibles!

About The Author: Phil Donaldson is a creative strategist who helps B2B professionals make genuine connections on LinkedIn. As the Chief Operating & Creative Officer at PropelGrowth, he blends creativity with strategic thinking to guide brands in building authentic relationships and elevating their presence in the marketplace.