{"id":66598,"date":"2025-02-12T03:20:58","date_gmt":"2025-02-11T16:20:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/?p=66598"},"modified":"2025-02-12T03:21:02","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T16:21:02","slug":"how-to-use-data-activation-to-improve-sales-performance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/au\/blog\/how-to-use-data-activation-to-improve-sales-performance\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Use Data Activation to Improve Sales Performance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In today\u2019s crowded marketplace, standing out is harder than ever. But unified, actionable data and Agentforce are giving savvy sales teams a competitive edge, improving sales performance and helping sellers close more deals, faster.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With 57% of sellers<\/a> saying competition has become tougher, sales teams face increasing pressure to deliver meaningful connections at lightning speed. So how do you pick up the pace and drive growth without sacrificing quality? The answer lies in data activation and the latest in AI innovation: Agentforce<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How activated data drives sales performance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When data flows smoothly across systems and is readily accessible, it becomes a powerful sales tool. Activated data empowers sales teams with Agentforce to forge meaningful customer connections, increase sales efficiency, accelerate sales cycles, and, ultimately, improve sales performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, 96<\/a>% of sales professionals<\/a> say real-time, complete data is essential to meet customer expectations. Agentforce can engage and support prospects 24\/7, handling inquiries, addressing objections, and scheduling meetings while passing key information to human sellers. With sales analytics and insights surfaced proactively, Agentforce helps teams better align with their goals and objectives to drive measurable improvements in key performance indicators like win rates and annual contract value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boost close rates with better customer engagement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Today\u2019s average customer expects personalised, meaningful engagement at every touchpoint, requiring sellers to bring their A-game to every call and email. But when data is fragmented across platforms, it\u2019s nearly impossible for reps to get a complete picture of each customer and access the data they need to personalise their outreach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a growing issue: 47% of sales professionals<\/a> say they\u2019re dissatisfied with how their company uses data for personalisation. Yet, 86% of business buyers say they\u2019re more likely to buy when their goals are understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is where unified data and Agentforce come into play. By connecting CRM records, web activity, and purchase history with Data Cloud<\/a>, businesses can equip their sales team \u2014 including Agentforce \u2014 with a full view of the customer journey. Agentforce autonomously engages customers with personalised outreach, ensuring every interaction feels relevant and tailored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FedEx<\/a> uses Data Cloud to connect sales, marketing, and shipping data. Sales reps can identify inactive customers who started a shipping quote but didn\u2019t complete it and re-engage them with highly personalised follow-ups. With activated data, FedEx turns interest into action in hours instead of weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur business customers expect us to know everything about their needs and relationship with us. We work really effectively now across sales and marketing, and Data Cloud has enabled us to do that,\u201d explains Mark Colombo, Senior Vice President, Solutions and Sales at FedEx.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Data Activation for Sales Guide<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Connect and activate data to give your sales teams the edge they need to close more deals, faster<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Increase sales efficiency with AI-powered insights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sales reps often find themselves buried under non-selling tasks, spending over 70% of their time<\/a> on low-value activities like searching for customer information and updating records. This fragmented workflow impacts sales productivity metrics and, ultimately, sales performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With activated data and the help of Agentforce, sellers can shift their focus back to selling. By automating routine processes, Agentforce handles repetitive tasks like gathering insights, addressing customer inquiries, and setting up meetings, leaving human sellers to focus on high-value activities. Instead of toggling between systems, sales reps can rely on Data Cloud and Agentforce to proactively surface insights and take action for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Formula 1<\/a> experienced how connected data drives efficiency firsthand. Its commercial sales teams used to rely on outdated spreadsheets, leading to communication gaps and inefficiencies. Now, with Data Cloud, sales and service teams can collaborate seamlessly. Sales reps have a shared view of prospect and fan data, so it\u2019s clear where each lead is in the sales lifecycle and who\u2019s responsible at every touchpoint. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unified data is also the key to unlocking the potential of Agentforce to support customers and sales team performance. Agentforce<\/a> can engage prospects 24\/7 across channels \u2014 handling inquiries, addressing objections, and scheduling meetings autonomously. Sellers can then pick up the lead with a complete brief, with Agentforce providing the details necessary for a smooth handoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With 81% of sales teams<\/a> now investing in AI, sellers are increasingly optimistic about how agents can increase sales efficiency while enabling more strategic, high-value work and deeper customer connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Speed up sales cycles with unified data<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Siloed data can slow sales to a crawl. Nearly half of sales professionals<\/a> (47%) say long sales cycles have become a greater challenge than last year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grounded in unified, trusted data, Agentforce accelerates the process by engaging prospects across channels 24\/7, swiftly responding to inquiries, addressing objections, and progressing deals without delays. Sellers are notified with key insights, ensuring timely follow-ups and smooth handoffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The numbers are compelling: 96% <\/a>of sales professionals<\/a> say data and analytics speed up decision-making. Agentforce streamlines the entire sales cycle:<\/p>\n\n\n\n