AI as Co-Pilot: Why the Best Salespeople Will Work With AI, Not Against It
There's a fear spreading through sales floors everywhere: AI is coming for our jobs.
Here's what's actually happening: AI is coming for your admin work. And that's the best news salespeople have heard in decades.
The Admin Tax
Let's look at where a typical sales rep's time actually goes:
- 41% on selling activities (calls, demos, negotiations)
- 22% on data entry and CRM updates
- 17% on internal meetings
- 12% on research and preparation
- 8% on other admin tasks
Less than half of a salesperson's day is spent selling. The rest is overhead that machines can handle better than humans ever could.
The Co-Pilot Model
The best AI for sales isn't trying to replace salespeople. It's trying to free them.
Think of it like a co-pilot in aviation:
- The human makes the judgment calls
- The AI handles the routine operations
- Together, they're safer and more effective than either alone
What AI Co-Pilots Actually Do
Before the Call
- Research the customer's history automatically
- Summarize previous interactions in seconds
- Flag relevant products and pricing
There's a fear spreading through sales floors everywhere: AI is coming for our jobs.
Here's what's actually happening: AI is coming for your admin work. And that's the best news salespeople have heard in decades.
The Admin Tax
Look at where a typical sales rep's time actually goes:
- 41% on selling activities (calls, demos, negotiations)
- 22% on data entry and CRM updates
- 17% on internal meetings