10 Must-Have Inside Sales Technologies

图像放大ine being told you have to dig a hole in your backyard

Doesn't seem too hard, right?

Oh ... but you can't use a shovel. In fact, the only tool you have at your disposal is a toothpick.

Suddenly, this job doesn't seem so easy.

Similarly, your business's inside sales team needs the right technology to be as productive and impactful as possible. Without it, simple tasks become complex and efficiency dwindles.

Not to mention, just because the tools and tech you have in place for youroutsidesales team work well for their needs, doesn't necessarily mean they'll be an ideal fit for your inside sales reps, too.

By ensuring your inside sales reps have the toolstheyneed to operate, your business success and growth will be in reach thanks to improved efficiency, visibility, communication.

The good news is there are a plethora of inside sales technologies in existence today. The bad news is it can be daunting to find the right tool(s) for your team because of the number of options available.

That's why we've put together this guide — to provide you with a look at today's must-have inside sales tools.

除了什么可能最明显的需要ssity for reps — a smartphone (let's face it, reps can't do their jobs without the ability to call, text, email, video call, merge calls, browse the web, etc. at their fingertips) — here are some other must-haves.

1. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Tools

Whether you're a startup or an enterprise-level company, aCRM,就像HubSpot CRM, is an integral tool for growth. A CRM allows all of your business's information and systems to live in a central location.

This improves organization-wide collaboration, alignment between Sales and Marketing (and Customer Support), communication among sales personnel, and engagement with prospects and leads.

Plus, CRMs like HubSpot, often automatically provide access to a multitude of other sales tools, many of which we'll touch on below. For example, reps who use the strategy of social selling can take advantage of HubSpot'ssocial media toolthat assists in reaching, marketing, and selling to target audience members on various platforms.

2. Sales Automation Tools

Sales software — likeHubSpot Sales Huband CRM — often offer automation tools.Sales automationremoves various tasks from the sales cycle to free up valuable time for reps.

It also simplifies complex tasks for reps such as prospecting (which we'll touch on next), lead enrichment, contact and deal creation, email, meeting scheduling, and proposal creation.

3. Prospecting Tools

Considering most, if not all, of their roles relate to remote and virtual engagement, a strong prospecting process is critical for inside sales reps.

Sales prospectingtools andbob电竞官方下载, such asLinkedIn Premium, offer a variety of functions to help reps identify and engage prospects. These tools work in real-time to track the prospects who visit your site, point out your most-engaged visitors, create customized email notifications, and set up email sequences to engage prospects.

(HubSpot's sales automation and prospecting tools are automatically included with Sales Hub and CRM.)

4. Appointment and Scheduling Tools

Rather than sending email after email or playing phone tag to find time for a meeting with a prospect, there are tools that can make this process seamless for reps.

For example, HubSpot's freeappointment and scheduling toolintegrates with reps' Google or Office 365 calendars and eliminates all back-and-forth communication — it allows prospects to choose a time that works for them on reps' most up-to-date calendars.

This way, prospects make appointments that work with their schedules, on their time, without any hassle. Meanwhile, reps can focus on other tasks and prep for their meetings with prospects.

5. Sales Calling and Tracking Tools

Sales calling and call tracking softwareoffers features for reps to place and record calls directly from their browsers, log calls automatically, and create email digests and notifications to share with team members.

(As HubSpot users, reps can prioritize their sales calls using contact data from the CRM.)

6. Video and Screen-Sharing Tools

A major part of the work of an inside sales rep happens over video or webcam. That's why avideo and screen-sharing softwareis necessary.

These tools, such asZoom, make tasks like sharing product demos, marketing and educational content, webinars, and detailed explanations simple. They also empower reps by making relationship-building and communication with prospects straightforward.

(If you're a HubSpot user,Zoom integrates with your CRM.)

7.无线耳机

Wireless headsets are a must — reps can multitask, log calls, take notes, and bring others on the line all while chatting with prospects. There are many options when it comes towireless headsets, including some withBluetooth functionality.

8. Multiple Monitors

Inside sales reps needat leasttwo monitors — one to take notes and log all prospect information and another to simultaneously look into the camera and chat with a prospect. This keeps engagement between reps and prospects organized while promoting genuine, one-to-one interactions.

9. Reporting Tools

Sales reporting softwarehelps your sales managers and reps track a variety of customizable metrics and data points. This is how your team will monitor their individual and combined successes, areas for improvement, sales tactics that are working, and sales tactics in need of modification.

If you invest in a CRM or sales software like HubSpot, you'll have a reporting and analytics tool or dashboard included.

(Here are somesales reportswe recommend you keep an eye on across your entire sales org.)

10. Productivity Tools

When selling remotely or virtually, it's easy to get distracted by things like surroundings, to-do list items, and communication with other reps and team members.

Productivity appsandintegrations for your CRM and sales softwarecan help reps balance their schedules and time between their various job functions. This helps boost efficiency and impact across the sales org.

Grow Better With the Right Inside Sales Technology

One of the best ways to discover the right inside sales tool(s) foryourteam is by doing your homework. Don't be afraid to experiment with different technologies to determine the right one for you.

Who knows, you might discover a combination of technologies or a single tool is the ideal solution for your team and business needs. So, begingrowing bettertoday by determining which technology your inside sales team needs to support their efforts.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in November 2014 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.