Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a game-changer, making it a no-brainer for Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems to harness its power. With its top-notch skills in data crunching, forecast building, and streamlining tasks, AI has completely revamped the traditional ways of working. What's more, it makes navigating a CRM system a breeze, saving you precious time, giving quicker access to data, and cutting down the extensive training period.

Feeling pumped or curious? I'm right there with you. Let's jump right in and take a closer look at some of the premier CRM platforms that are leveraging AI. We'll explore which one might be the best fit for you, based on their AI integration. Below, you'll find these platforms, their use of AI, standout features, and what makes each one unique.

AI's Impact on CRMs

There's no denying that AI is revolutionizing businesses, but how does it specifically enhance CRMs? Here are a few ways AI is making CRM systems more efficient and effective.

Content Creation

Opinions on AI in writing are divided — it has its ardent advocates and strong skeptics. However, one cannot ignore the fact that AI is streamlining the writing process. Today, AI is being leveraged to create new content or to rework headings for more engagement. AI can tailor the tone of content to make it sound professional, captivating, humorous, or friendly.

In CRM systems, AI helps enhance email content, brainstorm blog ideas, and more. By analyzing data, AI can help identify the content preferences of your audience, enabling you to craft content that resonates with them.

Reporting

Say goodbye to the tedious tasks tied to report generation. With AI incorporated into CRMs, you no longer need an exhaustive step-by-step process or precise knowledge of various filters. Leveraging natural language processing (NLP), you just need to issue a command. By making a request to your CRM's AI ChatBot, you can produce a meticulously filtered report for your clients or senior team members in an instant.

The benefits are evident: you can achieve outcomes with a single command and click instead of navigating through multiple steps. This simplicity also makes learning the CRM system easier, reducing training and onboarding time, freeing up your team to focus on higher-value tasks.

Insights

AI can offer insights that far exceed human capabilities. Given our packed work schedules, it's tough to find time to delve deep and extract valuable insights. As AI can analyze data rapidly, it can unearth insights that truly merit our attention.

For instance, AI can spot patterns in data to identify prospects with a high conversion probability. If a prospect in your CRM exhibits similar patterns to past customers who converted, your team can concentrate their efforts on nurturing that lead. These insights are based on past successes, allowing you to make data-driven decisions.

Data Capture

When integrated with a CRM, AI automates data capture. It can update records by pulling information from various sources, such as email signatures or social media profiles. AI takes care of data entry and keeps your records up to date.

Accurate data leads to effective communication. After all, nothing can be more off-putting than receiving an email addressed to an outdated name or job role. Correct data not only makes your communications feel more personalized but also saves you from awkward blunders.

Call Analysis

Call recording software paired with AI helps you analyze calls to improve training and call quality. Understanding what constitutes a qualified call and what techniques work to convert prospects is invaluable.

Moreover, if you have successful call records, they can serve as training materials or for refining the sales process. AI can categorize calls and integrate them into your CRM. Voice transcripts can be analyzed by AI to glean useful insights.

AI-Infused CRMs Worth Checking Out

While it's tempting to employ AI in every aspect, it's best to focus on the changes that align most with your business objectives. Here's a roundup of CRMs that effectively leverage AI, along with their standout features, what we love about them, their best use cases, and tips for maximizing their potential.

1. Hints AI Assistant

Hints AI updates your CRM with voice or text via SMS or WhatsApp. For sales professionals on the move

Key Features:

• Speech recognition for all languages and accents

• Create and update deals, contacts, companies, notes and log calls on the go

• Seamless playbook adoption

• Pull info on the move

Best for: Sales reps and Sales leaders

Price: Available for free 50 usages of the integration monthly, starting at $8 per month for personal accounts and starting at $20 per month for small teams.

2. HubSpot - ChatSpot

ChatSpot by HubSpot is a game-changer for sales, marketing, and service professionals. It integrates with your HubSpot CRM to automate tasks, ease decision-making, and streamline CRM navigation. Through chat-based commands, ChatSpot can execute actions in mere minutes, from sending emails and improving content to generating insights and creating custom reports.

Key Features:

• Seamlessly integrates with your HubSpot CRM data for speedy data gathering

• Assists in writing and sending prospect emails based on past interactions

• Allows swift creation of custom reports from the ChatSpot portal

• Possesses generative AI capabilities to craft content that resonates with your audience

Best for: Sales, marketing, and service professionals

Pro tip: Use ChatSpot to generate custom reports by making requests in natural language.

Price: Available for free and premium accounts, starting at $30 per month for small teams, up to $1,600 a month for enterprises.

3. Zoho — Zia

Zia, Zoho's conversational sales assistant, is integrated with their CRM to simplify your tasks. Through intuitive commands, Zia delivers the information you need quickly. It also provides sales forecasting insights to help you optimize your time.

Key Features:

• Scores leads based on engagement level, activity history, etc.

• Provides real-time insights to sales teams based on customer interactions

• Automates time-consuming tasks such as data entry and task assignments

• Utilizes predictive analytics to track customer behavior and trends

Best for: Sales teams

Pro tip: Optimize the user experience with Zoho's workflows to convert prospects into customers.

Price: Starts at $14 per month, going up to $52 per month.

4. Salesforce — Einstein GPT

Salesforce's Einstein GPT, an AI tool designed to support sales leaders within their CRM, offers pre-built solutions and allows tech-savvy users to build and customize their AI.

Key Features:

• Analyzes customer data for personalized recommendations

• Uses natural language processing to engage leads across multiple channels

• Analyzes customer data to suggest the best next step for sales reps

• Detects customer sentiment, intent, and urgency for optimal customer service

Best for: Sales and service leaders

Pro tip: Utilize the account insights feature to identify the best strategies to close deals.

Price: Pricing is customized based on individual needs.

5. Pipedrive - Sales Assistant

Pipedrive's AI Sales Assistant assists salespeople in optimizing their sales pipeline by identifying the most promising leads. It can recommend the next best action for the most profitable outcome based on data analysis.

Key Features:

• Monitors sales pipelines and provides accurate revenue predictions

• Offers KPI tracking to measure the progress of sales activities

• Prioritizes leads and deals based on their likelihood to close

Best for: Salespeople

Pro tip: Don't miss out on the Pipedrive Academy, a learning portal to boost sales skills.

Price: Packages start at $12.50 a month, going up to $74.90 a month for enterprises.

6. Freshworks - Freddy AI

Freddy AI from Freshworks supports your team throughout the sales process. With Freddy, you can personalize customer engagements, answer customer queries through chatbots, gain insights into lead tracking, and assist in support ticket triage.

Key Features:

• Employs AI-powered chatbots for automated customer interactions

• Analyzes customer interactions and feedback for sentiment and tone

• Offers predictive analytics for sales trend prediction and revenue forecasting

Best for: Customer support teams

Pro tip: Customize Freddy AI to match your site's aesthetics.

Price: Packages start at $15 per month, rising to $69 per month.

Boosting Your CRM with AI

If you're not utilizing the AI functionalities of your CRM platform, you're missing out on significant efficiencies. While introducing a new feature to your processes might seem overwhelming, AI aims to make your workflow easier. Dive into your CRM's AI capabilities to unlock higher levels of efficiency, personalization, and data-driven decision-making.