The number one priority of any sales rep is closing deals, obviously. Unfortunately, it is estimated that sales reps only spend one-third of their time actually selling, and the other two-thirds on time-consuming busy-work. Sales Automation Tools are designed to help sales teams streamline and automate time-consuming tasks, giving teams back the time needed to build relationships with their clients. This is done through automating email follow-up, qualifying leads, streamlining and automating repetitive tasks, among many other useful features. Sales automation tools are not one-size fits all, and it can be daunting trying to find the best one for you and your team. We detailed the pros and cons for the best and most popular sales automation tools on the market so you can find the right fight for your team.
Top 7 Best Sales Automation Tools
- HubSpot – best for closing deals
- Pipedrive – best for small enterprises
- SalesBlink – best for both sales and marketing teams
- Overloop (formerly Prospect.io) – best for email management
- Zapier – best for non-coders
- Leadiro – best for lead generation and qualification
- Bombora – best for increasing ROI
1. HubSpot – best for closing deals
PRICING:
Plans start at $50/ mo (for 2 users)
HubSpot is one of the most well-known sales automation tools out there. And, for good reason. HubSpot combines CRM and sales automation into one convenient tool, making it simple for users to streamline their workflow. HubSpot offers customizable email templates, automated data entry and email follow-up, all useful tools in freeing up valuable time. A great benefit of HubSpot is the automation and behavioral tracking. HubSpot can automate recurring tasks like lead assignment and task generation, all while learning how your team works.
KEY FEATURES:
- Behavioral tracking
- Customizable automations
- Scheduling
REASONS TO BUY:
- User friendly
- Great for overall use
- HubSpot offers products for other departments, like marketing, so the whole office can use the same software
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Limited reporting features
2. Pipedrive – best for small enterprises
PRICING:
Plans start at $14.90/ mo (per user)
Pipedrive’s claim to fame is that it is “easy to use.” Within a few minutes, you can set up your pipeline with unique sales stages and start moving deals along. Pipedrive helps keep sales reps focussed on the priorities, like making calls and hosting meetings. The AI-powered sales assistant can help optimize time with task automation and data collection. Pipedrive makes it easy to get real-time reporting, so you can track your progress. Pipedrive users experience an average of 28% more closed deals in their first year.
KEY FEATURES:
- AI-powered sales assistant
- Set task automation based on triggers
REASONS TO BUY:
- Ease of use
- Affordable
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Reporting customization is limited
3. SalesBlink – best for sales and marketing teams
PRICING:
Plans start at $11/mo (per user)
Sales and marketing work best when they work together, and what better way than with SalesBlink? SalesBlink is also great for people who like to visually plan and conquer. Users can build a campaign with the visual campaign builder, adding and removing conditions and triggers as needed in the flow chart, to help visualize your campaign and plan of attack. Pipedrive conveniently automates email follow-up and seamlessly integrates with your existing CRM. You can customize those emails with personalized messages to customers, even upload an image to add a human touch.
KEY FEATURES:
- Email domain search – find the email for the CEO of a company
- Third-party integration
- Synch with calendar
REASONS TO BUY:
- Affordable
- Customizable
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Could be viewed as more of a supplement than a stand alone tool
4. Overloop (formerly Prospect.io) – best for email management
PRICING:
Plans start at $40/ mo (per user)
Overloop helps you take back control of your inbox. Email can be a sales reps most powerful tool, but can become a time-consuming chore if not managed. Overloop gives users the ability to create cold-email campaigns and send them out at scale, while maintaining personalization. Overloop makes it easy to track the performance and results of each campaign. Utilize the LinkedIn extension to generate lead info with one-click. Overloop also offers email automation. You can change, add, or remove leads from campaigns automatically based on triggers you set up (like open or click link).
KEY FEATURES:
- Automated email follow-up
- Create and utilize custom email lists
REASONS TO BUY:
- Streamlines cold-emailing and email management
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Limited capability outside emailing
5. Zapier – best for non-coders
PRICING:
Free option, paid plans start at $19.90/ mo (per user)
Zapier is all about automation. Zapier connects all the applications you use at work and allows them to talk to each other like old friends. You can set up an “if-then” type rule across all your apps and let Zapier do your work for you. For example, if a lead comes in through Salesforce, you can set up an action for that lead to be added to a campaign on MailChimp. That is called a “Zap.” You can set up up to 100 actions in a single zap, automating an entire workflow, not just a task. To make things easier, Zapier integrates with over 4,000 apps.
KEY FEATURES:
- Syncs contact lead information automatically
- Seamless integration
- Automates and synchronizes workflows
REASONS TO BUY:
- Beginner friendly
- Free up valuable time
REASONS TO AVOID:
- No lead qualifying or identifying capabilities
- No reporting or sales insights
- Just used for automation
6. Leadiro – best for lead generation and qualification
PRICING:
Contact Leadiro for pricing
Leadiro will help you find and qualify leads across any industry. Leadiro’s database holds over 70 million contacts from 98 countries. Their “smart” B2B data is constantly updated, meaning you will always have accurate information. Sometimes the hardest aspect of sales is finding your audience. With Leadiro’s database and advanced filters, your audience builds itself. With Leadiro, you get access to company and contact data, as well as buyer intent information, making sure you spend your time only where it is valuable.
KEY FEATURES:
- Advanced filters
- Buyer intent information
REASONS TO BUY:
- Get high quality leads quickly
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Pricey
- No automations
7. Bombora – best for increasing ROI
PRICING:
Contact Bombora to request a demo and quote
Bobora is unique in that it shows you information on people who are already looking for your service or product. Bombora allows you to really hone in on customers that are eager and ready to learn more about your company, delivering warmer leads and ultimately shortening the sales process. Bombora goes beyond typical analytics, and delivers you hot, qualified leads with a high level of buying intent. Bombora conveniently integrates with all the most common and popular CRM tools, making it easy to find all your information in one place. Rather than placing the emphasis on demographics, Bombora qualifies leads based on action, sending you leads that are itching to buy. Their website boasts an impressive 342% ROI, making it a great supplement to your sales cycle.
KEY FEATURES:
- Third-party integration
- Advanced filters
REASONS TO BUY:
- Access to high-quality leads, ready to buy
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Pricey
- No automation
References and Links:
https://www.pipedrive.com/products#sales-software-features
https://www.pipedrive.com/products/sales
https://www.pipedrive.com/en/pricing
https://salesblink.io/solutions
https://overloop.com/product/cold-email-campaigns/
https://zapier.com/how-it-works
https://www.leadiro.com/pricing