A business owner recently shared something surprising about his sales team. His best salesperson was also his laziest. When pressed for details, he explained that this rep had figured out how to automate everything that didn't require a human touch. While other reps were updating spreadsheets at 9 PM, this guy was home having dinner with his family.
Here's the thing: the best salespeople aren't working harder. They're working smarter.
High-performing sales teams are 2.3 times more likely to use sales acceleration tools, and companies using these tools see productivity increases up to 30%. But here's what nobody tells you: these tools don't just make you more productive. They make you look lazy to people who are still doing everything manually.
And that's exactly what you want.
Sales acceleration software handles the boring stuff automatically so you can focus on what actually matters: talking to people who want to buy from you. It's like having a food processor instead of chopping vegetables by hand. Sure, you could do it the old way, but why would you?
Here's what the smart money uses:
Salesloft does what good salespeople do, just automatically. It sends personalized follow-ups, tracks responses, and tells you when to call.
The platform handles email sequences, phone calls, and social media outreach without you having to remember who to contact when. It's like having an assistant who never forgets and never sleeps.
Saleshandy sends hundreds of personalized emails without making them look like mass mail. It tracks opens, clicks, and replies, then tells you what's working.
Sales development representatives love it because they can reach more people without spending all day writing emails. The automation feels personal because it is personal, just at scale.
Gong records your sales calls and analyzes what made prospects say yes or no. It's like having a coach who listens to every conversation and points out exactly what worked.
Teams using Gong improve their close rates by 7.4% because they can see patterns they never noticed before. It shows you which questions get people engaged and which objections actually matter.
Staring at $14.00 per month (billed annually), Pipedrive gives you visual pipeline management that actually makes sense. You see every deal at a glance without complicated dashboards or confusing reports.
It's perfect for small teams who need organization without complexity. The mobile app means you can update deals from anywhere, and the email integration keeps everything connected.
Sales Navigator finds prospects on LinkedIn and gives you warm introduction paths. It's three to four times more effective than cold emails because you're reaching people through a professional network they actually use.
The platform alerts you when prospects change jobs, get promoted, or share content, giving you natural conversation starters.
Calendly eliminates the back-and-forth email dance of scheduling meetings. Prospects click a link, pick a time, and the meeting appears on both calendars automatically.
This matters more than you think. When someone's ready to talk, every delay increases the chance they'll lose interest or talk to a competitor.
Start with your biggest time-waster. If you're drowning in follow-up emails, get Saleshandy. If you can't keep track of where deals stand, get Pipedrive. If prospects keep slipping through cracks, get Salesloft.
Most tools offer free trials. Try a few and pick what feels natural to your team. The best tool is the one people actually use.
Integration matters more than features. Make sure whatever you choose connects with your existing CRM and email system.
Budget-wise, expect $15-75 per person per month for good tools. Enterprise solutions cost more but usually include setup help and training.
What exactly does this software do? It handles repetitive tasks automatically so you can focus on selling. Think email follow-ups, meeting scheduling, and contact management.
How much should I expect to pay? Basic tools start around $15/month per person. Full-featured platforms run $25-75/month. Enterprise solutions require custom quotes.
How hard is it to set up? Most modern tools connect with popular CRMs in a few clicks. Full setup usually takes 1-4 weeks depending on your data complexity.
How do I know if it's working? Track simple metrics: Are you having more conversations? Closing deals faster? Spending less time on admin work? Most teams see improvements within 30 days.
The best part about sales acceleration tools isn't the productivity boost or higher close rates. It's getting your life back.
When Salesloft handles your follow-ups, Calendly manages your scheduling, and AI Receptionist from Smith.ai qualifies your leads, you stop working nights and weekends. You can focus on strategic work during business hours and actually disconnect when you're home.
AI Receptionist from Smith.ai creates the foundation by handling initial contact 24/7. It qualifies leads, books appointments, and ensures nothing falls through the cracks while you're focused on closing deals.
The combination of good sales tools and AI Receptionist from Smith.ai means prospects get immediate attention, your team stays organized, and you stop feeling like you're always behind.
That "lazy" salesperson from the opening story? He wasn't lazy. He was smart enough to let software handle what software does best, so he could focus on what humans do best: building relationships and closing deals.
Book a free consultation to learn how AI Receptionist from Smith.ai fits into your sales process.