Who is and what does a Sales Representative do today?

A strong operational capability is a priority for all businesses that have sufficiently planned their business strategies.

However, there is a key figure in customer interactions that corporate decision-makers often overlook: the Sales Representative.

In the past, Sales Reps were merely “simple” salespeople: their daily tasks involved face-to-face meetings with clients, closing contracts, and the processes of cross-selling and upselling.

Today, in contrast, these professionals are not just executors but are indeed planners of sales strategies, playing a crucial role in the fabric and business models of modern companies. We are not only talking about extensively globalized markets like the American one but also about Italy, which is pursuing increasingly ambitious growth and business objectives.

But to truly understand beyond the titles and role descriptions, who really is today’s Sales Representative? What challenges do they face in an ever-evolving job market, and what skills must they have to increase the impact and added value of their organization?

In this article, we will delve deeper, exploring the features, skills, and fundamental goals of a Sales Rep today.

What is a Sales Representative today?

The evolution of the Sales Representative: from a simple seller to a strategist of human relations.

“89% of customers say they are more inclined to consider a brand when the salesperson manages to revolutionize their way of thinking".

In the business landscape where speed, precision, and customization are at the heart of the customer experience, the Sales Representative stands out as a bastion of competence and relational ability. Far from being a mere "sales representative", today's Sales Rep is an architect of solutions, a figure who interprets the needs of clients even before they are articulated.

In the fabric of contemporary sales, the Sales Rep is a chameleon-like figure, adapting and evolving with market transformations. On one hand, they must deeply understand services and products; on the other, they must embody the company's values and mission, since the first impression of potential customers will depend on them.

And in this balancing act, the sales pipeline becomes both their battleground and navigation tool. Through it, the Sales Rep not only tracks but actively guides contacts through the intricate maze of sales stages, ensuring that every interaction is meaningful, relevant, and most importantly, leads to conversion.

The key to their success lies in their ability to combine human sensibility with data-driven analysis, demonstrating that in an increasingly technology-focused world, personal relationships remain at the center of every successful transaction.

What Does a Sales Representative Do?

Managing complex pipelines in highly evolved scenarios.

"Sales professionals spend less than a third of their time (30%) on actual selling, devoting most of their time to administrative activities and other non-sales related tasks.” - from HubSpot's Sales Report 2023.

This insight might be surprising, but it's emblematic of an environment where sales dynamics have evolved. In an era marked by digital scenarios, big data, and AI, the sales pipeline is no longer just a list of contacts. It's instead a complex web of interactions, touchpoints, and strategic decisions. The modern Sales Representative must navigate this intricate ecosystem, balancing automation with a human approach, ensuring that every contact is optimally managed.

Data analysis plays a pivotal role. The Sales Rep must interpret often bulky and complex information, spotting trends, anticipating needs, and recognizing opportunities. But beyond the data, true expertise lies in adaptability: changing strategy when needed, tailoring the approach to the client, and always keeping an eye on the ultimate goal - conversion.

We might mistakenly think that digitization has simplified the task of the Sales Representative; in reality, it has raised the role to new challenges. Now, besides being frontline sellers, they're navigators of complex ecosystems, data analysts, and more than ever, ambassadors of corporate value in a rapidly changing market.

Let's look at some of the tasks a Sales Rep undertakes in their daily routine:

• Proactive Lead Identification: Using advanced analytics tools, they pinpoint potential leads and establish contact, be it through a call, video call, or instant messaging platforms.
• CRM Data Integration and Analysis: They process information from CRMs, leveraging algorithms and artificial intelligence to forecast sales trends and personalize the client approach.
• Multichannel Engagement: Establishing contacts across different channels, which can include social selling, content marketing, besides the traditional cold calls and emails.
• Virtual Demos and Presentations: Using digital platforms to offer remote product demonstrations, tailoring them to the specific needs of each client or group of clients.
• Performance Monitoring and Optimization: It's not just about meeting quotas but analyzing data to optimize future sales strategies.
• Existing Customer Management: Employing digital tools to track and meet client requests, crafting a seamless purchasing experience.
• Data Automation and Updating: Leveraging software to keep client data up-to-date, automating where possible to ensure efficiency.
• Advanced Reporting: Providing detailed data-based analysis that might encompass forecasts, trend analysis, and strategic recommendations.
• Using AI for Performance Evaluation: Using AI-based tools to track and evaluate their performance, pinpointing areas of improvement.
• Continuous Customer Experience Optimization: Relying on real-time feedback and advanced analytics to recommend and implement improvements in the customer experience.

What does a company look for in a Sales Rep?

Key skills and qualities of a central figure for business objectives.

"With rising customer expectations, sales representatives must further broaden their research routine, adding administrative time and tasks to their daily schedule.” - from HubSpot's Sales Report 2023.

For today's sales representative, becoming a genuine ally in problem-solving is the key to success. True professionals in the field do more than just push their product: they listen genuinely, demonstrate empathy, and strive to understand their clients' complex challenges. If they can't provide the right solution, they have the integrity to admit it, even suggesting better alternatives.

Alyssa Merwin, Vice President of Sales Solutions at LinkedIn, highlighted this essential trait in the ideal sales representative profile. The art of listening and the ability to connect emotionally are central in a trade steeped in communication. And what other skills are indispensable for Sales Reps we consider including in our organization?

1. Emotional Balance

Every day, a sales rep faces challenges like cold-calls and intense negotiations. Maintaining composure, avoiding conveying nervousness, is vital. Self-control isn't just desirable; it's crucial to build and maintain customer trust.

2. Persistence

Interestingly, 60% of potential customers decline an offer four times before accepting it. Yet, 48% of sales reps give up after the first refusal. Targeted persistence can make the difference between a missed and a successful sale.

3. Time-management

A proficient sales rep knows the value of time and accounts for it in every task they undertake. The difference is stark: an average-performing sales rep spends 2 hours a day on profit-generating activities, compared to the 6 daily hours of a top-performing colleague.

4. Expertise Across Industries

Deep knowledge of the product or service is just the beginning. A sales rep must also function as a consultant, providing valuable insights and industry-specific support to the client.

5. A Data-driven Mind

From Salesforce's State of Sales Report, we see that 57% of top-performing sales representatives operate analytically, making the most of the data produced by company software and tools. This percentage contrasts with less productive industry colleagues, of whom only 16% work this way.

Offering such company tools to Sales Reps, like CRM software, is foundational to an effective and profitable sales method.

6. Strategic Realism

Surprisingly, a touch of pessimism can actually enhance sales performance. The best professionals aren't fooled by evasive answers, always striving to reach the real decision-makers. This insight is confirmed by an analysis from the Harvard Business Reviews.

What are the Hiring Requirements for a Sales Representative?

Key skills and experiences for the new age of sales.

The sales landscape is continually evolving, and with the rising number of competitors offering niche SaaS solutions, having a strong sales process is crucial. Jayme Manos, the Executive Manager of Enterprise Sales at HubSpot, emphasized (in the Sales Trends report) the importance of a robust sales process, especially when representatives push for a close without a clear return on investment.

But what are the qualifications we should be looking for in a sales representative to tackle the challenges of 2023?

If you're looking to hire a Sales Representative, keep this competency checklist in mind:

• Industry Sales Experience: With the increasing challenge of building virtual trust and the need to differentiate from competitors, prior experience can make a significant difference.
• Degree in Business, Marketing, or Communication: This provides a solid foundation for understanding business processes and sales strategies.
• Familiarity with CRM systems and Social Selling skills: In 2023, with the evolution of social selling, knowing how to use platforms like LinkedIn will be essential.
• Excellent Communication and Interpersonal Abilities: This helps keep clients engaged throughout the sales process and build virtual trust.
• Ability to Work Under Pressure: The constant change and adaptability required in an evolving sales landscape demand a resilient mindset.
• Time-management and a Customer-centric Approach: With emerging challenges, like adapting to a buyer-focused mentality, managing one's time and focusing on customer needs is crucial.
• Negotiation Skills: This will be especially vital when dealing with buying groups rather than individual purchasers.

Sales Reps and CRM: The Perfect Growth Synergy

"Almost half (46%) of sales representatives pointed to a lack of comprehensive data as their main challenge”

This small insight tells us a lot about the growing need for effective tools and the pivotal role of CRMs in the sales cycle.

Christell Cherenfant, Account Executive at Aircall, shared her personal take on how she keeps her potential clients engaged during the sales process: "I make sure everything revolves around them. I like asking questions to truly understand their business stance and what they hope to achieve with solutions like Aircall and HubSpot. I always reassure them that I'm here to help and that I operate based on the information they share with me."

In both B2B and B2C contexts, a sales representative might interact with a prospect between two to seven times—a significant figure considering the high number of contacts they might manage simultaneously. This is where technology comes into play: the use of automated tools and advanced CRMs, which provide a detailed overview of leads and track every interaction, becomes crucial.

These tools are indispensable support for representatives in managing the plethora of data required to successfully convert prospects into clients. And, once that's done, maintaining full control over the life cycle.

In fact, throughout the entire duration of a sales cycle—which can vary depending on the complexity of the product or service—it's essential to have a deep, contextual understanding of potential clients.

• What are they aiming to achieve?
• What are their peak periods?
• How has their sector been impacted by resource shortages?
• Are there downsizing trends in their field?
• What are their preferred communication channels?
• Which KPIs do they present to their supervisors?

Conclusion

Detailed information has become the currency of the sales realm, and sales representatives are faced with the constant challenge of understanding and best serving potential clients.

The key to overcoming these challenges lies in the powerful combination of a human approach and the advanced technology of CRMs.

These tools, in addition to facilitating data acquisition and management, enable the weaving of deep and meaningful relationships with clients, ensuring not just a sale but the creation of a lasting bond.