2024/11/06

AI Sales Companion at Point-of-Sale

The AI-generated image depicts three people engaged in a sales conversation, facing each other and holding tablets. Cars are visible in the background.

By using customer and product (marketing) data, AI assistants can support sales agents in personalized and targeted customer conversations at the point of sale. This is another important step towards a seamlessly integrated omni-channel experience helping automotive OEMs to boost sales.

The integration of AI-powered assistants at the point of sale can be a game-changer for automotive OEMs by enabling deeper, more personalized interactions with customers, which is essential in an increasingly competitive market. By leveraging rich customer data (such as purchase history, preferences, and online behavior) and detailed product data (including specifications, promotions, and personalized incentives), AI can equip sales agents with insights that make each conversation more relevant and impactful. This level of personalization helps guide the customer through a smoother, tailored journey, which can significantly improve conversion rates.

The test drive, for instance, is a crucial moment where customers make key decisions. AI can support this experience by providing agents with specific information about the customer’s needs and the features of the car that align with them. For example, if a customer has previously expressed interest in sustainability, the sales agent could focus on the vehicle’s eco-friendly features during the test drive.

At the same time there is an ongoing consolidation of retailers in the market, leading to multi-brand outlets. This shift adds complexity, as these locations often handle multiple brands and models, requiring sales agents to be agile and knowledgeable across a broader portfolio. This makes it more difficult to have impactful and relevant sales conversations. With AI, they can seamlessly access brand-specific information that tailors the interaction without delay, helping both OEMs and multi-brand retailers stand out by making sure that each customer gets the information they need exactly when they need it. This approach builds trust and enhances customer satisfaction, contributing to the overall success of a brand in a competitive and rapidly consolidating market.

 

AI Sales Companion

 

This approach can be realized by an AI-driven sales argumentation dashboard. This is a powerful tool that equips retail agents with a comprehensive, real-time view of each customer’s profile, enabling more effective and tailored customer conversations. The dashboard integrates all relevant data points, presenting this data in an easily digestible format that agents can access seamlessly during customer interactions. For example, the dashboard might highlight key selling points based on a customer’s expressed interests, or suggest alternative models if the customer has previously shown a preference for specific features. By surfacing relevant insights and conversation cues—such as prior feedback from a test drive or recent brand engagement on social media—the AI dashboard ensures that agents can engage with precision and responsiveness. This level of support not only helps agents personalize recommendations but also builds trust by showing customers that their preferences and past experiences with the brand are valued.

Through these personalized, data-informed interactions, OEMs can foster a more cohesive omni-channel experience, meeting customers where they are and creating lasting impressions that drive loyalty and boost sales.

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Jannick Eisenhardt
Senior Managing Consultant - Automotive & Industrial | Tech Innovation, IBM