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ChatGPT is the latest version of a natural language processing chatbot tool from Open-AI. ChatGPT-4 is taking the Internet by storm due to it's human like conversational capabilities, easy to use interface, and wide range of use cases and possibilities. ChatGPT is still in research phase, but most anyone that has played with the tool can start to see the implications as the tech improves and the training data set evolves (right now the model has been trained on web data up to 2021).
We'll explore some of the use cases for ChatGPT for early stage SaaS companies, and see if ChatGPT for SaaS Sales is a viable option for any stage of the sales process. We'll also ask ChatGPT itself if it thinks this is feasible and what is the best approach and steps to implement.
ChatGPT Use Cases for SaaS Companies
For early stage SaaS companies, ChatGPT has several use cases that stick out beyond sales:
- Customer Service: A customer service chatbot can be used for common customer service scenarios and responses. Train the model with your own data, and then use ChatPGT to generate text that simulates a conversation with a customer, providing information and assistance as needed.
- AI Copywriting, Content Marketing: There are already many companies offering AI Copywriting tools for SaaS to help with both writing email subject lines, kickstarting the content marketing or blog process, or even assisting with writing almost all of the copy. There are implications here including Google SEO penalties for bot or duplicate content. A human with domain expertise is likely still needed but ChatGPT can certainly be a good tool for efficiency.
Most of these use cases require paying for a subscription to OpenAI for access to the model, supplying it with training data specific to your products and customer journey and experience, and then fine tuning the results over time.
Can we leverage ChatGPT for SaaS Sales?
Let's ask ChatGPT itself: Can I use ChatGPT to build a Sales Bot?
All ChatGPT answers in grey block quotes:
It is possible to use GPT-4, which is the latest version of the chatbot model that powers ChatGPT, to build a sales bot. GPT-4 is a large language model that has been trained on a vast amount of text data and can generate human-like text based on the input it receives. It has many potential applications, including in sales and customer service.
To build a sales bot using GPT-4, you would need to provide it with training data that includes examples of common sales scenarios and responses. You could then use the model to generate text that simulates a conversation with a potential customer, providing information about your products or services and answering common questions.
However, it's important to note that GPT-4 is not specifically designed for sales or customer service applications, and it may not provide the same level of performance as a dedicated sales bot. Additionally, using GPT-4 for commercial purposes typically requires a subscription to one of the platforms that provide access to the model, such as OpenAI or Hugging Face.
Ok, sounds like it may be possible to use ChatGPT for a SaaS Bot. Makes sense that we need this trained on our own SaaS specific internal training data.
ChatGPT Training Data for SaaS Sales
How Do I Provide ChatGPT Training Data for SaaS Sales?
To provide ChatGPT with training data, you would need to use one of the platforms that provide access to the GPT-4 model, such as OpenAI or Hugging Face. These platforms allow you to fine-tune the model on your own data, which can improve its performance on specific tasks.
To fine-tune GPT-4 for use in a sales bot, you would need to provide it with a large amount of text data that includes examples of common sales scenarios and responses. This could include transcripts of sales conversations, product descriptions, frequently asked questions, and other relevant information.
Once you have collected and organized your training data, you can use the tools provided by the platform to fine-tune the model. This typically involves training the model on your data for a period of time, during which it will learn to generate text that is similar to the training data you provided. After the training process is complete, you can use the model to generate text for your sales bot.
Keep in mind that fine-tuning GPT-4 for specific tasks can be a complex and time-consuming process, and it may require significant expertise in machine learning and natural language processing. It's also important to note that using GPT-4 for commercial purposes typically requires a subscription to one of the platforms that provide access to the model.
Ok, so we need a large amount of training data and a human with perhaps some machine learning and natural language processing skills. We also need to understand our SaaS sales process, features/benefits, common sales objections, FAQs, etc.
Sales Rep vs. ChatGPT Bot Training
Is it easier to train a human for sales or use ChatGPT to build a sales chatbot?
It is generally easier to train a human for sales than it is to train a chatbot using GPT-4 for a sales application. This is because humans have the ability to learn and adapt to new situations, while chatbots are limited by the training data they are provided with.
Training a human for sales typically involves providing them with information about your products or services, teaching them about common sales techniques, and giving them the opportunity to practice and learn from their mistakes. This can be a time-consuming process, but it typically results in a salesperson who is able to handle a wide variety of situations and adapt to the needs of individual customers.
In contrast, training a chatbot using GPT-4 for a sales application involves providing the model with a large amount of training data that includes examples of common sales scenarios and responses. The model then uses this data to learn how to generate text that is similar to the training data. While this can be an effective way to create a sales bot, it is limited by the quality and variety of the training data. The chatbot may not be able to handle situations that are outside of the scope of the training data, and it may not be able to adapt to the needs of individual customers.
Overall, while it may be easier to train a human for sales, chatbots can still be a useful tool in certain situations, such as providing basic information to customers or handling simple sales inquiries.
Interesting that ChatGPT itself admits it's easier to train a human for sales than a ChatGPT powered sales bot.
ChatGPT SDR or ChatGPT AE Role for SaaS?
Ok ChatGPT - yes, that's what I was thinking. ChatGPT might be good for less complex SaaS products that have short sales cycles. Or, it may make sense for the front end of the sales process and qualifying a lead and getting them to the point of wanting to talk to a human on a demo call. Do you agree?
Yes, I agree that chatbots like ChatGPT can be useful for products with short sales cycles or for the front end of the sales process. In these situations, a chatbot can provide a quick and convenient way for customers to get the information they need and move closer to making a purchase.
For products with short sales cycles, a chatbot can provide customers with the information they need to make a decision quickly. This could include product details, pricing information, and answers to common questions. By automating this part of the sales process, you can free up your sales team to focus on more complex or high-value tasks.
For the front end of the sales process, a chatbot can be a useful tool for qualifying leads and getting them to the point where they are interested in speaking with a salesperson. The chatbot can provide information about your products or services, answer common questions, and collect information about the customer's needs and interests. This can help you identify potential customers and get them to the point where they are ready to talk to a salesperson.
Overall, while chatbots like ChatGPT may not be a replacement for human salespeople, they can be a useful tool for certain parts of the sales process, such as providing basic information or qualifying leads.
What else should we be asking about using ChatGPT for SaaS sales?
Considerations for Using ChatGPT for SaaS Sales
When considering using ChatGPT for SaaS sales, you may want to ask yourself the following questions:
- What are the specific sales tasks that ChatGPT could help with? For example, could it provide product information, answer common questions, or qualify leads?
- What is the quality and variety of the training data that you would need to provide to ChatGPT in order to make it effective for sales? Do you have access to enough high-quality training data, or would you need to collect and organize it first?
- How would you integrate ChatGPT into your sales process? Would it be used as a standalone chatbot, or would it be integrated with other sales tools and systems?
- How would you evaluate the performance of ChatGPT in your sales process? What metrics would you use to measure its effectiveness, and how would you compare it to other sales channels or approaches?
- What are the costs and benefits of using ChatGPT for sales? Would it be more cost-effective than hiring additional salespeople, or would it require a significant investment in training data and platform subscriptions?
Answering these questions can help you better understand the potential role of ChatGPT in your SaaS sales process and determine whether it is a good fit for your business.
Steps for Building a ChatGPT SaaS Sales Chatbot
What are the steps for building a ChatGPT SaaS sales chatbot?
The steps for building a chatbot for SaaS sales using GPT-4, which is the latest version of the chatbot model that powers ChatGPT, would typically include the following:
- Identify the specific sales tasks that the chatbot should be able to handle. This could include providing product information, answering common questions, or qualifying leads.
- Collect and organize the training data that will be used to train the chatbot. This should include a large amount of text data that includes examples of common sales scenarios and responses.
- Choose a platform that provides access to the GPT-4 model and offers tools for integrating it into your chatbot. Examples of platforms that offer GPT-4-powered chatbot development tools include OpenAI, Hugging Face, and DALL-E.
- Use the tools provided by the platform to fine-tune the GPT-4 model on your training data. This will typically involve training the model for a period of time, during which it will learn to generate text that is similar to the training data you provided.
- Integrate the trained GPT-4 model into your chatbot, using the tools and APIs provided by the platform. This will typically involve building a user interface for the chatbot and connecting it to the GPT-4 model to generate text based on user input.
- Test and evaluate the performance of the chatbot in your sales process. This may involve using metrics to measure its effectiveness and comparing its performance to other sales channels or approaches.
- Continuously improve the chatbot by providing it with additional training data and fine-tuning the GPT-4 model as needed. This can help the chatbot adapt to new situations and improve its performance
Best Use Cases for ChatGPT for SaaS Sales
ChatGPT for SaaS Sales has great potential - particularly for either:
- Relatively simple, straightforward SaaS sales cycles and buying journeys with short sales cycles
- The front end of the sales process - SDR/BDR role of qualifying leads, providing useful and relevant information, answering specific FAQs and getting prospects to the point of agreeing to take a demo or discovery call with a human sales rep
Will ChatGPT Eliminate Sales Jobs?
Long term, ChatGPT will eliminate sales jobs, but likely entry level ones. Senior sales pros will have the opportunity to learn this technology and become more efficient, scale their reach and become one-person armies. Even if AI masters the top end of the sales process, many companies will still want a human being in charge to train the models and systems. Companies may just not need to hire and manage a whole team.
What you need to Get Started with ChatGPT for SaaS Sales
Here's what's needed to get started building a ChatGPT Bot for Sales:
- Training Data - At least 500+ Responses for Training Data in CSV/JSON form. You. can also use PDFs of your sales and marketing materials, prospect/customer interactions from your CRM, emails, website materials, etc.
- Paid account on OpenAI
- Generate an API Key - if you want to use ChatGPT; otherwise look to the growing number of genrerative AI alternative libraries
As of 3/2/23, Open-AI has now released the official paid version of their API, so building stable apps on top of ChatGPT is now possible. Microsoft has also announced that later in 2023 it will allow companies to build their own custom versions of ChatGPT, trained on a companies own data and with custom branding.
Approaches for Building an AI Powered Sales Chatbot
1. Build a ChatGPT Sales Chatbot Using Code
The traditional choice would be to build a bot using custom code (most commonly Python). You also need a back end database. You can even use ChatGPT to help you code the app.
Pros of Coding a ChatGPT Sales Bot
- Most Customizable, Flexible Approach
- Most enterprise grade approach - Limitless integrations with the rest of your sales/marketing tech stack, scaling, complexity
Cons of Coding a ChatGPT Sales Bot
- Time - longer to build
- Expertise - you need to be able to code yourself, or hire a developer or dev agency
- Money - Most expensive approach
- Training - still need an experienced sales/marketing person to properly fine tune and train your data set
- Harder to Iterate - if you want to make changes or updates, you need to rely on a developer vs. updating yourself in real time or as
2. No Code ChatGPT Sales Chatbot
Pros of Building a No Code ChatGPT Sales Chatbot
- Non-technical - The #1 pro of no code builders is there easy to use, intuitive drag and drop interfaces
- Quicker to Build
- Cost - much cheaper to build than coding a bot (although if you have large scale volume the fees can become expensive)
- Integrations, Automations still possible - may need to piece together workflows with tools like Zapier, Make.com
Cons of Building a No Code ChatGPT Sales Chatbot
- Not as flexible, sometimes limited tech - some no code tools can sometimes be frustrating and you may still limited in features and flexibility, or need a dev to extend functionality
- Learning curve - it’s obviously not like learning to code, but no code platforms still do take time to learn and master
- Reliability - tools like Zapier can sometimes be buggy/tricky and automations can still break and require troubleshooting.
No Code ChatGPT Sales Bot Tools, Software Options
Here are some platforms, software and tools to consider if you want to build a no code AI sales chatbot. This is a rapidly evolving space, with new features, capabilities, and providers coming out every day. Many are working on OpenAI integrations and still building out documentation and tutorials. You need both the front end visual chatbot interface, and an AI powered model behind it. After poring through a lot of half baked tech, below is a curated list of some of the better tools for building a no code AI sales bot.
No Code Chatbots - Front end
You can use these front end interfaces and OpenAI playground itself (ChatGPT 4) to fine tune your AI model.
- TypeBot - visual chatbot builder, bots can be embedded anywhere.
- Bubble.io - Build the app in Bubble using their no code UI, integrate with OpenAI ChatGPT. Bubble is powerful and flexible but does have a learning curve.
- Zapier Interfaces - Zapier recently released Interfaces (still in beta as of June ‘23), which marries front end drag and drom forms and bots with AI integrations. Zapier can end up being pricy as things scale.
Tools for Building an AI Model (integrate with the Chatbot)
Riku.AI - allows for no-code fine tuning of AI models. Good documentation, active Facebook group and Youtube tutorials from the founder.
Chatbase - very easy to upload initial training data and get something running quickly and out of the box. One of the more intuitive UIs.
ChatbotKit - looks great, personally was a bit buggy when we tried to implement and run.
Others we looked at, didn’t work for our SaaS sales client use cases: Cheatlayer, Writesonic - Botsonic, ChatGPTBuilder.io, ChatPDF, Chatshape, Magicflow.ai, CustomGPT.ai, SiteGPT.ai, Hubble.ai, Trudo.ai, Chatfuel.ai. Feel free to contact us if we are missing tools or approaches.
3. Using a ChatGPT Sales Chatbot Agency or Service
There is an emerging set of service providers and agencies like SaaSBoost.io that can build a chatbot and also provide sales and marketing expertise to deliver a fully functional “Done for you as a service” AI powered sales chatbot.
This may be a best of both world’s approach depending on your situation and needs (time, money, in house expertise, etc.).
Pros of Done for You ChatGPT Sales Chatbot Service
- Sales Bot Training Strategy - This is the number one benefit of working with a sales bot agency. The technology is only one part of a successful sales bot. Training the bot into a helpful sales resource takes some sales and marketing expertise. Handing that off to a developer is not going to yield a great result. An agency that understand sales and marketing and can dive into your sales process, funnels, messaging, buyer personas, buyer journeys, etc. can partner with you over time to continue fine tuning and training a helpful AI powered sales bot.
- Flexible - own as much of the training, building, developing of the process as you want, or outsource pieces. An agency can build and set things up and then stay on retainer for troubleshooting/fine tuning.
Cons of Coding a ChatGPT Sales Bot
- Cheaper than coding but more expensive than building a bot yourself through no code tools
