FRI APR 28 2023

How Can AI Guided Selling Tools Help to Boost Sales Velocity?

by Gayatri Ivaturi

Time is of utmost importance to sales organizations as the ability to convert potential clients into revenue streams is dependent on various factors. One critical factor is the speed at which deals close, as faster closures result in more revenue for the sales organization. However, aggressive sales strategies and pushy tactics are not effective in speeding up the sales process. Salespeople need to adopt more effective methods for managing a larger pool of buyer stakeholders and overcoming the challenges of long sales cycles.

To accelerate deal closures, sales teams require a comprehensive understanding of the weak spots in their sales pipeline. One way to achieve this is by calculating sales velocity, which allows teams to easily identify these weak spots. A thorough comprehension of sales velocity enables teams to ensure consistent and optimized income over a quarter and beyond. Aviso AI understands the importance of sales velocity in accurately forecasting sales and revenue

Sales Velocity

Sales velocity measures the speed at which winning deals move through the sales cycle, from initial deal creation to closed-won status. This key metric is also known as pipeline velocity or deal velocity, and it has a significant impact on the accuracy of sales forecasts.

Effective forecasting relies on consistent and precise estimates of product and service sales rates. Accurate sales velocity measurements can help sales teams make more informed revenue and budget distribution decisions, leading to more predictable outcomes.

Furthermore, sales velocity is a valuable tool for evaluating seller productivity and identifying areas that need improvement in the sales process. By calculating sales velocity over time, sales teams can enhance their efficiency and speed in moving customers through the sales cycle.

At Aviso AI, our platform enables sales organizations to accurately calculate sales velocity, track pipeline trends, and optimize sales performance. By leveraging our AI-powered tools, sales teams can increase their deal closures and drive revenue growth. Contact us today to learn more about how Aviso AI can help your sales team achieve greater sales velocity and forecast accuracy.

Calculating Sales Velocity

Sales velocity is an essential metric for sales teams to understand how fast their deals are progressing through the sales cycle. Calculating sales velocity involves using several key variables, including the average deal value, the length of the sales cycle, and the win rate. Here's how to calculate sales velocity:

  • Determine the average deal value: Start by calculating the average value of a deal. This is the average amount of revenue that a closed-won deal generates for your business. To calculate this, add up the total revenue generated by all closed-won deals and divide it by the total number of closed-won deals.
  • Estimate the length of the sales cycle: Next, you need to estimate the length of the sales cycle. This is the average amount of time it takes for a deal to move from the start of the sales cycle to closed-won status. You can estimate this by reviewing historical data or by analyzing the current sales cycle.
  • Determine the win rate: The win rate is the percentage of deals that move through the sales cycle and result in a closed-won status. To calculate the win rate, divide the number of closed-won deals by the total number of deals.
  • Calculate sales velocity: Once you have the average deal value, length of the sales cycle, and win rate, you can calculate the sales velocity by multiplying the average deal value by the win rate and dividing the result by the length of the sales cycle.

For example, let's say the average deal value is $10,000, the sales cycle length is 60 days, and the win rate is 30%. Applying the sales velocity formula, we get: Sales Velocity = ($10,000 x 30%) / 60 = $5,000. This means that your sales team is generating $5,000 in revenue per day based on the deals currently in the sales pipeline. Regularly calculating sales velocity can help identify inefficiencies or bottlenecks in the sales process, enabling sales teams to optimize and speed up the sales cycle. This results in quicker deal closures and increased revenue for the organization.

Understanding Sales Velocity

Understanding sales velocity is crucial for sales teams as it allows them to gain insights into how quickly and efficiently their deals are moving through the sales cycle. By measuring sales velocity, sales teams can identify the areas in the sales process that need improvement and optimize them accordingly. 

A better understanding of sales velocity helps sales teams make more informed decisions about forecasting, revenue, and budget allocation. Ultimately, a thorough understanding of sales velocity helps sales teams increase their efficiency and speed in moving customers through the sales cycle, leading to more closed deals and increased revenue for the organization.

Increasing Sales Velocity

To increase your sales velocity as a SaaS company, there are several key steps you can take to optimize your sales process and maximize revenue growth:

  • Streamline your sales process: A complex sales process can lead to delays and bottlenecks that slow down deal closures, particularly in the SaaS industry where buyers are looking for speedy implementation and results. By streamlining the sales process, you can move deals through the pipeline more efficiently. This can involve automating manual tasks, using sales enablement tools, and eliminating unnecessary steps in the sales process.
  • Focus on the right prospects: In the crowded and competitive SaaS market, targeting the right prospects is crucial to increasing your win rate and shortening the sales cycle. This involves identifying the characteristics of your ideal customer and targeting prospects that match that profile. Using targeted advertising and content marketing can help reach the right prospects at the right time.
  • Prioritize high-value deals: In the SaaS industry, high-value deals can have a significant impact on revenue growth. By prioritizing high-value deals, you can ensure you are allocating your time and resources effectively. This involves analyzing the potential value of each deal in the pipeline and focusing on those with the greatest potential return on investment.
  • Improve sales rep productivity: Sales rep productivity is critical to the success of any SaaS sales team. By providing sales reps with the right tools and resources, you can increase the efficiency of the sales process. This involves providing training, coaching, and ongoing support to help reps close deals faster. Using AI-powered sales tools can also help reps focus on high-value activities.
  • Leverage data and analytics: Data and analytics can provide valuable insights into the sales process and help SaaS sales teams make more informed decisions. By using data to track key metrics like win rates and conversion rates, you can identify areas for improvement and take action to increase sales velocity. This can involve using tools like predictive analytics to identify potential bottlenecks and optimize the sales process.
  • Optimize your sales pipeline: In the SaaS industry, an optimized sales pipeline is critical to achieving high sales velocity. This involves setting clear milestones for each stage of the sales cycle, tracking progress, and identifying and addressing bottlenecks that slow down deal closures. Using pipeline management tools can help identify potential issues and optimize the sales process for maximum efficiency. 

Conclusion

At Aviso AI, we provide insights and solutions to help sales teams increase their sales velocity. Our platform allows sales organizations to accurately calculate sales velocity, track pipeline trends, and optimize sales performance. By leveraging our AI-powered tools, sales teams can identify and address the bottlenecks in their pipeline, ultimately resulting in more closed deals and increased revenue. See a demo of Aviso AI today to learn more about how our AI guided selling platform can help your sales team accelerate deal closures and drive revenue growth.