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How many times does your sales team answer the same customer inquiries every day? Questions about pricing, availability, or booking an appointment can eat up valuable time—time that could be spent closing deals. Google’s new AI-powered phone assistant is designed to take this burden off your team.
It can answer calls, handle routine customer inquiries, and schedule appointments automatically. While it won’t replace human sales reps, it could free them from repetitive conversations, allowing them to focus on more meaningful interactions.
So, what exactly is Google’s AI “Ask For Me” Sales Assistant? How does it work, and what impact could it have on your sales process?
In this article, you’ll learn about its potential benefits, the challenges it presents, and how to set it up for your business.
What is Google’s AI “Ask For Me” Sales Assistant and How Does It Work?
Google’s AI “Ask for me” Sales Assistant is designed to handle customer interactions on behalf of businesses, automating tasks like answering inquiries.
As it is built on advanced AI and natural language processing (NLP) models, it can engage with customers in a human-like manner, reducing the workload on sales teams.
At its core, the AI Sales Assistant functions similarly to Google’s Duplex technology, which was introduced to make automated phone calls for tasks like booking restaurant reservations.
However, this new AI tool is specifically geared toward businesses, allowing them to offload routine sales tasks and focus on high-value conversations.
Read: How To Use AI In Marketing
Key Features of Google’s AI Sales Assistant:
- Automated Call Handling: The AI can initiate and receive calls, helping businesses manage inquiries without human intervention
- Conversational AI Capabilities: It uses advanced speech recognition and AI-driven responses to create natural-sounding conversations
- Appointment Scheduling & Lead Qualification: It can book meetings, qualify leads based on predefined criteria, and route them to human sales representatives when necessary
- Integration with CRM & Sales Tools: The assistant can sync with existing sales software, ensuring that all interactions are logged and tracked for follow-ups
By leveraging these capabilities, businesses can potentially streamline their sales processes, reduce operational costs, and provide faster responses to customers.
Benefits of Google’s AI Sales Assistant
Google’s AI Sales Assistant has the potential to revolutionise the way businesses manage their sales processes. By automating routine interactions and handling customer inquiries with AI-driven precision, businesses can experience a range of benefits that directly impact efficiency, scalability, and customer engagement.
Read: Top AI Tools for Social Media
1. Increased Efficiency and Productivity
One of the biggest advantages of AI-driven sales automation is the ability to handle repetitive tasks without human intervention. The AI Sales Assistant can:
- Answer frequently asked questions instantly
- Qualify leads before handing them off to a salesperson
- Schedule meetings without the usual back-and-forth emails
This allows sales teams to focus on high-value conversations and closing deals rather than administrative tasks.
2. 24/7 Availability
Unlike human sales reps, AI doesn’t need breaks. The assistant can operate around the clock, ensuring that potential customers receive prompt responses—even outside of business hours. This is particularly beneficial for global businesses dealing with different time zones.
3. Scalability Without Increasing Costs
Hiring and training additional sales representatives can be expensive. Google’s AI Sales Assistant provides a scalable solution by handling a large volume of customer inquiries without adding to payroll costs. Businesses can expand their customer reach without the need for significant investments in human resources.
4. Faster Response Times = Higher Conversion Rates
Studies show that responding to leads quickly increases the chances of conversion. With AI handling initial interactions instantly, businesses can engage prospects at the right moment, preventing them from losing interest or seeking alternatives.
5. Consistent Messaging and Reduced Human Error
Human sales reps can sometimes provide inconsistent information or make mistakes in communication. AI ensures that every customer interaction follows a structured approach, delivering accurate and consistent messaging every time.
While these benefits are compelling, AI-powered sales assistants also come with challenges and potential limitations.
Problems With Google’s AI Sales Assistant
While Google’s AI Sales Assistant offers promising benefits, it’s not without its limitations. Businesses considering AI-powered customer interactions should weigh these potential challenges before integrating it into their sales process.
| Challenge | Description |
| Limited to Handling Basic Inquiries | The AI can answer routine questions but lacks the ability to engage in complex sales conversations or build relationships. |
| Potential Customer Frustration | Some customers may prefer human interaction, and AI responses might not always meet their expectations. |
| Integration with Existing Sales Systems | Businesses may face challenges in ensuring the AI works smoothly with their CRM, booking software, and support tools. |
| Data Privacy and Security Concerns | AI interactions involve collecting customer data, requiring compliance with privacy laws like GDPR. |
| Risk of Over-Reliance on Automation | Too much automation may remove the human touch from customer interactions, potentially impacting customer satisfaction. |
How to Set Up Google’s AI Sales Assistant
Google’s “Ask For Me” AI is only available to people in the United States who opt-in via Google’s Search Labs and only for services at nail salons and auto shops.
However, since this is in testing, it’s only a matter of time before Australians will have access, as well as a broader range of service providers.
How to Access the Feature
Visit the Search Labs Experiment Page for this experiment and toggle the Ask For Me button on.
Clicking “Try it out” will send you to a list of example queries to try.
You can also manually enter queries like “oil change near me” or “nail salons nearby,” and look for the “Ask For Me” option.
Then, you’ll see a “Get Started” button, which prompts you to provide more details about your desired service.
Google’s AI will call local businesses on your behalf and summarise the results. This saves time by combining service quotes and scheduling options in one place.
The Future of AI in Sales
Google’s AI Sales Assistant is just the beginning of a larger shift in how businesses handle customer interactions. As AI continues to evolve, it’s expected to play an even greater role in sales automation.
But what does this mean for your business, and how should you prepare?
1. AI Will Handle More Frontline Customer Interactions
Right now, AI can answer basic inquiries and schedule appointments. In the future, advancements in natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning could enable AI to handle more complex sales interactions, such as product recommendations or even initial lead qualification.
2. Sales Teams Will Shift Focus to High-Value Conversations
With AI taking care of repetitive inquiries, human sales teams can focus on relationship-building and closing deals. Businesses that embrace AI will need to adapt their sales strategies to ensure their teams spend more time on personalised, high-impact interactions.
3. AI Will Integrate More Deeply with CRM and Sales Tools
For AI to be truly effective, it must work seamlessly with existing business systems. Future developments will likely bring better CRM integration, allowing AI to track customer interactions, provide insights, and assist sales teams in making data-driven decisions.
4. Businesses Must Balance Automation and Human Touch
While AI can improve efficiency, businesses must ensure they don’t lose the personal touch that builds trust with customers. The best sales strategies will combine automation with human expertise, creating a hybrid approach that enhances both speed and personalisation.
5. Early Adopters Will Gain a Competitive Edge
As AI technology becomes more advanced, businesses that integrate it early will have an advantage over competitors. Companies that optimise their sales processes with AI will be able to respond to inquiries faster, serve more customers, and operate more efficiently.
What’s Next? Preparing for AI in Sales
AI isn’t replacing human sales teams—it’s augmenting them. Businesses that understand how to leverage AI effectively will be in the best position to succeed in an increasingly digital sales landscape.
The key is to use AI to improve sales. In the spirit of this, check out our article on how to use AI to close more deals.
