Quoting B2B products, especially when they’re complex and highly customized, has always been a manual, time-consuming process. It involves gathering customer requirements, tapping into internal expertise, and coordinating across departments to finalize a purchase quote.

However, traditional B2B quoting is filled with inefficiencies.

These delays prevent sales teams from focusing on what they do best—selling. Instead, they’re bogged down by administrative tasks that technology could handle.

While AI has been integrated into many enterprise sales tools to streamline operations, advancements in CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote) and quoting have been surprisingly limited.

The challenge at hand?

Manual data entry has always been a tough and error-prone part of supply chain management. Many companies still use handwritten notes to track when a product arrives or leaves a location. Automated scanning, however, speeds up data entry and almost completely removes errors from manual input. With scanning at every stage of a pallet or parcel’s journey, companies can consolidate data more effectively and gain better visibility throughout the supply chain. Real-time location updates are sent directly to stakeholders through user-friendly apps or platforms, making inventory tracking and order fulfillment more accurate.

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The current state of the supply chain

Recent research reveals that 81% of companies investing in supply chain technologies experienced noticeable benefits within just 24 months.

Supply chain leaders have often been slower to adopt new technologies compared to other areas of business. However, when it comes to artificial intelligence and automation, the supply chain stands out for consistently showing positive results.

Trends Shaping Supply Chain Automation

1. Embracing ESG Priorities

ESG—short for Environmental, Social, and Governance—is becoming a bigger deal every day. Companies need to step up their game on ESG issues, like cutting carbon emissions and being more transparent. Automating your ESG reports and data collection can help you stay ahead of the curve and meet these new demands with ease.

2. The Impact of Artificial Intelligence

A recent survey shows that 61% of supply chain pros believe AI will be the most game-changing technology in the next five years. AI is already making waves in supply chain automation, from predicting demand and optimizing routes to managing inventory and quality control. Plus, AI can turn complex data into actionable insights. It helps you spot opportunities and potential issues before they become problems.

3. Adapting to Workforce Changes

As the workforce ages, supply chains face challenges in keeping experienced staff and filling gaps left by vacancies. Automation can help in

• Capturing Expertise: Transferring valuable knowledge from human workers into digital systems so future employees can access it.
• Boosting Efficiency: Acting like a digital assistant to support your team and help them get more done.
• Taking Over Routine Tasks: Handling repetitive, mundane tasks so your human workers can focus on more complex and strategic work.

Why AI Search For Speeding Up Sales Quotes?

Quoting in B2B sales can be a time-consuming process, especially when dealing with complex, customized products. Traditionally, it’s been a manual task that slows down the entire sales cycle. But AI is changing the game.

If your data reveals trends in the choices made by your sales reps or customers during the quoting process, AI and Machine Learning can leverage this information to provide smart predictions. These predictions streamline the product configuration process, saving your sales reps time and effort.

Integrating AI into your product configurator reduces friction in the sales process, freeing up your team to concentrate on tasks that require human touch, creativity, or personal connection.

AI automates the tedious parts of quoting—like gathering customer requirements and sorting through product options—so sales teams can focus on what they do best: selling. By quickly analyzing data and providing instant recommendations, AI speeds up the process, reduces errors, and helps teams deliver accurate quotes in less time.

How To Pick A Right Automation Software For Your eCommerce Business

Selecting the best automation software for your supply chain can be a game-changer for efficiency. To make the right choice, consider these key factors:

• Current Systems: What systems are you using in your supply chain? Are they old or outdated, and will you need the new software to integrate with them?
• Budget: What’s your budget for automation? Knowing this will help you narrow down options that fit within your financial plan.
• Automation Needs: What specific tasks do you want to automate to enhance your business processes? Clearly identifying these needs will guide you in choosing the most suitable software.
• Third-Party Integration: Do you rely on third-party systems? Make sure the automation software can work seamlessly with any external tools you use.
• Application Compatibility: Will the automation software integrate well with your current applications? Compatibility is key to ensuring a smooth transition.

How JAQi is Ahead In This Game?

JAQi® revolutionizes automation and quote generation by acting as an advanced search engine for product information. It swiftly processes unstructured text and translates it into accurate data, bypassing the need for manual input.

By intelligently matching product requests with the most suitable options in your catalog, JAQi® streamlines the quoting process and reduces errors. Its automation capabilities handle the heavy lifting of data analysis and quote creation, allowing your sales team to focus on building relationships and closing deals.

Integrating with existing systems, JAQi® is meant to boost efficiency, delivering accurate quotes faster and enhancing overall productivity.

For more information and handy guides, visit our blog page or reach out to us at sales@metalnetworks.ai