How can ChatGPT benefit Reps?

2/23/2023

There has been a lot of talk about, and big bucks being spent on, ChatGPT and AI language models in the recent news. What's it all about, and can it do anything for Manufacturers Reps? Well, let's ask the source -- the following excerpt is from Chat GPT itself:

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What can ChatGPT do for Manufacturers Reps?

2/23/2023

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This is a repost of our newsletter that goes out via email. If you wish to subscribe, fill out one of our forms on this site, or send an email to [email protected].

ChatGPT Recent Archives MRSware

ChatGPT has been dominating the news cycle of late. It is a natural language model, an artificial intelligence trained to give human-like responses to regular questions. The interesting part is that questions can build on previous answers, so you end up progressing and refining the conversation to distill information until you get what you are after.

I recently explored on the MRSware.com Blog what ChatGPT itself thought it could do for independent reps. We had a little chat and ended up focused on sales rep training, both in generic sales training offerings available, and diving specifically into the Jan/San industry to see if I could get a couple of references that I recognized (MRSware has a lot of users in that industry, so I was bound to recognize some of the names, and indeed was not let down. Take a look at the article on the Blog to see where we left off; then circle back here for a follow-up for Newsletter subscribers:

How can ChatGPT help me prospect leads?

This time, let's just start with the industry-specific query, to see if we can generate some actionable names to pursue right from go... Our example rep agency has been calling on Distributors in our industry for quite some time, but is now being asked to facilitate more pull-through sales from the End Users. Let's call on the local school districts first:

Me: What are the local school districts around the Hanover, NH area?
ChatGPT: The Hanover, NH area is served by several school districts. Here are some of the local school districts in the area:

Dresden School District: The Dresden School District serves the towns of Hanover, Norwich, and Dresden, and includes Hanover High School, Frances C. Richmond Middle School, and several elementary schools.

SAU 70 School District: The SAU 70 School District serves the towns of Hanover and Norwich, and includes Marion Cross School, Bernice A. Ray School, and several other schools.

Mascoma Valley Regional School District: The Mascoma Valley Regional School District serves the towns of Enfield, Canaan, Dorchester, Grafton, and Orange, and includes Mascoma Valley Regional High School, Indian River School, and several elementary schools.

Lebanon School District: The Lebanon School District serves the city of Lebanon, and includes Lebanon High School, Lebanon Middle School, and several elementary schools.

Hartford School District: The Hartford School District serves the town of Hartford, VT, which is located just across the Connecticut River from Hanover, NH. The district includes Hartford High School, Hartford Memorial Middle School, and several elementary schools.

These are just a few of the school districts in the Hanover, NH area.

That's a good start. I probably could have found the names through other means as well, but this was certainly quick, and I like the added detail about which towns they are serving. That's one of the interesting parts about what you are getting with ChatGPT -- you never know what additional info it might spit out, perhaps some things you didn't even think to explore yet.

All you need to know about ChatGPT, the A.I. chatbot that’s got the world talking and tech giants clashing -CNBC
Catch up on where ChatGPT came from with a little history of AI, and why this implementation is particularly popular.

ChatGPT launches boom in AI-written e-books on Amazon -Reuters
Create a book and sell it online in a matter of hours.

Wall Street Banks Are Cracking Down on AI-Powered ChatGPT -Bloomberg
The big-name banks are blocking access to ChatGPT specifically, as the unknown of what the technology can do and what it might get wrong is being explored in the financial world.

ChangeLog: MRSweb general updates for working with Sales Imports

A list of some recent changes to the MRSweb Sales Importer, focused on refining the import of manufacturers spreadsheets from any stage they are received, from Order Confirmation reports to Commission Statements. 8/29/2022

The Importance of Timely Commission Tracking
A general conversationally piece around some of the key benefits of keeping up to date records of your commissioned earned, with an emphasis of using available software and generating your own multi-line reports. 1/13/2023

Creating one company-wide, "master" database of contact and companies

Some of the keys features that make organizing and keeping track of your Customer and Prospect list among the team, including tools like Conflict Detection and Duplicate Removal. 6/16/2008

Track Customer Preferences
A How To article with steps to record miscellaneous or personal information in MRSware -- it's all about the Relationship part of Customer Relationship Management (CRM). 6/2/2020

MRSware is software for Manufacturer Reps, Independent Reps, and Brokers. We serve many industries, each performing the Rep function for their manufacturers in very similar ways. Our system works equally well on Desktop, Tablet, and Phone, making it ideal for office staff and field rep alike. Take a look at our website for a Free Trial, to schedule a Web Conference Demo, or just to find out more about our offering.

www.MRSware.com [email protected] (866)795-8386

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Increasing CRM Adoption

2/10/2023

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CRM (customer relationship management) adoption has increased significantly in the past decade due to a combination of factors such as:

Advancements in technology: The advancements in technology in the past decade, such as cloud computing, mobile devices, and social media, have made CRM systems more accessible and user-friendly. This has made it easier for companies of all sizes to adopt CRM systems and to access customer data from anywhere, at any time.
Increased focus on customer engagement: Companies have become increasingly focused on improving customer engagement in the past decade, and CRM systems provide the tools and insights needed to do so. This has led to a greater adoption of CRM systems as a way to manage and analyze customer interactions.
Greater awareness of the benefits of CRM: Companies have become more aware of the benefits of CRM systems, such as increased sales and customer retention, improved customer service, and better insights into customer behavior. This has led to a greater adoption of CRM systems as a way to improve business performance.
The rise of SaaS CRM: The rise of software as a service (SaaS) CRM systems in the past decade has made it more affordable and easier to implement CRM systems. This is because SaaS CRM systems are typically subscription-based and can be accessed over the internet, eliminating the need for expensive IT infrastructure.
The growth of e-commerce and online marketplaces: The growth of e-commerce and online marketplaces has led to an increase in customer data, which in turn has led to an increase in the adoption of CRM systems as a way to manage and analyze this data.

In summary, the past decade has seen a significant increase in CRM adoption due to advancements in technology, increased focus on customer engagement, greater awareness of the benefits of CRM, the rise of SaaS CRM and the growth of e-commerce and online marketplaces. These factors have led to a greater adoption of CRM systems as a way to improve business performance and customer engagement.

MRSware was created in 2002 with all of the features and benefit of what would become "cloud", "software as a service", and a subscription model. We may have been too early to market with some of these new concepts, but the benefits have proven out and flourished in the marketplace. Sign-up for our Demo installation or a Free Trial of your own, and find out what you have been missing.

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Why Offer a Free Community Plan?

2/3/2023

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Having a pricing plan that is zero dollars, also known as a freemium model, can be an effective strategy for a number of reasons:

Increased adoption: Offering a free version of a product or service can increase the number of people who are willing to try it out. This can lead to increased adoption and a larger customer base.
Increased engagement: Once a customer is using a free version of a product or service, they are more likely to become engaged and invested in it. This can lead to increased loyalty and advocacy.
Upsell opportunities: Freemium models often include upsell opportunities, where customers are offered additional features or services for a fee. This can be an effective way to generate revenue from customers who are already engaged with the product or service.
Low barrier to entry: A free pricing plan can be a low-risk way for customers to try out a product or service, which can be a more effective way to attract new customers than charging upfront fees.
Cost-effective: Freemium models can be cost-effective, as they allow customers to try out the product or service before they commit to paying for it. This can reduce the risk of customers regretting their purchase.

However, there are also potential downsides to a freemium model, such as:

Limited features: The free community version does lack a few of the bells and whistles that are more attractive to larger rep agencies. Our goal is to provide a starting point to get your agency more productive, and then provide a path to further your goals as you grow.
Limited scalability: Freemium models can be less scalable than traditional pricing models, as they may not generate as much revenue per customer. Offering a more self-help options for MRSware keeps our costs low and allows us to offer the free plan, but if you need us we are here with paid training and support options.
Can be difficult to monetize: Freemium models can be difficult to monetize, as customers who use the free version may not be as likely to upgrade to a paid version. However, we have the desire to make an offering to an underserved market of manufacturers reps, in particular, those smaller agencies that just don't have cost effective options. Having 20 years experience in the industry has provided us the know-how to deliver a solid starting point to any agency.

In conclusion, having a pricing plan that is zero dollars can be an effective strategy for increasing adoption and engagement, and providing low-barrier entry to the product or service. However, it's important to balance the pros and cons of this model, necessitating we keep support time investment with free members lower than the fanatical level of support we offer our Business and Plus plan subscribers.

We want you to become part of the MRSware Community. Make use of our Free Community tier for as long as you like, and if you need more features or technical support, we have options for those too. Sign Up to our Demo installation to see what MRSware can do for you, or request your own private Free Trial.

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How can ChatGPT benefit Reps?

What can ChatGPT do for Manufacturers Reps?

How can ChatGPT help me prospect leads?

Increasing CRM Adoption

Why Offer a Free Community Plan?

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