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Sales Enablement

Sales enablement, put simply, refers to the strategies and tools that help sales teams to effectively communicate with and sell to potential customers. 

What is sales enablement?

Sales enablement refers to the strategies, tools, and processes that help sales teams effectively communicate with and sell to potential customers.  

The goal of sales enablement is to provide salespeople with the resources and support they need to be more effective in their roles, including by providing them with the necessary knowledge and information about the products or services they are selling and by helping them to more effectively engage with and persuade potential customers.

What is sales enablement software?

Sales enablement software refers to digital platforms designed to equip sales teams with the right content, tools, and training to engage buyers effectively and close deals faster.  

These platforms centralize sales collateral, track customer interactions, and offer insights to optimize sales performance.

What are the benefits of sales enablement?

Sales enablement equips teams with the tools, content, and insights needed to engage buyers and close deals efficiently. Key benefits include:

  • Improved efficiency: Quick access to resources streamlines the sales process.
  • Higher productivity: Sales enablement tools help reps sell smarter and faster.
  • Better customer experience: Enables personalized, relevant interactions.
  • Stronger collaboration: Aligns sales and marketing with shared content and data.
  • Actionable insights: Sales enablement software offers visibility into team performance.

In short, sales enablement helps drive growth, improve effectiveness, and enhance customer engagement.

What are the best practices of sales enablement?

Sales enablement is the practice of providing salespeople with the tools, resources, and support they need to effectively sell a product or service. Some best practices for sales enablement include:

  • Providing salespeople with access to high-quality, up-to-date sales materials: This includes product and service information, case studies, demos, and other resources that can help salespeople engage with prospects and customers.
  • Offering training and development opportunities: Salespeople should be trained on how to effectively use the tools and resources at their disposal, as well as on how to identify and overcome objections, navigate complex sales processes, and build relationships with prospects and customers.
  • Ensuring that sales and marketing are aligned: Sales and marketing should work together to develop a clear and consistent message about the product or service, and to create materials that support that message.
  • Using technology to support the sales process: There are many tools and platforms available that can help salespeople track and manage leads, analyze customer data, and collaborate with other members of the sales team.
  • Measuring and tracking the effectiveness of sales enablement efforts: It's important to regularly assess the impact of sales enablement initiatives and make adjustments as needed. This could involve collecting feedback from salespeople, analyzing data on sales performance, and using analytics tools to understand how different resources are being used.

What are the best practices of sales enablement?

Sales enablement is the practice of providing salespeople with the tools, resources, and support they need to effectively sell a product or service. Some best practices for sales enablement include:

  • Providing salespeople with access to high-quality, up-to-date sales materials: This includes product and service information, case studies, demos, and other resources that can help salespeople engage with prospects and customers.
  • Offering training and development opportunities: Salespeople should be trained on how to effectively use the tools and resources at their disposal, as well as on how to identify and overcome objections, navigate complex sales processes, and build relationships with prospects and customers.
  • Ensuring that sales and marketing are aligned: Sales and marketing should work together to develop a clear and consistent message about the product or service, and to create materials that support that message.
  • Using technology to support the sales process: There are many tools and platforms available that can help salespeople track and manage leads, analyze customer data, and collaborate with other members of the sales team.
  • Measuring and tracking the effectiveness of sales enablement efforts: It's important to regularly assess the impact of sales enablement initiatives and make adjustments as needed. This could involve collecting feedback from salespeople, analyzing data on sales performance, and using analytics tools to understand how different resources are being used.

What is the difference between sales enablement and sales operations?

Sales enablement refers to the tools, processes, and practices that are put in place to help salespeople sell more effectively.  

This can include things like training, content, technology, and processes that help salespeople understand their customers better, communicate more effectively, and close deals more efficiently.

Sales operations, on the other hand, refers to the behind-the-scenes processes and systems that support the sales function.  

This can include things like data management, reporting, forecasting, and resource allocation.

Based on the responses, employees can be placed in three different categories:

  • Promoters
    Employees who have responded positively or agreed.
  • Detractors
    Employees who have reacted negatively or disagreed.
  • Passives
    Employees who have stayed neutral with their responses.

What does sales enablement do?

Some specific things that sales enablement can do include:

  • Providing sales teams with training and development programs to help them improve their skills and knowledge.
  • Developing and distributing sales collateral and marketing materials, such as product brochures, case studies, and demonstration videos, to help salespeople communicate the benefits and features of a product or service to potential customers.
  • Creating sales playbooks and other resources that provide guidance and best practices for sales teams on how to effectively engage with and persuade potential customers.
  • Implementing and managing customer relationship management (CRM) systems to help sales teams track and manage customer interactions and sales opportunities.
  • Leveraging technology and other tools to streamline and optimize sales processes, such as by automating tasks or providing sales teams with real-time data and analytics.

What are the elements of a sales enablement strategy?

A successful sales enablement strategy includes several key elements:

  • Content management: Organizing and updating sales content for easy access.
  • Training and coaching: Continuous learning through onboarding and skill development.
  • Sales enablement tools: Platforms that provide analytics, automation, and integration with CRM systems.
  • Collaboration: Aligning marketing and sales to ensure consistency in messaging.
  • Performance tracking: Measuring content effectiveness and sales rep performance.

What is sales enablement automation?

Sales enablement automation uses technology to streamline repetitive tasks, such as content distribution, lead nurturing, and performance reporting.  

By leveraging automation, sales enablement software enhances efficiency, allowing reps to focus more on selling and less on administrative work.

How to build a sales enablement strategy?

To build a strong sales enablement strategy, follow these steps:

  • Set clear goals: Define what success looks like in terms of revenue, productivity, or win rates.
  • Assess current tools: Evaluate existing sales enablement tools and identify gaps.
  • Develop content: Create buyer-focused content that supports each stage of the sales funnel.
  • Train your team: Offer structured training and real-time coaching.
  • Leverage technology: Implement robust sales enablement software for automation and insights.
  • Measure impact: Use KPIs to track effectiveness and refine the strategy regularly.

How to measure sales enablement success?

There are several key metrics that can be used to measure the success of sales enablement efforts:

  • Sales productivity: One of the main goals of sales enablement is to increase the productivity of sales teams. This can be measured by tracking key metrics such as the number of deals closed per salesperson, the average deal size, and the overall sales revenue generated.
  • Time to close: Sales enablement can help streamline the sales process and reduce the time it takes to close deals. Measuring the time it takes to close deals can help organizations understand the effectiveness of their sales enablement efforts.
  • Customer satisfaction: Sales enablement can help sales teams deliver a better customer experience, which can lead to increased customer satisfaction. Measuring customer satisfaction can be done through surveys or other methods.
  • Sales team adoption: To be effective, sales enablement tools and resources need to be used by sales teams. Measuring the adoption of these tools can help organizations understand their effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
  • Content engagement: Sales enablement often involves providing sales teams with resources such as sales collateral, presentations, and other marketing materials. Measuring the engagement with this content, such as the number of views or downloads, can help organizations understand its effectiveness.

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