The Future of AI in Sales and Customer Service

The Future of AI in Sales and Customer Service

Author: Chad Burmeister February 26, 2026 Duration: 33:53
Summary In this conversation, Chad Burmeister interviews Michelle Donnelly, Chief Revenue Officer at Crescendo, discussing the transformative impact of AI on customer experience. They explore how Crescendo's AI-native platform enhances customer interactions, the integration of human agents, and the efficiency gains from AI implementation. Michelle shares insights on industry applications, ethical considerations, and the future of AI in sales, emphasizing the importance of human touch in customer service. Takeaways Crescendo has achieved $100 million in AI ARR in just two years. AI chatbots can accurately handle 98% of customer inquiries. The integration of AI and human agents enhances customer experience. AI can transform customer service into a profit center. Speed and efficiency are critical in customer interactions. AI can provide insights that improve product offerings. Companies can achieve significant cost savings with AI implementation. The human touch remains essential in customer service. AI can help new sales hires become productive faster. Ethical considerations in AI deployment are crucial for customer trust. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Crescendo and AI in Customer Experience 02:49 Transforming Customer Experience with AI 06:00 Industry Applications of AI in Customer Service 10:55 The Role of AI in Enhancing Human Agents 16:26 Efficiency Gains and ROI from AI Implementation 18:43 The Future of AI in Sales and Customer Interaction 22:12 Ethical Considerations in AI Deployment 24:29 The Future of Physical AI Agents 26:57 Skills for the Future Sales Workforce

Chad Burmeister has spent his career at the forefront of sales transformation, and in The AI for Sales Podcast, he brings that experience into direct conversation with the tools reshaping the profession. This isn't about speculative futurism; it's a grounded exploration of how artificial intelligence is actively being applied to real sales challenges. Each episode delves into practical strategies, dissecting how the synergy between human intuition and machine intelligence can streamline processes, unlock insights, and ultimately close more deals. You'll hear from practitioners and innovators who are using AI to enhance everything from lead generation and conversation intelligence to pipeline management and coaching. The guiding principle here is efficiency, captured well by Dr. Joel Le Bon's observation that in sales, time kills deals, but in this arena, AI kills time. Brought to you by partners like BDR.ai, Nooks.ai, and ZoomInfo, the discussions are rooted in actionable intelligence. If you're in sales, leadership, or entrepreneurship and feel the pressure to do more with less, this podcast offers a clear-eyed look at the technologies that are becoming essential companions. Chad facilitates conversations that cut through the hype, focusing on tangible results and the creative application of these powerful tools in a modern commercial landscape.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

The AI for Sales Podcast
Podcast Episodes
The Power of AI in Sales: Prioritization and Focus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:43
Summary In this episode of the AI for Sales podcast, Chad Burmeister interviews Masha Kroll, the CEO of Glowstick.ai. They discuss the use of AI in sales and the importance of prioritization and focus. Masha shares her b…
The Role of AI in Sales and Human Connection [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:53
Summary In this episode, Chad Burmeister interviews Mimi Gross, who coined the phrase 'people-led growth.' They discuss the use of automation and technology on LinkedIn, including the importance of personalization and bu…
Cutting Through the Noise with Relationship-Based Selling [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:48
Summary In this episode, Chad Burmeister interviews David Connors, the co-founder and CEO of The Swarm, a platform that helps sales teams leverage their company's network using AI. They discuss the power of AI in sales a…
AI's Impact on Standardized Transactions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:38
Summary In this episode, Chad Burmeister interviews Dr. David Macauley, the founder of Wendworks. They discuss the impact of AI on democratizing content knowledge and enabling humans to apply knowledge creatively. They a…
Ethical Considerations of AI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:59
Summary In this episode, Chad Burmeister interviews Scott Wozniak, CEO of Swaz Consulting, about the impact of AI on sales and business. Scott shares his early experiences with technology and how AI has evolved over time…
Misconceptions about AI in Sales [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:14
In this episode, Chad Burmeister interviews Chet Lovegren, the sales doctor, about the role of AI in sales. They discuss the misconceptions about AI, the current applications of AI in sales, and the potential for AI in m…
The Power of AI in Various Fields [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:26
Summary In this episode, Chad Burmeister interviews Thomas Ryan, the CEO and founder of Bigly Sales. They discuss the impact of AI on customer service, the automation of lead response and scheduling, and the use of AI in…
Staying Ahead in the AI Revolution [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:04
Summary In this episode, Chad Burmeister interviews Bill Reed, the CEO of Remotely Me, a company that uses AI to help sales professionals and recruiters. They discuss the excitement and value of AI in sales and HR, as we…
The Evolution of AI and Human Roles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:20
Summary In this episode, Chad Burmeister interviews Nimisha Morkonda Gnanasekaran, the Director of Data Science at Western Digital. They discuss the potential of AI in the fourth industrial revolution and its impact on h…
The Potential of AI for Scaling Business [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:06
Summary In this episode, Chad Burmeister interviews Todd Calloway, the managing director and co-founder of TalkTime AI, about the potential of conversation AI in scaling business efforts. They discuss the impact of AI on…