A Strategic Guide On Sales Training Software

As companies look to modernize their processes, they’re turning to cloud-based solutions like sales training software to drive results and increase efficiency.

Sales training software is invaluable for any business that wants to ensure its sales teams are well-equipped and up-to-date on the latest strategies and tactics. 

By providing sales staff with a comprehensive understanding of their product, customer base, and industry trends, sales training software can help businesses increase their close rates and grow their revenue.

Grand View Research reports that the global market size for sales training software was worth USD 1.92 billion in 2021 and predicts that the market will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.0% from 2022 to 2030. This indicates a significant opportunity for businesses to invest and get ahead of their competition.

But, did you know the face of competition for hiring has changed dramatically in today’s business world? Employers are no longer only interested in a candidate’s list of skills and experiences. Instead, the focus has shifted to attracting the right kind of talent to their company.

Organizations acknowledge that sales enablement plays a significant role in this paradigm shift. As a result, they are adopting new employee training methods to transform the corporate landscape and attract top talent.

It’s a well-known fact that the sales industry is an incredibly competitive environment. Sales teams are turning to sales training software to stay ahead of rival companies. This software reduces ramp time for new hires, enables the current workforce, and boosts overall performance.

You may want to rethink that perspective if spending money on sales training software isn’t a good investment. The truth is that providing your sales reps with the necessary tools to succeed is essential for employee retention, engagement, and, ultimately, revenue goals. 

By investing in online sales training, businesses can save money while attracting and retaining high-quality employees. These training programs are engaging, interactive, and designed to meet the needs of sales teams, making it easier for them to close more deals and achieve their targets. 

This article provides a comprehensive guide on sales training software to help businesses. It gives an overview of the market, examines the current trends and challenges, and provides key insights into leveraging sales training software to drive growth.

What Is Sales Training Software? 

Sales training software is a cloud-based tool designed to streamline sales processes by providing automated guidance and performance tracking. 

It helps sales teams stay on top by providing up-to-date skills, best practices, and strategies. The software also makes creating and delivering sales training courses easier, tracking employee progress, and measuring return on investment (ROI).

Why Is Sales Training Software Important?

Sales training software is essential for businesses in today’s market as it helps sales teams stay competitive and maximize their success. It can be used to onboard new employees quickly and effectively and train existing staff on the latest sales techniques and strategies.

The software also helps ensure sales reps have access to the latest data and information, enabling them to perform better and close more deals. It also helps reduce training costs and maximize ROI by providing tailored sales training courses that can be completed quickly.

What Is The Purpose of Sales Training?

Hiring new sellers can be daunting because sales teams are usually the primary point of contact for clients outside the company. For companies with unique products or selling approaches, relying solely on a new sales hire’s existing skills when making cold calls may not be sufficient.

In such cases, undergoing sales training can be highly advantageous. Essentially, sales training aims to equip sales representatives with effective selling strategies and in-depth knowledge of the products they are selling. Although the exercise may differ in duration, breadth, and scope, its primary goal is to ensure sales reps know about their product offerings and confidently engage with prospective customers.

According to Salesforce, Companies in the United States have spent an estimated $70 billion on training per year.  However, this traditional approach to training is becoming increasingly obsolete due to the emergence of sales training software.

Many people turn to online sales training programs with the sales industry changing quickly and teams working in different places. Sales training software is now more widely available and flexible than ever. Online sales training helps salespeople learn when and where it works best for them, giving them what they need to make sales and succeed. Managers can streamline and enhance their sales training efforts using sales training software by creating, updating, managing, and monitoring the training process.

Sales training is indispensable if a business wants to stay ahead of the competition. Sales reps must be taught about niche products and equipped with the latest selling techniques to succeed. 

Businesses can now train their sales reps remotely with online sales training programs. This saves time and resources while still providing high-quality learning experiences. Investing in sales training software is an excellent way for a company to empower its sales reps, enhance their performance, and drive revenue growth.

The Best Sales Training Software

WalkMe 

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars. Pricing: Request a quote

WalkMe is one of the leading sales training software platforms available today. It’s an AI-powered digital adoption platform that streamlines the learning and onboarding process for sales teams. WalkMe offers a wide range of features that help sales reps stay up-to-date with the latest tools, strategies, and best practices.

One of the biggest benefits of using WalkMe as a sales training tool is its ability to personalize training content based on the skill level and experience of each salesperson. This means that new hires can receive different training than seasoned veterans, allowing them to learn at their own pace while still building the fundamental knowledge they need to be successful in their role.

Another advantage of WalkMe is its intuitive user interface. The platform is easy to navigate and understand, even for new users who may not be familiar with sales enablement or digital adoption platforms. The user-friendly interface helps reduce training time, allowing sales reps to quickly get up to speed and start selling more effectively.

WalkMe offers real-time analytics and reporting to give sales managers critical insights into their team’s performance. Managers can use this information to identify areas where their sales reps are struggling and provide targeted coaching and training to help improve performance.

WalkMe is an excellent sales training software solution for businesses looking to improve their sales team’s performance and productivity. With its personalized training, intuitive interface, and powerful analytics and reporting features, WalkMe is a valuable tool for any sales organization looking to train and onboard new reps while improving the skills of existing team members.

Allego 

Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars Pricing: Contact for pricing information

Allego is an advanced sales enablement software platform that provides sales managers with on-demand video courses, content libraries, and sales conversation analytics. It allows sales managers to analyze past sales conversations and identify areas where revenue is lost or won. Moreover, sales reps can engage buyers using personalized video messages, digital sales rooms, and document intelligence to monitor buyer activity.

LevelJump 

Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars Pricing: Contact for pricing information

LevelJump is a result-oriented sales enablement platform that helps salespeople inside their CRM with effective coaching. Salesforce recently acquired LevelJump and product development will likely focus on the Salesforce ecosystem. While this may not be ideal for businesses using other enterprise CRMs, LevelJump can still be found on Salesforce AppExchange.

UQualio 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Pricing: Paid tier starts at $19.99 per month

UQualio is a learning management platform designed specifically for trainers and managers whose programs are video-based. UQualio works across mobile and the web and supports uploads and embedded videos from YouTube and Vimeo. The platform provides detailed analytics on how your team engages with your content, making it easy to monitor progress and identify areas for improvement.

Lessonly 

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars Pricing: Paid tier starts at $200 per month

Lessonly, a Seismic product, is an employee training platform that helps managers ramp up new sales reps quickly through interactive coaching programs, on-demand content, and role-play features to help salespeople practice their selling skills and receive automatic grading.

Lessonly allows for customized coaching programs, either cohort-based or for individual reps. The platform integrates with mainstream enterprise CRM and tools such as Salesforce, HubSpot, and Outreach, making it easy to use and implement.

Brainshark 

Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars Pricing: Paid tier $420 per user per year

Brainshark is a corporate learning management system (LMS) designed to create and host interactive content, train sales reps, and actively coach them. Brainshark’s LMS features make it easy to make a wide range of content, including screen recordings, webcam videos, and presentations, or even by uploading your existing sales enablement curriculum to the Brainshark library. The coaching features enable video assessments, peer-reviewed practice sessions, machine analysis, and team leaderboards to gamify the enablement process.

SalesHood 

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars Pricing: $75 per user per month

SalesHood is a guided selling platform that enables sales leaders to store their training content in a single library, grade their sales team’s performance using personalized metrics, and coach their teams consistently with reusable templates and role-play sessions. At $75 per user per month, an organization with 100 salespeople will spend $90k on licenses yearly. SalesHood also offers add-ons such as the ‘Getting Started’ package, which costs $10k apiece.

WorkRamp 

Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars Pricing: $25 – $35 per user per month

WorkRamp is an LMS that helps sales managers coach their reps with onboarding boot camps, self-service content libraries, and live practice sessions that are graded automatically. WorkRamp provides a range of sales training courses, from onboarding and general training to compliance and customer training, which can be created, curated, managed, and delivered easily.

EdApp 

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars Pricing: Paid tier starts at $1.95 per user per month

EdApp is a micro-learning platform manager can use to design bite-sized courses on web and mobile devices. The courses can include multiple-choice questions, text content, quizzes, games, or videos designed to teach salespeople the sales fundamentals. With EdApp’s catalog of 1,000+ free courses, users can customize and administer portals to track user engagement, integrate with third-party applications, and gamify the training process with competitive leaderboards.

Mindtickle 

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars Pricing: Starting at $299 per month for up to 100 users

Mindtickle is a powerful sales readiness platform that offers comprehensive onboarding, coaching, and training solutions for sales teams. Using the platform, sales managers can create an ideal rep profile, grade their salespeople’s performance against the set benchmarks, and design programs that enhance their skills in specific areas such as product knowledge, objection handling, and value articulation.

Zoho Learn 

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars Pricing: Paid tier starts at $1 per user per month

Zoho Learn is a knowledge management and learning platform designed to build sales content libraries, conduct skill assessments, and measure the impact of internal training programs. With its native integration with other Zoho products, it’s a great solution for organizations already using the Zoho ecosystem of software products. With features such as giving team members read or write access, testing with multiple choice questions, collecting users’ reviews on individual resources, and grouping articles into courses, Zoho Learn is an excellent platform for sales training.

Sales Training Software Programs

Sales training is an essential aspect of any business’s success. And with the plethora of software platforms available, it can be challenging to determine which one is the best fit for your specific needs. Decision-making can be further complicated when considering company size, features, and pricing factors.

Fortunately, there are various sales training programs available on the market that offer unique strengths and weaknesses. Here are some of the best sales training programs:

eLearning software:

This flexible and scalable option can be adapted to fit any industry. eLearning software provides valuable training on important topics that sales teams need to know. These programs can support small businesses as well as medium-to-large companies. 

They are an excellent choice for organizations providing training across multiple locations or departments, as they allow for a consistent learning experience for all employees.

Online training development software:

This software is designed to enhance existing skills rather than starting from scratch. These programs are useful for technically advanced positions like web development or industries requiring recurring certifications. However, they tend to focus on singular topics and may not be suitable for entire companies.

Industry-specific training software:

Highly specialized and tailored to meet the specific needs of individual work environments, industry-specific training software provides in-depth knowledge critical for employees working in those fields. 

For example, hospital and medicine-specific training programs provide extensive information about medical procedures and protocols. Examples include real estate sales, pharmaceutical sales, and insurance sales training programs.

Retail sales training program:

These programs are customer service-focused and train new employees on selling techniques in a retail setting, including updates on new products or sales. Retail sales training empowers employees to increase sales, ensure customer satisfaction, and drive business growth.

While many software options target specific niches, most businesses benefit from a learning software platform that can be customized to fit their unique needs.

By incorporating and building your online sales training courses, you can ensure your team receives the best training possible. This approach allows you to design systems that fit your company’s and its employees’ specific needs while ensuring that your sales team has the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.

What Are The Benefits Of Sales Training Software?

We’ve identified the five key benefits of sales training software:

1. Increased Sales Performance: Sales training software can help boost sales performance by providing your team with the necessary skills and knowledge to close more deals and exceed customer expectations. Improved performance translates to increased revenue, which is vital for any business looking to grow.
2. Consistent Training Experience: A standardized training experience ensures that all employees receive the same level of training when they join your company, regardless of their location or department. This approach results in a cohesive team operating under the same principles, which enhances productivity and improves overall results.
3. Cost-Effective: Sales training software is an affordable alternative to expensive in-person training sessions. With eLearning software, for instance, you can create customized training courses that can be accessed remotely, reducing travel costs and other expenses associated with traditional training methods.
4. Flexibility: Sales training software allows for flexibility in scheduling and location. With internet access, employees can access the training materials on time and from any location. This means that training can occur during non-work hours, reducing disruptions to regular business operations.
5. Customizable Content: You can tailor the content to meet your business and employees’ unique needs by creating your online sales training courses. Customized content ensures that your sales team is equipped with the specific skills they need to excel in their roles, resulting in increased sales and profitability.

Switching To Online Sales Training Software

Keeping sales teams up-to-date with the latest techniques and strategies is crucial as businesses evolve. That’s where implementing online sales training software comes in.

Though transitioning from traditional to digital methods might seem intimidating, utilizing online sales training software offers numerous benefits. Here’s a detailed guide for successfully introducing sales training software into your organization:

Evaluate Your Current Training: 

The first step is to assess your current training methods. Take an honest look at your team’s current efforts, gather feedback from your sales reps and managers, and review data to find out what has worked well and what hasn’t.

Create A Comprehensive Plan: 

After evaluating your training program, the next step is to create a clear, concise, and comprehensive sales training agenda. Take into account the different needs of new hires versus experienced sales reps. Establish a timeline for training implementation, and ensure that you incorporate sales training ideas that align with your sales goals and objectives.

Utilize Subject Matter Experts: 

Remember that the content of your sales training courses is everything. Work with subject matter experts, such as your top-performing sales reps, to create engaging and insightful lessons. You can also leverage the knowledge and expertise of other industry professionals, consultants, or mentors.

Maximize Training Impact: 

Effective sales training only works if your sales reps engage with it. Sales training software offers various training methods like videos, photos, and practice scenarios that cater to different learning styles. It also provides access to training on-demand, allowing reps to complete training when and where it’s convenient for them.

Reinforce Skills and Provide Feedback: 

Pairing sales training with intentional practice and thoughtful coaching leads to lasting success. With sales training software, you can deliver training, encourage practice, and provide individualized feedback, all in one place.

Measure Success: 

Tracking progress is essential to ensure your sales training strategy is working effectively. Use sales training software that allows you to measure engagement, completion rates, and performance data, so you can make adjustments as needed.

Implementing online sales training software may seem like a daunting task, but it is worth it. You can ensure that your sales team is always up-to-date with the latest industry trends, sales techniques, and strategies.

What’s Next For Sales Training Software?

With the ever-changing sales landscape, more businesses are turning to digital solutions for their sales training needs. The latest advancements in software allow companies to optimize their training strategies and get measurable results.

Today, online sales training software offers gamification, virtual reality simulations, automated coaching services, personalized content delivery, analytics capabilities, and more. As the technology evolves, so do the possibilities for sales teams to maximize their performance.

The key is finding software that meets your needs— from onboarding new hires to developing experienced reps. With effective online sales training software in place, you’ll be able to ensure that your sales team has all the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.

So, if you’re ready to take your sales training program to the next level, invest in a powerful online sales training software solution. Its comprehensive features and benefits will help you succeed faster and more efficiently than ever.