20 Best Sales Software Platforms for B2B (2024)
August 13, 2024
August 13, 2024
15 min
Can a sales software platform truly transform B2B operations? It certainly can. The key is its ability to integrate efficiency, automation, and analytics, driving success for businesses.
These platforms simplify processes, boost team productivity, and provide valuable insights to close deals faster.
In this article, we’ll explore the 20 best sales software platforms tailored for B2B businesses, highlighting their unique features and benefits.
Whether you need to improve lead management, boost sales performance, or integrate with existing tools, these platforms offer solutions to elevate your sales strategy.
Top Criteria for Selecting Sales Software Platforms
Before we jump into the list of top platforms, let’s examine the key factors you should consider when choosing a sales software solution:
Key Features to Consider
- CRM Integration: 74% of sales professionals believe that a CRM system is essential for managing customer relationships effectively. Look for platforms that offer seamless integration with your existing CRM or provide robust built-in CRM capabilities.
- Analytics and Reporting: Real-time insights and comprehensive reporting features are crucial for data-driven decision-making.
- Automation Capabilities: The ability to automate repetitive tasks can significantly boost your team’s productivity.
- Scalability and Flexibility: Scalability is a top priority for all B2B businesses when selecting software. Choose a platform that can expand your business without needing a complete overhaul.
- User-Friendliness: An intuitive interface is essential for widespread adoption and efficient use. Prioritize platforms with clean, modern designs and customizable workflows that can adapt to your team’s specific processes.
- Security and Compliance: Robust data protection and compliance with industry regulations are non-negotiable. Evaluate the platform’s security measures, data encryption capabilities, and compliance certifications to ensure your sensitive information is protected.
- Cost and ROI: Consider both the upfront costs and long-term value when making your decision. Look beyond the price tag and evaluate the potential return on investment.
20 Best Sales Software Platforms for B2B
Choosing the perfect sales software can make a world of difference in your B2B sales game. Let’s dive into the 20 best platforms that can streamline your process and supercharge your productivity.
1. HubSpot
HubSpot is an all-in-one CRM platform that combines marketing, sales, and service tools into a single integrated solution. It offers features like email marketing, social media management, lead tracking, sales automation, customer service tools, and robust analytics. The platform is designed to help businesses attract visitors, convert leads, and close customers efficiently.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| User-friendly interface | It can be expensive for advanced features |
| The comprehensive suite of tools | Limited customization options available for complex workflows |
| Strong integration capabilities |
Why Hubspot?
HubSpot offers a robust and scalable solution for managing customer relationships, ideal for businesses looking to integrate their marketing and sales efforts into a single platform. It helps streamline processes, improve efficiency, and provide valuable insights through comprehensive analytics.
2. Zendesk Sell
Zendesk Sell is a sales automation software designed to enhance productivity, processes, and pipeline visibility for sales teams. It provides tools for lead and deal management, email tracking, call tracking, and performance analytics. The platform aims to simplify sales workflows and improve communication with prospects and customers.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Easy to use | Limited customization options |
| Strong reporting and analytics | Some advanced features can be costly |
| Excellent customer support |
Why Zendesk Sell?
Ideal for sales teams needing a straightforward, efficient CRM to manage leads and streamline their sales processes. Zendesk Sell helps sales teams stay organized, track their activities, and gain insights into their sales performance, leading to better decision-making and improved sales outcomes.
3. QuickMail
QuickMail is an email outreach tool designed for sending personalized cold emails at scale. It allows users to create automated email sequences, track email open rate and reply rates, and manage follow-ups. The platform focuses on improving email deliverability and personalizing outreach to increase response rates.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| User-friendly | Limited to email outreach |
| High deliverability rates | Advanced features can be complex to set up |
| Automation features |
Why QuickMail?
Best for businesses focusing on cold email campaigns to generate leads and nurture prospects. QuickMail helps automate repetitive tasks, ensuring timely follow-ups and increasing the efficiency of email outreach efforts.
4. Salesloft
Salesloft provides a sales engagement platform that helps teams manage and automate their sales outreach and communications. It offers features like email and call tracking, sales cadences, and detailed analytics. The platform aims to improve sales productivity and engagement by providing tools to streamline and optimize the sales process.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Comprehensive engagement features | Can be pricey |
| Strong analytics and reporting | The learning curve for new users |
| Integration with major CRMs |
Why Salesloft?
Perfect for sales teams looking to improve engagement and streamline their sales processes through automation and analytics. Salesloft provides a structured approach to sales activities, ensuring consistent and personalized communication with prospects.
5. PandaDoc
PandaDoc is a document automation software that helps create, manage, and sign digital documents. It offers features like customizable templates, electronic signatures, and document analytics. The platform is designed to simplify the document workflow, from creation to approval, and ensure secure and legally binding signatures.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Easy document creation and editing | Template limitations |
| Electronic signature capabilities | Pricing can be high for small businesses |
| Integration with other tools |
Why PandaDoc?
Ideal for businesses needing to streamline their document workflows, especially for proposals and contracts. PandaDoc helps reduce the time spent on document preparation and ensures secure and efficient signing processes, leading to faster deal closures.
6. LeadSquared
LeadSquared is a CRM and marketing automation platform designed to manage sales and marketing activities. It offers features like lead management, email marketing, sales automation, and analytics. The platform aims to align marketing and sales efforts to improve lead conversion and drive business growth.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Comprehensive lead management | Can be complex for beginners |
| Marketing automation features | Costly for small businesses |
| Strong reporting and analytics |
Why LeadSquared?
Suitable for businesses looking to combine their sales and marketing efforts into one platform for better lead management and automation. LeadSquared helps track and nurture leads throughout the sales funnel, ensuring a seamless handoff from marketing to sales.
7. ClosePlan
ClosePlan is a sales execution platform focused on helping sales teams close deals more effectively. It provides tools for deal qualification, sales methodology adherence, and detailed planning. The platform integrates with Salesforce to provide a structured approach to managing and closing sales opportunities.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Detailed sales execution planning | Limited to Salesforce users |
| Integration with Salesforce | Can be expensive |
| Robust deal qualification tools |
Why ClosePlan?
Best for sales teams using Salesforce that need detailed planning and execution tools to close deals efficiently. ClosePlan helps ensure that sales opportunities are properly qualified and managed, increasing the likelihood of successful deal closures.
8. Salesforce
Salesforce is a leading CRM platform that offers a wide range of tools for sales, marketing, and customer service. It provides features like contact management, opportunity tracking, workflow automation, and advanced analytics. The platform is highly customizable and can be tailored to meet the specific needs of different businesses.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Highly customizable | Expensive |
| Extensive integration options | Steep learning curve |
| Powerful analytics and reporting |
Why Salesforce?
Ideal for businesses seeking a highly customizable and scalable CRM solution with a wide range of features. Salesforce helps manage customer relationships, automate workflows, and gain insights through powerful analytics, driving business growth and efficiency.
9. Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM offers a comprehensive set of tools for managing customer relationships and automating sales processes. It includes features like contact management, lead scoring, workflow automation, and analytics. The platform is designed to help businesses streamline their sales operations and improve customer engagement.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Affordable pricing | The user interface can be cluttered |
| Extensive feature set | Customer support issues |
| Strong integration capabilities |
Why Zoho CRM?
Perfect for small to medium-sized businesses looking for an affordable yet comprehensive CRM solution. Zoho CRM helps manage sales activities, track customer interactions, and gain insights to improve sales performance.
10. DocuSign
DocuSign provides electronic signature and agreement cloud solutions to prepare, sign, and manage documents digitally. It offers features like secure electronic signatures, document storage, and workflow automation. The platform ensures that agreements are legally binding and securely managed.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Easy to use | Pricing can be high for advanced features |
| Secure and legally binding signatures | Limited template customization |
| Integration with many platforms |
Why DocuSign?
Essential for businesses that require secure and efficient electronic signature solutions for their document workflows. DocuSign helps speed up the signing process, ensures legal compliance, and provides a secure repository for important documents.
11. Apollo.io
Apollo.io is a sales engagement platform that provides tools for prospecting, outreach, and analytics. It includes features like a comprehensive contact database, email tracking, call tracking, and detailed analytics. The platform is designed to improve sales efficiency and engagement through targeted outreach.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Comprehensive contact database | Learning curve for new users |
| Strong engagement features | Pricing can be high for advanced features |
| Integration with CRMs |
Why Apollo.io?
Ideal for sales teams looking to improve their prospecting and engagement efforts through a single platform. Apollo.io provides a robust database and engagement tools to help sales teams reach the right prospects and track their interactions effectively.
12. Gong
Gong provides a revenue intelligence platform that analyzes sales conversations to provide insights and improve sales performance. It offers features like call recording, transcription, and AI-driven analytics. The platform helps identify trends, uncover coaching opportunities, and drive better sales outcomes.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Deep conversation analytics | Expensive |
| Actionable insights | Requires time to implement and train: It can take significant time and resources to properly set up and train staff on using the software effectively. |
| Integration with major CRMs | The initial setup process can be intricate and may require technical expertise. |
Why Gong?
Best for sales teams looking to leverage AI and analytics to gain insights from sales conversations and improve performance. Gong helps sales managers understand what works in sales calls and provides data-driven recommendations for coaching and improvement.
13. Lead Forensics
Lead Forensics identifies website visitors and provides contact information for potential leads. It offers features like visitor tracking, real-time alerts, and detailed analytics. The platform helps businesses turn anonymous website traffic into actionable sales leads.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Identifies anonymous website visitors | Expensive |
| Provides detailed contact information | Limited to identifying website visitors |
| Integration with CRMs | Requires ongoing management |
Why Lead Forensics?
Ideal for businesses aiming to turn anonymous website traffic into actionable leads, this software identifies potential customers visiting your site and provides the necessary information to engage and convert them effectively.
14. SalesRabbit
SalesRabbit offers a mobile sales enablement app designed for field sales teams. It includes features like lead tracking, route planning, offline capabilities, and sales training. The platform aims to improve the productivity and efficiency of field sales representatives.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Intuitive mobile app | Best suited for field sales |
| Robust offline capabilities | Some features can be costly |
| Effective route planning | Limited integration options |
| Comprehensive lead management | Occasional app performance issues |
| Real-time data synchronization | Requires consistent updates |
Why SalesRabbit?
Ideal for businesses with field sales teams needing a mobile solution for lead management and sales enablement. SalesRabbit helps sales reps stay organized, plan their routes, and access information even without an internet connection, enhancing their productivity on the go.
15. Clari
Clari provides a revenue operations platform that uses AI to help sales teams forecast and manage their pipelines. It offers features like sales forecasting, pipeline management, and deal insights. The platform is designed to improve sales predictability and performance through data-driven insights.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Highly accurate sales forecasting | High cost |
| Efficient pipeline management | Requires significant time for implementation and training |
| Seamless integration with major CRMs | The learning curve for new users |
| Improves visibility into sales data | Dependence on regular data updates |
| Improved decision-making capabilities | Limited customization options |
Why Clari?
Best for sales teams looking to improve their forecasting accuracy and pipeline management through AI-driven insights. Clari helps sales leaders make informed decisions, identify risks, and optimize their sales strategies to achieve better outcomes.
16. CaptivateIQ
CaptivateIQ offers a sales commission software that simplifies commission calculation and management. It includes features like customizable commission plans, automated calculations, and detailed reporting. The platform is designed to ensure accurate and timely commission payouts.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Easy commission calculation | Pricing can be high for small businesses |
| Customizable plans | The initial setup can be complex |
| Integration with other tools |
Why CaptivateIQ?
Suitable for businesses needing to streamline their commission management and ensure accurate payouts. CaptivateIQ helps reduce errors, saves time on manual calculations, and provides transparency in commission structures, leading to better motivation and satisfaction among sales teams.
17. Cognism
Cognism provides a sales intelligence platform with a focus on prospecting and lead generation. It offers features like a comprehensive contact database, advanced filtering and targeting, and sales automation tools. The platform aims to help sales teams identify and engage with high-quality prospects.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Comprehensive data coverage across multiple industries and regions | Higher pricing compared to some competitors |
| Advanced AI and machine learning algorithms for accurate data insights | Potential data inaccuracies in certain regions |
| User-friendly interface with intuitive navigation | Limited customization options for specific business needs |
| Integration with popular CRM systems | May require a learning curve for new users |
| Compliance with GDPR and other data protection regulations | Occasional lag in data update frequency |
| Real-time data updates and verification | Some advanced features may require additional costs |
| Excellent customer support and onboarding process | Integration issues with less common CRM systems |
| Provides actionable sales intelligence and lead generation | Limited offline access to data |
Why Cognism?
Perfect for sales teams seeking a powerful tool for prospecting and lead generation, this solution offers advanced targeting capabilities. Cognism helps sales reps find and connect with the right prospects, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of their outreach efforts.
18. Slack
Slack is a messaging platform designed for team collaboration and communication. It offers features like channels for team discussions, direct messaging, file sharing, and integration with various productivity tools. The platform is designed to enhance communication and collaboration within teams.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| User-friendly interface and easy to use | Can be overwhelming with constant notifications |
| Integrates with a wide range of other software and tools | High cost for larger teams and premium features |
| Supports real-time messaging and collaboration | Limited free tier with restrictions on message history and integrations |
| Customizable with channels, threads, and direct messages | Potential security concerns if not properly managed |
| Enhances team communication and project management | Can lead to decreased productivity if not used effectively |
| Strong search functionality for finding past messages and files | Learning curve for new users and requires training |
| Offers both desktop and mobile applications | Can be distracting and lead to fragmented conversations |
Why Slack?
Best for teams needing a centralized platform for real-time communication and collaboration. Slack helps improve team coordination, reduce email clutter, and keep everyone on the same page, improving overall productivity and efficiency.
19. Instantly
Instantly is an email outreach tool designed to automate and scale email campaigns. It includes features like email scheduling, automated follow-ups, and detailed analytics. The platform focuses on improving email deliverability and personalizing outreach to increase response rates.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| User-friendly | Limited to email outreach |
| High deliverability rates | Some advanced features can be complex to set up |
| Automation features |
Why Instantly?
Ideal for businesses focusing on automating and scaling their email outreach efforts. Instantly helps manage large-scale email campaigns, ensuring timely follow-ups and increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of email marketing strategies.
20. Outreach.io
Outreach.io provides a sales engagement platform that helps sales teams manage and optimize their sales activities. It includes features like email and call tracking, sales automation, and detailed analytics. The platform aims to improve sales productivity and engagement by providing tools to streamline and optimize the sales process.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Highly customizable workflows | Can be expensive for small businesses |
| Powerful analytics and reporting tools | Steep learning curve |
| Integrates well with major CRM systems | Occasional issues with email deliverability |
| Automates repetitive tasks | Complexity can be overwhelming for new users |
| Enhances sales team productivity | Limited mobile app functionality |
Why Outreach.io?
Perfect for sales teams looking to improve engagement and streamline their sales processes through automation and analytics. Outreach.io provides a structured approach to sales activities, ensuring consistent and personalized communication with prospects and enhancing overall sales performance.
Sales Software Platforms: Choose Wisely
To boost productivity and sales, focus on platforms that seamlessly integrate with your CRM system, provide insightful analytics, and offer user-friendly interfaces.
Whether you choose HubSpot Sales, Salesforce Sales Cloud, or another leading option, ensure it aligns with your specific business objectives. The ideal software simplifies tasks, provides valuable data, and ultimately drives your success.
FAQs on Sales Software Platforms
1. What are the essential features to look for in a sales software platform for B2B?
Essential features include CRM integration, automation capabilities, analytics and reporting, scalability, and user-friendliness. These features ensure that the software can effectively support your sales process and grow with your business.
2. How can sales software improve the efficiency of my B2B sales team?
Sales software improves efficiency by automating repetitive tasks, providing real-time analytics for data-driven decisions, facilitating better communication within the team and with clients, and offering tools for effective lead management and pipeline visualization.
3. What factors should I consider when choosing between different sales software platforms?
Consider the specific needs of your sales team, integration capabilities with existing tools, ease of use, cost, scalability, and customer support. Also, evaluate the platform’s analytics capabilities, mobile app functionality, and security features to ensure they align with your business requirements.
4. How important is CRM integration in sales software?
CRM integration is highly important as it centralizes all customer data, offering a comprehensive view of each client. This centralization facilitates more personalized sales strategies and enhances overall customer relationship management. With CRM integration, sales teams can streamline their processes, improve communication, and increase efficiency.
5. What kind of ROI can I expect from investing in sales software?
The return on investment from sales software can be substantial, as it streamlines operations, enhances productivity, and improves sales effectiveness. The specific ROI will depend on various factors, including the chosen platform, the quality of implementation, and how well the software aligns with your sales processes. Generally, businesses experience improved sales performance and greater efficiency with the right sales software.
