ChatGPT Prompts for Electrical Salespeople

See the GPT-4o reveal to learn more.

ChatGPT was launched November 30, 2022, but went “mainstream” in Q1 2023 when Microsoft made a significant investment into OpenAI. Since then either “AI is going to take over”, “many will lose their jobs”, “it’s a great tool to use” or somewhere in-between.

Further, it amplified the conversation of “what is the opportunity / future” do to AI.

Over the past year there have been many articles and conferences talking about what could / is coming, how companies need a strategy, there is a need to “organize / clean / structure” data, and more that relates to “planning.” We’re starting to see some purpose-built tools that manufacturers and distributors can use.

Salespeople in general, and manufacturer reps / lighting agents specifically (for this article) are also talking about AI and experimenting as well as asking “what could be done.” Some reps have generated ideas. Others are asking their “ERP” providers about plans / roadmaps. Some have, some seemingly have blank stares.

Recently I saw a posting from Flowrms, an emerging rep ERP platform serving multiple industries, that shared some ChatGPT prompts that a salesperson … be they distributor, manufacturer, manufacturer rep, or lighting agent, can use. It had nothing to do about their platform and everything to do with helping salespeople, so I reached out to Curtis Seare, the Founding Partner, for Flowrms, and asked him to expound on prompts that could be expressly for the electrical industry. Below he shares some different applications and the specific prompts.

Understanding GPT-4o

The GPT-4o model, recently introduced by OpenAI, marks a significant advancement in AI capabilities. The “o” in GPT-4o stands for “omni,” reflecting its ability to handle a diverse range of tasks across multiple modalities—text, audio, and vision—simultaneously and in real-time. This model is designed to perform twice as fast as GPT-4, with enhanced multilingual support and the ability to process and respond to inputs nearly instantaneously, making it a powerful tool for various applications, including in the electrical distribution industry.

You can sign up for a free account and start using GPT-4o today at https://GPT-4o.com/

GPT-4o in the Sales Process: Practical Prompts for Electrical Industry Professionals

In this section, we’ll explore three key areas where electrical industry salespeople can immediately leverage GPT-4o to enhance their sales process: Market Research and Competitor Analysis, Sales Pitch and Presentation Preparation, and Technical Knowledge Enhancement.

Here’s some sample prompts you can use to improve your sales effectiveness. To see more prompts, have a look at “100 GPT-4o Prompts for Manufacturers and Reps”.

As you read the prompts, notice the pattern of asking GPT-4o to do its research and find sources in its answer. This ensures the system will pull in current information and give you links to where it found it.

ChatGPT Insights Support Market Research and Competitor Analysis

Staying informed about industry trends and competitor activities is crucial in the fast-paced electrical distribution sector. These prompts can help you gather valuable insights, but you can switch out some of the wording to make it your own:

1. “Summarize the latest trends in renewable energy integration for commercial buildings. Do your research and find sources.”
2. “What are the main features of [Competitor’s] new line of variable frequency drives? Do your research and find sources.”
3. “List the recent changes in electrical codes that might affect our industrial customers. Do your research and find sources.”
4. “Provide an overview of the current market demand for smart home electrical solutions. Do your research and find sources.”
5. “Compare the energy efficiency ratings of the top 3 industrial lighting manufacturers. Do your research and find sources.”

Here’s a snippet example of the output you can get from the first prompt:

ChatGPT to Enhance Sales Pitches and Presentation Preparation

Crafting compelling pitches and presentations is essential for closing deals. Consider these prompts:

1. “Create an outline for a 10-minute presentation on the benefits of upgrading to smart electrical panels in commercial buildings. Do your research and find sources.”
2. “Generate 5 common objections customers might have about switching to LED lighting systems, and how to address them. Do your research and find sources.”
3. “Write a brief storytelling framework to explain the importance of surge protection devices to a non-technical audience. Do your research and find sources.”
4. “Develop a 60-second elevator pitch template for promoting energy-efficient HVAC control systems. Do your research and find sources.”
5. “List 10 open-ended questions to ask a facility manager to uncover their pain points related to electrical distribution systems. Do your research and find sources.”

Here’s a snippet example of the output you can get from the first prompt:

ChatGPT for Technical Knowledge Enhancement

In the electrical industry, technical knowledge is key. Use these prompts to brush up on technical concepts and explain them more effectively to clients:

1. “Explain the concept of power factor correction in simple terms that I can use with non-technical clients. Do your research and find sources.”
2. “What are the key differences between NEMA and IEC motor starters that I should be aware of? Do your research and find sources.”
3. “Provide a simple explanation of how IoT is being integrated into modern electrical distribution systems. Do your research and find sources.”
4. “Describe the benefits of arc flash mitigation techniques in layman’s terms. Do your research and find sources.”
5. “Explain the concept of harmonics in electrical systems and why it matters to industrial clients. Do your research and find sources.”

Here’s a snippet example of the output you can get from the first prompt:

By leveraging these prompts, you can tap into the power of GPT-4o to support your sales efforts. Remember to verify any technical information or data provided by AI, especially when dealing with specialized industry knowledge. Use these prompts as a starting point and modify them as needed to suit your specific products and customer base.

Beyond GPT-4o: The Future

While GPT-4o offers tremendous value, the electrical distribution industry now has an AI solution tailored specifically to its needs: FlowBot. This AI takes everything we’ve discussed about GPT-4o and adds in industry-specific capabilities that works from your own data. FlowBot is scheduled to release to all Flow users Q3 of 2024. If you’d like to try it out or have questions, schedule a demo at flowrms.com or email Curtis Seare.

Thoughts on Using ChatGPT and AI

• ChatGPT, and for that matter AI, is not going away. The sooner your team learns how to use the tool to its advantage, the better for you.
• Suggestion – at an upcoming sales meeting, share the above prompts. Discuss the application and then set a “homework” assignment for your salespeople to research a market segment, prospects, or something.
• Also use the product knowledge prompt with your customer service / inside sales team (and possibly outside sales). Do it based upon an application. Try it based upon a key line and perhaps a niche line. It may be 100% perfect but, then again, for those who are not experts in that line, it may generate ideas.
• Distributors, reps, and manufacturers, as they begin their 2025 planning should:
  • Ideate AI-driven applications
    • Either identify an internal point person or, ideally, develop a small team to be the idea generators
      • And yes, a 3rd party perspective can be beneficial
  • Talk to current technology providers and ask, “what do you have, are developing, that is ‘AI-driven’ that we should be considering?”
    • And yes, we’ve spoken to some of the companies that have tools, so give us a call. We’re also putting together some research to inquire about usages and tools … and a white paper that will share findings as well as highlight companies. (if you’re interested in learning more, contact me)
  • Research purpose-built tools that they can implement / pilot
  • Budget some monies
    • Depending upon the application, it may not be much, or it could be a reasonable investment given the projected ROI based upon productivity benefits, new insights / services, and more.
  • Remember, AI is generative in nature. By this I mean, it will change. There will be many iterations. Develop your concept and anticipate doing 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.5, 2.0, etc … there will be versions. Don’t lock in and think “one and done”.

Neither ChatGPT nor AI should be a crutch. It should be a productivity and information enhancer. Remember, not everything on the Internet may be accurate, especially for specific situations. But if it generates more information, quicker, and be accurate, could it help deliver answers faster? Help sales? Improve customer satisfaction?