AI in sales. Opportunity or threat?

Sales leaders are feeling the squeeze: deals are slowing, buyers are harder to reach, and the sales process is getting more complex by the day. But the real risk? While many mid-sized businesses are still dabbling with AI to tidy up emails, enterprise competitors are using it to win revenue.

This blog breaks down what’s actually happening in the market, why AI is no longer optional in sales, and how growing businesses can use it to compete — and win — in 2026. If you’re wondering whether AI is an opportunity or a threat, the answer is simple: it depends on how fast you move.

Your sales team is your first line of defence against late payments

The phrase Payment Due written in black text on a yellow sticky note posted to a calendar page as a reminder. Close up of a personal agenda, top view.

Most businesses we know have a little celebratory dance they keep for days when a big order comes in. Few think about the possibility of late payments. Quite rightly. It’s a time to stop and reflect on all the hard work you’ve put in and the value you add to customers. So some people are…

What’s going to drive sales success in 2026?

After a long, hot summer, schools are finally back. B&Q is ripping out lawnmower displays to make space for Christmas lights. September means work is back, and for many it’s time to start planning for 2026. What are going to be the big sales trends that drive success in the coming year? Business Confidence With…

Crush sales slumps: Accelerate growth in a flat market

A graph showing increasing sales in a flat market

So many people are reporting to us that sales are slow at the moment. It feels like we are in a flat market. Not necessarily bad sales figures, just endless delays in getting to a Yes. “I sent over a quote last month and I’ve heard nothing” “The decision is stuck with an internal committee”…

What’s it like to be part of a winning sales culture?

This is Sales Untangled Co-Founder, Martin’s story on sales cultures… “It was the early 90s and the afternoon sun was beating down as I floated on my back in the hotel pool. I vividly remember looking up at the neon hotel sign and thinking: Wow! How did a boy from East Hull end up here:…

Building a sales pipeline through referrals

“Do you help with lead gen?” This is a question that always makes us pause. The outcome of successful lead gen is more sales…but surely it’s a marketing activity isn’t it? Similarly, there’s often questions around whose job it is to gain referrals and introductions. If you read marketing textbooks they’ll tell you marketing is…

Does every business need a sales pipeline?

Part of our Sales Untangled promise is to make business simple. So whenever this question gets asked we’re always willing to listen to why the questioner thinks their business can manage without one. [Note: This is a topic where terminology varies. For the purpose of this article we’re using the terms sales funnel and sales…

How do you prove ROI on personality profiling?

Personality profiles like DiSC, Insights or Emergenetics are common in the workplace. Many experienced employees proudly claim to have completed a number of them! Lessons are learned and the reports carefully hidden away at the bottom of a drawer until they are randomly discovered in an office move! Some organisations use personality profiling as a…

Untangling Sales Enablement

I spent many years in key account management for the UK’s biggest consumer goods companies. The first time I was asked to present recommendations for a major retailer’s range review I was completely stumped. How were you supposed to approach that? Asking my colleagues, I was advised to simply present each of my brands in…

5 questions to answer before employing a Sales Mentor

Most business owners are not sales experts. AND most business owners will never pay for sales advice or a Sales Mentor. Is this the most damaging equation in your business today? The first part of the equation is perfectly understandable. When people leave education their career usually introduces them to something they are good at…

What is your ideal selling style?

Are you having trouble figuring out your ideal selling style? You won’t be on your own if you’re a bit uncomfortable about selling. Let’s be honest, sales has lots of negative connotations. The Hollywood portrayal of sales is always the brash, win-at-all-costs mentality. Think of the Wolf of Wall Street or Richard Gere in Pretty…

What is sustainable selling?

You might think this is about selling sustainability. Maybe you imagine sustainability consultants who help organisations build their green plans. Or you think of companies selling composting boxes or green bins. But sustainable selling isn’t about what you sell. It’s about how you do it. It’s ensuring that your sales capability is sustainable over time.…