Intro

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a buzzword—it's a competitive advantage for packaging sales teams that want to survive and thrive in a fast-changing market.

Gone are the days of relying solely on cold calls, trade shows, or generic email blasts. Today’s most successful packaging professionals are using AI to identify qualified leads, personalize outreach, forecast demand, and close more deals—with less manual effort and way more impact.

This post explores exactly how.

1. Stop Cold Calling—Start Smart Targeting

If you're still relying on outdated prospecting methods, you're falling behind.

AI-powered platforms like Clay, Apollo.io, and ZoomInfo with AI enrichments now give reps supercharged targeting capabilities. Imagine finding buyers who not only fit your ideal customer profile but also show real buying intent—all within minutes.

AI helps reps:

• Filter leads by packaging type, location, industry, and even behavior.

• Identify recent funding rounds, job changes, or product launches.

• Pull in verified contact info automatically.

Instead of guessing who to call, AI tells you who’s already looking for solutions like yours.

2. Personalized Outreach at Scale

Reps used to spend hours writing custom emails—or worse, send the same tired message to everyone.

That’s over.

Tools like ChatGPT, Lavender, and Smartwriter AI help reps write tailored, relevant outreach in seconds. You simply input a company or LinkedIn profile, and AI crafts messages that speak directly to that buyer’s problems, industry, and packaging needs.

The result? Higher response rates, more booked meetings, and a reputation for relevance—not spam.

3. Follow-Up Automation That Actually Feels Human

Following up is where most reps drop the ball. Not because they don’t care—but because they’re stretched thin.

Enter SalesAI, HubSpot AI, and AI voice/SMS agents. These tools now handle follow-up cadences, voice drops, texts, and emails while staying aligned with your tone and timing.

Here’s what that looks like:

• “Hey Jason, just checking in on your interest in sustainable pouch options...”

• “Wanted to make sure you saw this case study before our call next week...”

It’s automated—but it feels like you wrote it yourself.

4. Better Forecasting = Smarter Decisions

AI isn’t just helping reps—it’s transforming sales leadership.

With predictive analytics built into tools like Salesforce Einstein or HubSpot Pro, you can:

• Identify which accounts are most likely to close.

• See which reps are stuck in the pipeline.

• Forecast revenue based on activity and intent, not guesswork.

This means packaging companies can finally stop “managing by hope” and start scaling strategically.

Final Thoughts

AI won’t replace packaging salespeople.

But packaging salespeople who use AI will absolutely replace those who don’t.

This technology is your new edge. It doesn’t just save time—it helps you show up smarter, faster, and more prepared than your competitors. And in a world where buyers are more distracted and skeptical than ever, that edge makes all the difference.