Let's Unbox HubSpot: Calling (Part 1) with Sarah Hall, Francis Ndicu, and Zach Hussion

Explore the latest enhancements in HubSpot's calling features and AI integrations, designed to streamline your sales and support processes.

Introduction to HubSpot's New Calling Features

HubSpot has rolled out a series of updates that are set to revolutionize how businesses handle calls and integrate AI into their workflows. These enhancements are not just about adding new features; they are about making your sales and support processes more efficient and data-driven. In this blog post, we'll explore five major updates in HubSpot's calling features and AI integrations, providing practical examples, expert insights, and real-world applications.

Seamless Porting and HubSpot Numbers: Why It Matters

One of the standout updates is the ability to port your existing phone numbers into HubSpot. This feature is crucial for businesses that have built their brand around a specific phone number. Porting allows you to keep your established numbers while leveraging HubSpot's advanced calling features. Additionally, HubSpot now offers the option to acquire new numbers directly within the platform. These HubSpot-provided numbers come with bi-directional calling capabilities, making them ideal for both inbound and outbound calls.

Enhanced Call Settings for Personalized User Experience

HubSpot has introduced more granular call settings that allow users to personalize their experience. From setting working hours to choosing ring preferences, these settings ensure that calls are handled efficiently. For instance, sales reps can now specify whether they want to be rung on their browser or mobile device, and even set different preferences for different times of the day.

Example: The live demo showed how Chris set his working hours and ring preferences, highlighting the flexibility and control that these settings offer.

Power Dialer and Voicemail Drop: Boosting Efficiency

The new power dialer and voicemail drop features are designed to enhance productivity. The power dialer allows sales reps to make multiple calls in quick succession, drastically reducing downtime between calls. The voicemail drop feature enables reps to leave pre-recorded voicemails, ensuring consistency and saving time.

Leveraging AI with Customer Agent for Better Support

HubSpot's integration of AI through the Customer Agent feature is a game-changer for support teams. The AI agent can handle basic queries, provide information from your knowledge base, and even escalate issues to human agents when necessary. This feature is particularly useful for handling after-hours support or managing high call volumes.

Real-World Scenarios: Implementing HubSpot's Calling Tools

Implementing these new features can significantly improve your business operations. For example, a support team can use the AI agent to handle routine queries, freeing up human agents for more complex issues. Sales teams can leverage the power dialer to increase their outreach efforts, while personalized call settings ensure that calls are managed efficiently.

Expert Insights: Best Practices for Utilizing New Features

The guest experts provided several valuable insights on how to make the most of these new features. One key takeaway was the importance of starting small and scaling up. For instance, businesses can begin by porting a single number and gradually move more numbers over as they become comfortable with the new system. Additionally, leveraging the AI agent for after-hours support can provide immediate benefits without disrupting existing workflows.

Example: Zach emphasized the importance of experimenting with the new features and iterating based on feedback. This approach allows businesses to fine-tune their processes and maximize the benefits of the new features.

Next Steps to Maximize HubSpot's Calling and AI Capabilities

To get started with these new features, first, assess your current calling needs and identify areas where these updates can provide the most value. Port your existing numbers into HubSpot or acquire new HubSpot numbers. Customize your call settings to match your workflow and start using the power dialer and voicemail drop to enhance your efficiency. Finally, experiment with the AI agent to see how it can handle routine queries and support your team.

Actionable Steps:

1. Port Your Numbers: Begin by porting a single number to get a feel for the process.
2. Set Up Call Preferences: Customize your working hours and ring preferences.
3. Use the Power Dialer: Integrate the power dialer into your workflow to increase call efficiency.
4. Implement Voicemail Drop: Save time by using pre-recorded voicemails.
5. Experiment with AI Agent: Start with after-hours support and gradually expand its use.

By following these steps, you can fully leverage HubSpot's latest calling features and AI integrations to optimize your sales and support processes.