Over 90% Indian sales professionals find AI agents critical to business success: Salesforce report

A recent Salesforce report indicates that more than 90% of Indian sales professionals deem AI agents crucial for business success. The survey, which included 250 Indian professionals out of a global total of 4,050, highlights a strong adoption of AI within India, with 90% of sales organizations already utilizing AI for tasks such as prospecting, lead scoring, forecasting, and email drafting. According to Sangeeta Giri, SVP & Chief Operating Officer - South Asia, Salesforce, sales professionals typically spend a substantial 60% of their time on non-selling activities. The report outlines tangible benefits resulting from AI integration: 94% of Indian sellers using AI report an improved understanding of their customers, and 89% experience reduced work-related stress. Furthermore, those who have adopted AI agents anticipate a 35% reduction in time spent on prospect research and a 38% decrease in email drafting time. However, data quality emerges as a significant hurdle, with over two-thirds of Indian sales leaders identifying disconnected systems as an impediment to AI's effectiveness. This issue prompts 82% of Indian sales professionals to prioritize data cleansing efforts. High-performing organizations are at the forefront of this trend, with 79% focusing on data hygiene compared to 54% of underperformers. Giri emphasized that the combination of human judgment with AI support will be instrumental for sellers' success in 2026, facilitating more informed customer dialogues and tailored industry solutions.