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Overview

Custom Answers let you create AI-generated answer fields that automatically extract qualitative insights from your deals. Write a prompt once, and AI will analyze every deal to provide consistent, structured answers based on the complete deal context including CRM data, call transcripts, and decision drivers.

How It Works

  1. Create Custom Prompts: Define questions you want answered about every deal
  2. AI Analysis: AI reads the full deal context to generate answers automatically
  3. Structured Insights: Get consistent, comparable data across your pipeline
  4. Export & Integrate: Use answers in analytics, reporting, and CRM sync

Answer Types & Formats

Answer Length Options

  • True/False: Binary responses with brief justification (1-2 sentences)
  • Sentence: Concise insights in a single sentence (10-20 words)
  • Paragraph: Detailed analysis in short paragraphs (50-150 words)

Common Use Cases

Deal Qualification & Risk

  • “Was budget confirmed?” (True/False)
  • “What was the main objection raised?”
  • “Is there a clear champion identified?” (True/False)

Competitive Analysis

  • “Who were the main competitors in this deal?”
  • “How did we position against [Competitor X]?”
  • “What competitive objections came up?”

Sales Process & Coaching

  • “What coaching advice would help this rep?”
  • “What went wrong in this deal?”
  • “Describe the buyer’s decision process”

Executive Summaries

  • “Provide an executive summary of this deal outcome”
  • “What were the key success factors?”
  • “Summarize lessons learned from this deal”

AI Analysis Context

When generating answers, AI analyzes comprehensive deal data:

Data Sources

  • CRM Fields: Deal properties, stage history, and custom fields
  • Call Transcripts: Full conversation content from Gong, Chorus, or other platforms
  • Decision Drivers: Identified buyer priorities and their sentiment
  • Competitive Intel: Mentions of competitors and positioning
  • Document Content: Proposals, contracts, and other deal materials
  • Deal Story: AI-generated narrative of the deal progression

Answer Quality

  • Evidence-Based: Answers cite specific quotes and data points
  • Confidence Scoring: AI provides confidence levels (0-100%) for each answer
  • Contextual: Responses consider deal stage, outcome, and stakeholders
  • Consistent: Same prompts generate comparable answers across deals

Setup & Configuration

Creating Custom Answers

  1. Navigate to Settings > Custom Answers
  2. Write Your Prompt: Clear, specific questions work best
  3. Choose Length: Select appropriate response format
  4. Set Filters: Apply to specific deal types or segments (optional)
  5. Test & Refine: Run on sample deals and adjust prompts as needed

Filter Rules (Optional)

Apply custom answers only to deals that meet specific criteria:
  • Deal Size: Minimum/maximum amount thresholds
  • Stage: Specific pipeline stages or outcomes
  • Product: Particular product lines or solutions
  • Time Period: Date ranges or deal age

CRM Integration

Map custom answers to CRM fields for:
  • Automated Updates: Sync answers back to Salesforce or HubSpot
  • Reporting: Include in standard CRM reports and dashboards
  • Workflows: Trigger automation based on answer content
  • Team Access: Make insights available to broader sales team

Best Practices

Writing Effective Prompts

  • Be Specific: “What was the main pricing objection?” vs. “Any objections?”
  • Define Context: Specify if you want buyer vs. seller perspective
  • Set Expectations: Indicate desired detail level and format
  • Focus: One clear question per prompt works better than multiple

Prompt Examples

Good Prompts:
  • “Was a clear champion identified who actively advocated for our solution?” (True/False)
  • “What was the buyer’s main concern about implementation complexity?”
  • “Summarize the competitive landscape and our positioning in 2-3 sentences”
Avoid:
  • Vague: “How did the deal go?”
  • Multiple questions: “Who was involved and what did they think and what happened next?”
  • Overly complex: Long, multi-part prompts with sub-questions

Data Quality Tips

  • Verify Samples: Review AI answers on a few deals to check accuracy
  • Iterate Prompts: Refine wording based on answer quality
  • Set Standards: Train team on what constitutes a complete deal record
  • Monitor Confidence: Low confidence scores may indicate insufficient data

Analytics & Reporting

Using Answers in Analysis

  • Pattern Recognition: Identify common objections, champions, or success factors
  • Segment Comparison: Compare answers across deal sizes, products, or regions
  • Trend Analysis: Track how answers change over time or by rep
  • Export Data: Include custom answers in deal exports and reports

Integration with Other Features

  • AI Assistant: Ask questions about deals filtered by custom answers
  • Battlecards: Use competitive insights to update positioning materials
  • Coaching: Leverage answer patterns for rep development
  • Forecasting: Incorporate qualitative factors into prediction models