Cited by 34Impact of AI and Big Data on Business and SocietyArtificial Intelligence ApplicationsAI in Service Interactions

Fully leveraging AI in B2B sales: Exploring sales managers’ capabilities and organizational knowledge processes

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Hautamäki, Pia, Heikinheimo, Minna·2025·Journal of Business Research

Abstract

Studies have demonstrated that artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance sales efficiency in business-to-business (B2B) contexts. However, despite the wide accessibility of AI, its adoption in B2B sales remains limited. Few studies have examined how sales managers support their sales teams in leveraging AI. This is the first study to link the perspectives of AI exploitation to managerial capabilities and organizational knowledge processes in the context of B2B sales. Using a grounded theory approach, we derive empirical insights from interviews with 32 top-level managers in B2B sales organizations. We contribute to the B2B sales literature by presenting a framework illustrating how sales managers’ capabilities—data-based human capital , the social capital associated with creating a knowledge-sharing culture, and a transformative AI-positive mindset—foster AI-integrated knowledge processes at the individual, team, and organizational levels. We also provide practical recommendations for sales managers integrating AI into B2B sales operations.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115396

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Authors
Hautamäki, P., & Heikinheimo, M.
Affiliations
  • Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (FI)
  • University of Eastern Finland (FI)
Corresponding author
Hautamäki, Pia
Venue
Journal of Business Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2025-05
Volume
194
Pages
115396
ISSN
0148-2963 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4409570915
Cited by
31
References
79
Citations by year
2026: 22 · 2025: 9
FWCI
23.99
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Business Research (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders
Opetus- ja Kulttuuriministeriö (OKM/18/524/2022)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Impact of AI and Big Data on Business and Society
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Artificial Intelligence Applications
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › AI in Service Interactions
Keywords
artificial intelligence adoption, B2B sales, sales managers, management skills, social capital, knowledge sharing

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