Everyone is talking about AI right now. It’s on every product page, all over sales decks, and regularly thrown into boardroom conversations. “We need to bring AI into the business” is becoming a common theme. But let’s be honest. What does that actually mean?

This piece is for those who want to understand the difference between real AI and marketing spin, how that affects the tools you’re already using, and what your responsibilities are when it comes to data privacy and regulation, especially with the EU AI Act now in place.

Marketing has never been more complex.

From campaign strategy and brand storytelling to SEO, paid media, data tracking, content operations and funnel experimentation, the modern marketing function is no longer just a creative department. It is a commercially driven, technology-enabled growth engine. Yet the path to senior marketing leadership is still largely shaped by generalist experience rather than operational expertise.

So what does that mean for growing businesses trying to make sense of it all?

When it comes to choosing the right CRM platform to support your B2B sales and marketing efforts, two tools consistently stand out from the crowd: HubSpot and Salesforce (SFDC).

This is not a comparison designed to criticise either tool. It is about highlighting the strengths and benefits of each platform from a B2B commercial perspective, focusing on how they support sales, marketing, and the wider revenue function.

You have a product that works. You are generating leads. The market opportunity is there. Yet revenue is falling short. Deals are stalling, targets are missed, and there is a growing sense of frustration across the business.

Before you start changing personnel or questioning motivation, pause. In most cases, underperformance in sales is a symptom, not the root cause. This is where the real work starts: diagnosing the issue properly, and rebuilding with clarity and consistency.

Here is how to do just that.

The AI revolution is no longer on the horizon. It is already here, and it is evolving rapidly. By looking at the progression of AI from 2005 to 2025 and projecting forward to 2030 and 2040, we gain valuable perspective. Here are some critical questions and answers to help sales and marketing leaders evaluate their current position and plan for what is coming.

In today’s B2B landscape, successful selling is not about how many people you can contact or how fast you can reach them. It is about relevance, value and understanding. Sales enablement is no longer just about handing over a pitch deck and a product sheet. It is about ensuring sales professionals are equipped with the right tools, the right methodologies and the right knowledge to have meaningful conversations that lead to results.

At first glance, Outreach and Salesloft do very similar things. And that is because they do. Both tools are built to help sales teams manage multistep prospecting workflows, track activity, and measure what is working. Outreach calls it a sequence, while Salesloft prefers cadence, but ultimately they are both talking about the same thing, structured repeatable outreach across email, phone, LinkedIn and other channels.

So if the differences are minor, what actually matters when choosing or using a platform like this?

One of the most common questions I am asked is what a modern, high-performing B2B sales and marketing technology stack should look like. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but there are fundamental layers that every successful B2B sales and marketing team should build around. Whether you are scaling your go-to-market strategy or refreshing your existing systems, the right technology stack can make all the difference.

The rise of the fractional model is no accident. More and more companies are turning to experienced professionals on a part-time or project basis to fill senior roles without taking on the cost or commitment of a full-time hire. Not forever, just long enough to get things under control and moving in the right direction.

When I speak with businesses, there is usually a familiar theme. Either the CRM has become far too complicated over time, or no one really knows what to add to the tech stack to make it more effective. There is a desire to improve things, but not always a clear plan.

Sales isn’t about trickery, pressure, or trying to outwit your prospect like Del Boy! It’s about relationships, the kind that are built on trust, mutual understanding, and an ability to have honest conversations. If you’re selling high-ticket solutions, especially in complex B2B deals, trust isn’t just a nice bonus, it’s the foundation.