Glossary
What is an SDR in sales
Many sales teams split the sale into two roles: who prepares the customer and who closes. The SDR is the first of them, and today a good part of that work can be done by an AI.
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The short answer
SDR stands for Sales Development Representative. It is the person on the sales team who makes first contact with the lead, learns the need and qualifies, so that only those with a real chance of buying reach the salesperson. The salesperson who receives and closes the sale is called the closer.
SDR and closer
| Point | SDR | Closer |
|---|---|---|
| Moment of the sale | Top and middle of the funnel | Bottom of the funnel |
| Goal | Qualify and pass along | Negotiate and close |
| Main task | Reply, ask and record | Present the proposal and lead the decision |
| How they are measured | Qualified leads handed off | Closed sales and conversion |
What a sales SDR does
- Replies to the lead who just arrived, as fast as possible
- Asks the qualification questions: need, timing and means
- Records the answers in the CRM
- Separates who is ready from who is still researching
- Passes the qualified lead to the closer, with the context of the conversation
Why split SDR and closer
The salesperson who closes is the most expensive resource on the team. When they also have to answer every new contact, they spend the day on the curious and are slow to serve those who are ready. With the split, each does what they do best: the SDR ensures a fast reply and a filter, the closer receives conversations ready to negotiate.
AI SDR
The SDR's work is what repeats the most in sales: reply, ask and record. That is why it fits an AI so well. It answers right away, at any hour, asks the same qualification questions of every lead and hands the salesperson the conversation with the full history. The sales team keeps the part that needs people: negotiating and closing.
How atendIA does it
In atendIA, the Essential plan AI does the first response and the qualification on WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger, 24 hours a day, in your company's tone, and understands voice messages. When the lead is ready or the topic needs a person, it hands over to the salesperson with one click, in the same history, and alerts a team group. Automatic distribution sends each lead to the next salesperson by round robin or to whoever is least busy, and the funnel shows the stage of each deal.
- 1Create your accountSign up with your company details. 7 days free, no credit card.
- 2Connect WhatsAppScan the QR code, just like WhatsApp Web. Your number and conversations stay the same.
- 3Teach the AIFill in the form with what you sell, prices, hours and when it should bring in the salesperson.
Plans and pricing
The AI SDR is on Essential, at $99 a month, with the AI cost included and an unlimited team. On Professional, at $199, the AI also books the meeting or the time slot on the calendar.
See all plansFrequently asked questions
What does SDR mean?
Sales Development Representative. It is the person who prepares the lead for the sale, making first contact and qualifying.
Can an AI play the SDR role?
Yes, and it is where it pays off most: it replies right away, qualifies every lead the same way and passes the salesperson the conversation with its history. The salesperson keeps handling the negotiation and the close.
Can the AI make up prices or promise things we do not do?
It answers within the rules you set, including what it must never promise and when to hand over to a person. On the Professional plan, price and duration come from your service catalog, not from a guess.
Do I need a credit card to try it?
No. Signing up only asks for your company details, phone, email and password. The 7 days are free, and billing only starts if you decide to continue. You cancel from the dashboard itself.
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