Leveraging LLMs for Vendor Research: Tips and Insights Needed

Jeff C. · 2025-08-14 18:47:06.143494+00

Hey All! I've been on the selling side forever, but now as a co-founder I'm realizing quickly that I'm a very amateur buyer. Been leaning heavily on ChatGPT/Perplexity for initial research and education. Quick questions for those who use LLMs as their main source for vendor research: • How much of your buying process are you using an LLM to support? • Any hesitations around biased info, outdated data, etc? • When you do finally hop on a sales call, do you find yourself repeating everything you covered with AI? (Struggling with finding a way to make these first calls productive rather than being hammered by disco questions) I know there's a lot of experienced buyers in RevGenius! Would love your guidance/insight. Thanks!

Leveraging LLMs for Vendor Research: Tips and Insights Needed | RevGenius

7 comments

· Sorted by Oldest

Ben M.
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Fun question. Ask it what questions you should have for the rep before you close the context; so it remembers what you covered. Also ask multiple models (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini) to see where they agree/disagree. Last thought - ask the same model the same thing twice. It should give you different results (cause AI), see where it agrees with itself. Getting the BDR to NOT ask you disco questions and move on... I don't think AI can handle that. Great product idea though. 💡
Jeff C.
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This is really helpful, thank you. I like fact checking across models and within the same model. Yeah there definitely needs to be a way to bridge the gap between buyer research/process and the kickoff of the sales process!
Jeff P.
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1.
If you have a front-runner, tell it what you like most about it, what you need, want, don't need, and then tell it to give you 2-3 other options based on that info.
2.
Ask to pull themes of the pros and cons from user reviews on sites like Capterra and G2 and ask it to compare 2-3 products on your short list against each other thematically.
3.
Based on that, ask it what questions you should ask the SDR/BD given your business size and needs.
4.
Personally, I'd lean into the disco questions and see if the SDR is helpful. Some really will want to qualify you and if you're not a fit, won't want to send you through. Either way you'll be coming well prepared with lots of questions.
Good luck!
Margo D.
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I've run the buying process for enterprise and growth companies in multiple tech stacks (from MarTech to engineering document storage!). Whenever possible, I shortcut the initial disco by providing some facts up front when I set the meeting along with my top 2-3 objectives for the call. But, I'll caveat that it only works if I'm communicating with the BDR and not just the person who routes leads to the appropriate BDR for the size/industry/territory.
👍1
Anna C.
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Hey Jeff C. i must say some skip LLMs and go straight to peer recs, hands-on trials, or vendor docs. LLMs are best for quick fact checks or clarifying jargon. For calls, just say, “I’ve done some research and ask what’s unique about your approach?”
Jeff C.
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Thank you all for sharing your perspective and tips on here, extremely helpful!!
Kokayi C.
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We've found the biggest hurdle is the LLM doesnt have enough context on our exact situation and business. Shameless plug, but built context aware agents that help here would love to chat more, could maybe help you too

Ben M.
·
·
Fun question. Ask it what questions you should have for the rep before you close the context; so it remembers what you covered. Also ask multiple models (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini) to see where they agree/disagree. Last thought - ask the same model the same thing twice. It should give you different results (cause AI), see where it agrees with itself. Getting the BDR to NOT ask you disco questions and move on... I don't think AI can handle that. Great product idea though. 💡
Jeff C.
·
·
This is really helpful, thank you. I like fact checking across models and within the same model. Yeah there definitely needs to be a way to bridge the gap between buyer research/process and the kickoff of the sales process!
Jeff P.
·
·
1.
If you have a front-runner, tell it what you like most about it, what you need, want, don't need, and then tell it to give you 2-3 other options based on that info.
2.
Ask to pull themes of the pros and cons from user reviews on sites like Capterra and G2 and ask it to compare 2-3 products on your short list against each other thematically.
3.
Based on that, ask it what questions you should ask the SDR/BD given your business size and needs.
4.
Personally, I'd lean into the disco questions and see if the SDR is helpful. Some really will want to qualify you and if you're not a fit, won't want to send you through. Either way you'll be coming well prepared with lots of questions.
Good luck!
Margo D.
·
·
I've run the buying process for enterprise and growth companies in multiple tech stacks (from MarTech to engineering document storage!). Whenever possible, I shortcut the initial disco by providing some facts up front when I set the meeting along with my top 2-3 objectives for the call. But, I'll caveat that it only works if I'm communicating with the BDR and not just the person who routes leads to the appropriate BDR for the size/industry/territory.
👍1
Anna C.
·
·
Hey Jeff C. i must say some skip LLMs and go straight to peer recs, hands-on trials, or vendor docs. LLMs are best for quick fact checks or clarifying jargon. For calls, just say, “I’ve done some research and ask what’s unique about your approach?”
Jeff C.
·
·
Thank you all for sharing your perspective and tips on here, extremely helpful!!
Kokayi C.
·
·
We've found the biggest hurdle is the LLM doesnt have enough context on our exact situation and business. Shameless plug, but built context aware agents that help here would love to chat more, could maybe help you too