The numbers
Book rate on ICP inbound: 35-50% AI vs 15-25% offshore;;Show rate: 78-85% AI vs 55-65% offshore;;Cost per meeting: $85-160 AI vs $120-260 offshore;;Time-to-book: sub-5-min AI vs 8-24hr offshore
Where AI still loses
- Regulated verticals (public sector, healthcare payers) where the buyer expects a named human contact from day one.
How to phase in
Start on tier-3 inbound, expand to tier-2 in month 2, keep tier-1 human-first until the AI proves out on the smaller accounts.