Otto launches a sales app you talk to instead of typing

A company called Otto has launched a sales app that you talk to instead of type into. It is built for salespeople who spend their days visiting customers, and it uses voice AI so they can speak their notes out loud.

What it is

Otto is a CRM. That stands for customer relationship management, which is a tool that keeps track of who your customers are, what was said, and what needs to happen next. Most CRMs rely on typing. Otto is aimed at people who are on the road and would rather talk.

Who it is for

The target is sales teams who work in the field. Think of reps who go from one customer visit to the next and have little time at a desk. Speaking a note after a meeting could be faster than typing it on a phone.

What is not known yet

The source material is thin. It does not say what Otto costs, when it will be available, or which phones and computers it works on. It also does not explain how Otto handles or stores customer data.

What to do

If your team visits customers, this is worth watching. Before trying it, ask a few basic questions:

• What does it cost, and is pricing per user?
• Where is customer data stored, and who can see it?
• Are voice recordings kept, or only the written notes?
• Can it connect to the tools your team already uses?