Automate the SDR to AE handoff with AI

The SDR to AE handoff is a critical step in the sales process, but it often breaks down due to missing context, scattered data, or delays. Bardeen’s quick start playbook solves this by automating the entire handoff process.

This playbook adapts to your existing tools and workflows, whether you're using HubSpot, Salesforce, or any other CRM. It pulls in data, enriches it, and delivers a complete report to your AE—ready to act.

How to configure the SDR to AE handoff quick start playbook

Setting up this playbook is simple. Each step lets you choose the tools your team already uses.

Step 1: Get qualified lead data from a CRM or outreach tool

Start by selecting where your qualified leads live. This is typically your CRM or outbound platform. Bardeen will pull lead details like contact info, lead score, and qualification notes. 

Supported tools include:

• HubSpot
• Salesforce
• Pipedrive
• Zoho
• Affinity
• Lemlist
• Outreach
• Salesloft
• Smartlead
• Apollo

This step ensures that only sales-ready leads are passed to AEs, with all relevant context included.

Step 2: Enrich lead from LinkedIn, external sources, and CRM activity data

Next, choose the sources you want to use to enrich the lead. Bardeen can pull data from LinkedIn, Sales Navigator, call tools, and company websites. Options include:

• LinkedIn
• LinkedIn Sales Navigator
• Apollo.io
• Crunchbase
• Fireflies
• Zoom
• Gong
• Enrich with Bardeen
• Company news, blogs, pricing pages, and testimonials

This step helps AEs understand the lead’s role, company, and recent activity—improving follow-up quality. Learn more about what is lead enrichment and how it works.

Step 3: Gather and summarize key insights in a report

Bardeen will now summarize all the gathered data into a structured report. This includes lead background, engagement history, and any notable insights from calls or emails.

The report format is consistent and easy to scan, helping AEs quickly understand the lead’s context and needs.

This step is critical for reducing back-and-forth between SDRs and AEs and supports better sales prospecting automation.

Step 4: Share report with an AE

Choose how you want to deliver the handoff report. You can send it directly to the AE or save it in a shared location. Supported options include:

• Send to Slack
• Send to Microsoft Teams
• Send via Google Mail
• Send via Microsoft Outlook
• Save in Google Drive
• Save in OneDrive

This step ensures that the AE receives the report in their preferred workspace, ready to act on.

Step 5: Intro the customer to AE via email (Optional)

If you want to include a warm intro, Bardeen can generate and send an email introducing the AE to the lead. This helps maintain momentum and builds trust. Choose your email platform:

• Intro via Google Mail
• Intro via Microsoft Outlook

This step is optional but useful for improving lead engagement and reducing drop-off between SDR and AE stages.

Step 6: Setup & test each action

Finally, test each step of the playbook to make sure everything works as expected. You’ll be prompted to connect your tools and fill in any missing details. This includes:

• Connecting your CRM and enrichment tools
• Mapping fields correctly
• Testing email or Slack delivery

This step ensures your handoff process runs smoothly every time and supports consistent sales process automation.

How to automate the SDR to AE handoff with Bardeen’s quick start playbook?

Automating the SDR to AE handoff helps ensure that qualified leads are passed to AEs with full context. It reduces the risk of dropped leads, speeds up follow-up, and improves conversion rates. This quick start playbook creates a repeatable, structured process that works across your existing tools.

Benefits of automating the SDR to AE handoff

Automating this process improves consistency and ensures every AE receives the same level of detail and context.

Consistent lead context every time

Instead of manually copying notes or links, Bardeen pulls lead data from your CRM, call tools, and LinkedIn. It enriches this data and summarizes it into a report that gives AEs everything they need to follow up. This supports better lead qualification and helps avoid duplicate research.

Faster AE follow-up

By delivering a ready-to-use report directly to the AE’s preferred channel, there’s no delay in action. Whether it’s Slack, email, or a shared drive, the AE gets what they need instantly, helping reduce lead response time.

Reduced back-and-forth between teams

SDRs no longer need to manually compile notes or chase down missing info. The playbook gathers everything in one place, reducing internal communication loops and freeing up time for more outreach.

Ways to automate the SDR to AE handoff

This playbook covers multiple steps in the handoff process, each of which can be automated to reduce friction.

Pulling qualified leads from your CRM

Automatically fetch leads marked as qualified from your CRM or outreach platform. This ensures only the right leads are passed on, based on your team’s criteria.

Enriching lead data with external sources

Pull in data from LinkedIn, call transcripts, company websites, and more. This gives AEs deeper insight into the lead’s role, company, and recent activity without needing to search manually.

Sharing the handoff report with the AE

Send the final report to the AE using their preferred method—Slack, email, or cloud storage. This ensures the handoff fits into their workflow without requiring extra steps.