"AI CRM" now describes everything from a spreadsheet with a GPT plugin to a full agentic sales stack. Here's how to tell them apart when you're buying.
Must-Have Features
- Native AI voice agent — not a Zapier bridge to a third-party service.
- Unified inbox for SMS, email, DMs, and call transcripts.
- Agentic workflows that take actions, not just send notifications.
- Live dashboard with speed-to-lead and cost-per-booking pre-built.
- Calendar & booking integrated (no separate scheduler needed).
- Data ownership — you can export every lead and transcript at any time.
Red Flags
- Per-seat pricing on top of per-message fees (double dip).
- "AI" that's actually a keyword rule engine.
- No SMS 10DLC support (you'll get blocked at scale).
- Locked exports or proprietary data formats.
Questions to Ask Every Vendor
- Show me a real customer's dashboard (with numbers blurred).
- What's the average setup time from signature to first booked call?
- Which parts run on your infrastructure vs. someone else's?
- What happens to my data if I cancel?
Where Legion Fits
Legion is built as a single agentic CRM — voice, SMS, email, inbox, dashboard, and calendar on one platform. No per-seat fee, transparent per-minute call pricing, full data export.