“Book a demo”: helpful next step, or a reason to leave?

You find a software product that looks useful. Before going further, you want to know whether it supports your workflow, integrates with your tools, and fits your team.

But the next step is “Book a demo.”

Sometimes that conversation is exactly what you need. Other times, you’re not ready for a sales meeting you just need a few answers.

We’re building Foxet, an AI presales platform, so this is a question we’re working through:
does making answers available instantly solve the friction, or does speaking to a person matter just as much?

My view: people should be able to understand a product before committing to a sales meeting. But for a complex purchase, a good conversation can uncover things you wouldn’t know to ask.

Think about the last software product you evaluated: did you book the demo or leave and what made you decide?