# Ericsson Cuts B2B Quote Generation Time with AI Integration

> By leveraging AI and digital commerce, Ericsson has cut down the quoting process from two weeks to seconds, empowering customers with self-service capabilities and transforming the B2B experience.

**Source**: news.sap.com | **Published**: 2026-10-15 | **Type**: case_study

## Key Facts

- Ericsson reduced quote generation time from weeks to seconds, enhancing customer satisfaction and efficiency.
- AI integration in quoting processes indicates a strategic shift towards automation and improved scalability.
- Self-service capabilities empower customers, reducing reliance on account teams and streamlining operations.
- Enhanced quoting accuracy minimizes rework, potentially lowering operational costs and improving financial performance.
- Exploring AI agents for commercial tasks reveals a competitive advantage in adapting to evolving B2B market demands.

## Summary

\## Summary
Ericsson, a global leader in telecommunications, faced significant delays in generating customer quotes, which could take over two weeks due to complex manual processes. By implementing SAP Commerce Cloud, Ericsson transformed its quoting process, allowing customers to generate quotes and place orders in minutes or even seconds. This shift not only improved operational efficiency but also enhanced customer experience.

\## Background
Ericsson operates in the telecommunications industry and has a presence in more than 190 countries. Before the deployment of AI-driven solutions, the company struggled with a cumbersome quoting process that involved multiple emails, approvals, and manual handoffs. This complexity often resulted in long wait times for customers needing quotes based on multi-year framework agreements.

\## Challenge
The primary challenge was the lengthy and inefficient process of generating customer quotes, which could take days or even weeks. This not only frustrated customers but also increased the workload for employees involved in the quoting process.

\## Solution
To address this challenge, Ericsson implemented SAP Commerce Cloud, which introduced digital commerce capabilities. This allowed customers to access contract-specific products, generate quotes, and place orders through self-service channels. Dedicated storefronts were created for customers to browse available products and complete transactions without manual intervention from account teams. 

\## Results
The implementation of SAP Commerce Cloud reduced the quote generation time from over two weeks to mere minutes or seconds. This significant improvement helped enhance accuracy and reduce rework across commercial operations.

\## Key Insights
Ericsson's experience highlights the importance of digitizing complex processes to improve efficiency and customer satisfaction. The exploration of AI agents for quote creation indicates a shift towards leveraging intelligent systems to further streamline operations and enhance the customer experience.

\## Customer Testimonial
“We want to be easier to work with as a partner to our customers.” — Aaron Thomas, Global Product Owner at Ericsson.

## Entities

- **Companies**: Ericsson, SAP
- **Products**: SAP Commerce Cloud
- **Technologies**: AI
- **People**: Aaron Thomas

## Key Concepts

B2B commerce, quote generation, digital commerce, self-service channels, AI agents, automation, customer experience, operational efficiency

## Definitions

- **B2B commerce**: Business-to-business commerce refers to transactions conducted between companies, often involving complex agreements and negotiations.
- **AI agents**: AI agents are intelligent systems that can perform tasks and make decisions based on data analysis, often assisting in commercial processes.
- **SAP Commerce Cloud**: SAP Commerce Cloud is a digital commerce platform that enables businesses to create personalized customer experiences and streamline transactions.
- **self-service channels**: Self-service channels allow customers to independently access services and information, reducing the need for manual intervention.
- **quote generation**: Quote generation is the process of creating a formal statement of the estimated costs for products or services requested by a customer.

## Use Cases

- Accessing contract-specific products
- Generating quotes through self-service
- Placing orders without manual intervention
- AI-assisted quote creation
- Improving product descriptions
- Enhancing search experiences

## Frequently Asked Questions

**How has Ericsson improved the quoting process?**

Ericsson has digitized and automated the quoting process, reducing the time it takes to generate quotes from weeks to seconds. This transformation allows customers to access contract-specific products and generate quotes through self-service channels.

**What role does AI play in Ericsson's commercial processes?**

AI is being explored as a tool to enhance commercial execution by analyzing customer requests and preparing proposed quotes for human review. This helps reduce administrative tasks and allows teams to focus on customer relationships.

**What is the significance of self-service channels?**

Self-service channels empower customers to independently browse products, generate quotes, and complete transactions. This not only speeds up the process but also improves customer satisfaction by providing immediate access to information.

**What are AI agents and how are they used at Ericsson?**

AI agents are intelligent systems that assist in commercial processes by analyzing data and making recommendations. At Ericsson, they are being evaluated for tasks like quote creation and improving product descriptions.

**What future developments does Ericsson foresee with AI in B2B commerce?**

Ericsson envisions AI creating new possibilities for executing complex processes faster and more consistently. The company aims to redefine B2B commerce by leveraging intelligent systems to enhance customer experiences and operational efficiency.

## Links

- [Read on Welcome.AI](https://welcome.ai/content/ericsson-cuts-b2b-quote-generation-time-with-ai-integration)
- [Original source](https://news.sap.com/2026/10/how-ericsson-is-reimagining-b2b-commerce-with-ai/)
- [SAP](https://welcome.ai/company/sap): Featured company

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Source: Welcome.AI | https://welcome.ai/content/ericsson-cuts-b2b-quote-generation-time-with-ai-integration