Blogs

“You Can’t Sell to Me”: Why Buyers Hold All the Power in B2B Sales

There was a time when enterprise sellers could win over clients with charm, charisma, a sharp deck, and a firm handshake.

That time is over.

A recent conversation with a Chief Procurement Officer of a large Southeast Asian telecommunications leader made this brutally clear. “You can’t sell to me,” he said. “I have to want to buy.”

That single sentence captures the quiet revolution reshaping enterprise sales across the economy. In today’s buyer-led landscape, especially in technology, the power dynamic has flipped. Sales teams are less in control of the sales conversation—they’re lucky to get invited to it as these buying decisions are now becoming multi-faceted and requires careful coordination between multiple ecosystems of stakeholders.  

The New Rules of Engagement

Buyers don’t want to be sold to. They want to be understood.

According to our research, 71% of B2B buyers feel frustrated when the buying experience is impersonal. They're handed generic proposals. Standard specs. Copy-paste solutions. Too often, the salesperson leads with what they want to say—not what the buyer needs to hear.

Meanwhile, buyers come prepared. They’ve done the research. They’ve compared competitors. They’ve already formed a point of view. If your sales team shows up with a slide deck and guesswork, it signals one thing: you’re not ready.

What they expect instead:

  • Relevance: “This solves the problem unique to my company”  
  • Context: “You understand my industry, my team, and my goals.”
  • Trust: “You’re not pushing. You’re helping me make the right decision.”

This isn’t about delivering a better pitch. It’s about designing a better moment to buy.

Rise of the Buyer‑First Sales Experience

In this new landscape, control has shifted. The most successful sales teams aren’t the ones who push the hardest—they’re the ones who enable best.

A buyer‑first sales experience flips the traditional script:

  • Respect autonomy: 75% of B2B buyers now prefer a rep-free or hybrid sales journey—where they lead the research and exploration throughout the buying process.  
  • Guide don’t pitch: Reps who show curiosity and empathy earn trust faster than those who chase quotas.  
  • Create clarity in complexity: With an average of 7+ decision-makers per deal and 70% of the research done before talking to a rep, the role of sales is to bring clarity, not add confusion.
  • Blend digital and human touch: Hybrid selling isn’t a trend, it’s essential. The modern buyer expects seamless transitions—from self-serve tools to expert advice—on their terms.

This is what modern B2B buyers demand in every conversation across all their sales cycles. This approach validates their effort, reduces friction, and builds trust.  

It transforms sales from an interruption into an invitation, and from a persuasion exercise into partnership.

Sell without Selling with Twimbit X

To thrive in a buyer-first world, sales teams don’t need more tools—they need smarter motion. Twimbit X reimagines the entire sales experience around three critical stages:

1. Ready: Equip reps with buyer intelligence, not just product knowledge

Most sales conversations fail flat before they begin—because reps walk in cold. “Ready” means priming every seller with contextual insight: who the buyer is, what matters to them, and where they are in the journey. It’s not about scripts. It’s about situational fluency.

Buyers want to feel understood from the first conversation. Getting “Ready” ensures reps show up relevant—every time.

2. Empower: Turn sales reps into guides, not pitch machines

Once you have attention, it’s time to add value—fast and clear. “Empower” is about giving reps the tools to co-create solutions, tailor every interaction, and respond to questions with credibility. Not just sharing brochures, but guiding decisions with real insight.

This is where sales moves from “Here’s our offering” to “Let’s solve this together.”

3. Deliver: Move buyers forward with speed and confidence

In the final mile, most deals stall—not for lack of interest, but because  of complexity. “Deliver” is about removing friction: simplifying proposals, tracking stakeholder needs, and identifying exactly what works (and what doesn’t).

Every sales motion should lead to one outcome: a confident buyer who feels like they’re making the right call.

Think of Your Sales Motion Like GPS for the Buyer

Selling in today’s world is less like driving the car—and more like programming the GPS.

Before the journey begins, your GPS needs to know where you’re going and what roadblocks lie ahead. That’s what “Ready” is for sales teams: understanding the buyer’s world, their goals, and the possible detours. Reps step in already aligned to context—no wasted turns.

Once the journey starts, things change—traffic, weather, conditions. “Empower” means guiding the buyer dynamically, adjusting based on new information, and helping them make the best turn at every intersection. Not oversteering—just being useful, timely, and clear.

The last mile matters most. “Deliver” ensures there are no wrong turns, no dead ends. The proposal is clear. The decision is easy. The buyer arrives where they intended—with zero frustration and full confidence.

This is what modern sales must become: Not a forced ride, but a guided journey—led by the buyer, supported by sales reps that respect their pace, needs, and priorities.

In the New Era, the Best Sales Strategy Is No Strategy at All

When that Chief Procurement Officer said, “You can’t sell to me. I have to want to buy,” he wasn’t shutting the door—he was pointing to a higher standard.

Thankfully, in that moment, he was buying from us.

Because we didn’t push. We listened. We showed up ready.

We created the conditions for trust, relevance, and clarity.

We created the moment that made him want to buy.

That’s the future of enterprise sales: Buyer-first. Experience-led. Powered by intelligence and meaningful engagement — powered by a platform that truly understands and serves the buyers.

That’s the future we’re building with Twimbit X.

Explore what Twimbit X can do for your sales team.

Enjoyed the read? Let’s take it further.


Connect to unlock exclusive insights, smart AI tools, and real connections that spark action.

Schedule a chat to unlock the full experience

Innovators circle form