Inside Sales Representative - Industrial Automation

Automation & Factory Solutions; Chesterfield (MO); Hybrid; USD 48,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Automation & Factory Solutions (AFS) is seeking an Inside Sales Representative to manage house accounts, follow up on inbound leads, and support marketing initiatives to drive portfolio growth. This hybrid role combines home and office work aligned with an AFS location.

The role emphasizes CRM discipline, timely quote follow-ups, and upsell opportunities within a fast-paced environment. Ideal candidates will have 2-4 years of sales experience, strong communication skills, and familiarity with

Qualifications

• 2-4 years of related sales experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, with intermediate Excel skills.
• Experience with ERP systems and Salesforce.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Self-motivated, outgoing, and skilled at relationship building.
• Strong analytical and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and thrive in a dynamic environment.
• Experience in industrial automation or a related industry is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Proactively follow up on quotes, proposals, and customer inquiries.
• Research customer history and sales trends to identify opportunities.
• Re-engage with inactive customers to recover lost business and expand new opportunities.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in ERP and Salesforce systems.
• Follow up on inbound leads from suppliers, websites, and marketing campaigns.
• Collaborate with sales managers to transition accounts to outside sales when appropriate.
• Partner with Application Engineers and Customer Service to fulfill customer needs.
• Escalate unresolved customer issues to management and assist in resolution.

Skills

Sales experience

Excel

MS Office

Verbal & written communication

Relationship building

Analytical thinking

Multi-tasking

Industrial automation experience

MS Excel

Tools

Salesforce

ERP systems

Job description

Automation & Factory Solutions (AFS), a SunSource company, helps manufacturers improve productivity, efficiency, and performance through innovative automation technologies, industrial products, and engineered solutions. We partner with customers across North America to solve complex manufacturing challenges, optimize processes, and implement safe, efficient solutions tailored to their unique needs. Through our network of local branches, we provide customers with stocking inventory, technical support, training, and dedicated sales teams to keep their operations moving forward.

The Inside Sales Representative is responsible for managing House accounts, following up on inbound leads, and supporting marketing initiatives to drive portfolio growth. This role emphasizes customer relationship management through timely quote follow-ups, strategic outreach, and identification of upsell and cross-sell opportunities. Ideal candidates will bring prior sales experience, strong communication skills, and the ability to excel in a fast-paced environment.

Hybrid role with flexibility to work from both home and office aligned with an AFS location.

Essential Functions

• Proactively follow up on quotes, proposals, and customer inquiries
• Research customer history and sales trends to identify opportunities
• Re-engage with inactive customers to recover lost business and expand new opportunities
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in ERP and Salesforce systems
• Follow up on inbound leads from suppliers, websites, and marketing campaigns
• Collaborate with sales managers to transition accounts to outside sales when appropriate
• Partner with Application Engineers and Customer Service to fulfill customer needs
• Escalate unresolved customer issues to management and assist in resolution

Experience, Education And Skills

• 2-4 years of related sales experience
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, with intermediate Excel skills
• Experience with ERP systems and Salesforce
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Self-motivated, outgoing, and skilled at relationship building
• Strong analytical and decision-making abilities
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and thrive in a dynamic environment
• Experience in industrial automation or a related industry is preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.

If you are an individual with a disability and require an accommodation to complete the application process, please contact [e-mail] to request reasonable accommodation. Only requests for accommodation in the application process will be returned from this email address. This employer uses E-Verify. Please click here for additional information. (For Illinois E-Verify information click here, aquí).

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.