What if I told you that increasing new product sales isn’t about having a bigger R&D budget or more resources — but about keeping the human touch alive in every automation?
Let me share how Markempai — the B2B leads consultation agency — helped one client prove this by increasing their new product sales from 6% to 24% through AI-powered, empathy-driven innovation.
Through our work with 50+ B2B clients, we’ve found that most companies approach product innovation backward — starting with what they can build instead of what buyers emotionally need. Even worse: automation without empathy kills trust.
- 18% increase in new product sales
- 6% total sales growth in a market growing at just 2.1%
- 280% lead growth via human-feeling AI automation
1. Do Customer Research — But Always With Human Empathy as the Core
“A significant part of what we do is listen to the end-user by going to shows, talking to dealers, and taking surveys,” explains Markempai’s Empathy Lead. “We consider it an important part of research to get out there and literally be in the shoes of our buyers and feel the pain that they feel.”
We explain that observation is critical to the research process because customers often work around issues and may not even realize a problem. So we regularly attend trade shows to observe how:
- Quickly and easily labor crews set up exhibits. “Customers are paying for labor, and we want to make set-up as efficient — and human — as possible,” we say.
- Customers are using and modifying products.
- Competitors’ products perform.
“By thoroughly understanding customers’ problems — and they may not even realize they have a problem — we can provide a solution that helps them exhibit more successfully than ever,” we explain.
Markempai’s Human Touch in Automation (E: Examine):
- Empathy Engine™ examines present conditions across buyer rapport, team alignment, content resonance
- AI surfaces emotional gaps (e.g., “setup frustration at 2:15”)
- Human team validates with dealer calls and on-site shadowing
Real Example — Markempai Upgrade: While walking trade show floors, our Empathy Lead noticed people unsuccessfully using projection to combine PowerPoint presentations with static graphics. We brought the issue back to our engineers, who then developed a compact rear-projection solution combined with a printed screen. It creates a powerful image without taking up a lot of space — and feels intuitive to the user.
Empathy Check: “Would this solution make a tired crew smile at 3 PM on setup day?”
2. Encourage Customers, Dealers, and Staff to Submit Ideas — With Empathy as the Constant Human Touch
We receive, on average, about 50 ideas every year. Each idea is evaluated by representatives from leadership, marketing, and engineering and is scored on the same criteria, such as:
| Criteria | Weight | Empathy Layer |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue potential | 40% | Will it make buyers feel valued? |
| Risk involved | 20% | Does it risk emotional trust? |
| Level of resources required | 20% | Can we deliver with human care? |
| Other projects in the pipeline | 10% | Does it align with buyer feelings? |
| Emotional Resonance (Empathy Score) | 10% | AI + human tag: “delight”, “relief”, “frustration solved” |
Markempai’s Human Touch in Automation (M: Map Drivers):
- n8n form collects ideas — but every submission gets a personal thank-you note
- Make scraper pulls Reddit/LinkedIn ideas — human reviewer adds empathy tags
- Final scoring: AI proposes → human veto if it feels “cold”
Empathy Check: “Does this idea make the buyer feel heard — not just processed?”
3. Assign Top-Scoring Ideas to a Project Manager — With Empathy as the Constant Human Touch
The project managers:
- Are the communication liaison between Marketing, Leadership, and Engineering — using warm, human language
- Set up and oversee a schedule for completion — with emotional milestones (e.g., “Buyer relief at Week 6”)
- Document every aspect of the development — in Airtable with empathy notes (e.g., “This change reduces setup stress”)
“Having one neutral person — outside of Engineering, Marketing, and leadership — in charge of the development process reduces communication issues and ensures the development moves forward smoothly — and with soul,” says Markempai’s Automation Lead.
Markempai’s Human Touch in Automation (P: Plot → A: Activate → T: Transmit → H: Harden → Y: Yield):
- Make emails: “We’re building this because you said it hurt.”
- n8n updates: A/B test AI-optimized vs hand-written with warmth
- Airtable dashboard: Tracks emotional KPIs (e.g., “Buyer delight score”)
Empathy Check: “Would the buyer feel proud to use this product?”
“It’s easy for knock-off products to come in from overseas,” we point out. “That’s why we are intentional about continuously innovating — with empathy as the constant human touch. For us, our process has become a great recipe for success — and trust.”
The Results — Automation That Feels Human
This empathy-constant process helped our client:
- Increase new product sales by 18%
- Grow total sales 6% (vs. industry 2.1%)
- Launch solutions that buyers love — not just use
Buyer Feedback:
“It didn’t feel like a product. It felt like someone listened.”
Further Reading & Research:
- The Ultimate Guide to Search Engine Marketing: The Ultimate Guide to Search Engine Marketing – markempai.com
- Digital Marketing Strategy: Digital Marketing Strategy – markempai.com
- Optimizing for GEO and AEO in 2025: Optimizing for GEO and AEO in 2025 – markempai.com
- What Is Digital Marketing?: What Is Digital Marketing? – markempai.com
- Best Digital Marketing Practices In 2025: Best Digital Marketing Practices In 2025 – markempai.com
- Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) Is the New Data Moat — Built by Engineering RAG: Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) Is the New Data Moat — Built by Engineering RAG – markempai.com
- Email Copywriting: Delivering Value Over Perceived Cost: Email Copywriting: Delivering Value Over Perceived Cost – markempai.com
- Steps That Help Increase New Product Sales by 18% — With Empathy: 3 Steps That Help Increase New Product Sales by 18% — With Empathy – markempai.com
- Email Copywriting: Delivering Value Over Perceived Cost — With Empathy: Email Copywriting: Delivering Value Over Perceived Cost — With Empathy – markempai.com
- Email Marketing: Lead Nurture Paths You Should Automate: Email Marketing: Lead Nurture Paths You Should Automate – markempai.com
- Empathetic Marketing: The Power of Empathy in Advertising That Builds Unbreakable Brand Loyalty: Empathetic Marketing: The Power of Empathy in Advertising That Builds Unbreakable Brand Loyalty – markempai.com
- The Role of Empathy in Modern Marketing: How Emotional Intelligence Drives Sustainable Business Success: The Role of Empathy in Modern Marketing: How Emotional Intelligence Drives Sustainable Business Success – markempai.com
Ready to Transform Your Marketing?
If you’re ready to harness the proven power of empathetic marketing, the team at Markempai is here to help. With our unique blend of psychological insight, strategic rigor, and creative excellence, we deliver measurable results that strengthen both your brand and your bottom line.
markempai.com |info@markempai.com