How to automate mutual action plans in Buyerassist for faster deal cycles

If you work in B2B sales, you know getting a deal across the finish line is rarely as simple as a handshake. There are timelines, stakeholders, procurement hoops, and always someone “just circling back.” Mutual action plans (MAPs) are supposed to help, but only if everyone actually uses them. If you’re tired of chasing updates and herding cats, this guide is for you. We’ll look at how to automate MAPs in Buyerassist, so you can spend less time on reminders and more time closing deals.

Why bother automating mutual action plans?

Let’s be honest: Most MAPs die in email threads or Word docs nobody updates. Manual follow-up is a time suck, and buyers don’t want to be nagged either. Automation isn’t about adding more software, it’s about:

Keeping everyone on the same page (without babysitting)
Reducing human error (“Sorry, I missed that deadline…”)
Getting real visibility into deal progress, not just the story everyone tells

But automation won’t magically fix a broken process. If your MAPs are 20 steps of busywork, automating them just makes the pain faster. Use automation to streamline, not complicate.

Step 1: Build a MAP template worth automating

Before you touch any settings, get your MAP in shape. If your plan is a Frankenstein’s monster of tasks and jargon, automation just makes it harder to manage. Here’s what actually works:

Keep it short. Only include steps that really move the deal forward. Ditch the fluff.
Be specific. “Align on success criteria” is vague. “Agree on three measurable KPIs by 5/15” is clear.
Assign owners. Each task needs a name next to it — on your side and the buyer’s.
Set real deadlines. Don’t just slap “TBD” everywhere. Make it concrete, but flexible if needed.

Pro tip: Build your MAPs for the 80% of deals, not the unicorn scenarios. You can always customize for the weird ones.

Step 2: Set up your MAP template in Buyerassist

Now, let’s get practical. Buyerassist has features specifically for MAPs, but it’s easy to get lost if you haven’t set up your basics.

Create a new template.
In Buyerassist, go to your templates area (usually under Mutual Action Plans).
Hit “New Template” and give it a clear name — “Standard Enterprise SaaS MAP,” for example.
Add your phases and tasks.
Break your MAP into logical phases (e.g., Discovery, Evaluation, Procurement, Launch).
Add tasks under each phase. Keep the wording buyer-friendly — they’ll see this too.
Assign default owners and durations.
If your process is pretty standard, assign default owners (e.g., Solution Engineer, Buyer Champion).
Set typical durations so tasks auto-populate with realistic timelines.
Mark dependencies and mandatory steps.
Buyerassist lets you set task dependencies so steps unlock in order.
Flag anything that’s a deal-breaker if skipped (e.g., Security review).

What to ignore: Don’t bother automating “nice-to-haves” or internal-only busywork. The more clutter, the less likely people are to use the MAP.

Step 3: Automate reminders and status updates

Automation isn’t about replacing people; it’s about giving everyone fewer excuses to forget stuff. Here’s what’s worth automating in Buyerassist:

Automated reminders for upcoming or overdue tasks
Set Buyerassist to email or ping the task owner a few days before a deadline, and again if it slips.
You can usually customize the tone — keep it direct, not naggy.
Status updates to all stakeholders
Configure Buyerassist to send a weekly summary to everyone involved (internal and external).
Focus on what’s done, what’s at risk, and what’s next — not the full log of every comment.
Automatic task assignment
When a new deal kicks off, use your template to auto-assign tasks based on the deal type or stage.
This cuts down on guesswork and missed steps.

Pro tip: Don’t overdo notifications. More emails does not equal more action. Start with the basics, and add more only if people actually need them.

Step 4: Connect Buyerassist to your CRM and other tools

If your MAP lives in a silo, you’ll be stuck copy-pasting updates into Salesforce or Slack anyway. Buyerassist supports integrations — use them.

CRM integration: Sync MAP progress with your CRM. This keeps your pipeline honest and makes forecasting less of a guessing game.
Calendar integration: Let Buyerassist push key tasks or milestones to your (and the buyer’s) calendar.
Slack or Teams notifications: Pipe critical updates into your main sales channel, not just email.

What to skip: Don’t waste time wiring up every integration on day one. Start with CRM sync and maybe calendar. The rest is nice-to-have — unless your team lives in Slack, then it’s worth it.

Step 5: Roll it out (without overwhelming your buyers)

Automation is supposed to help, not scare anyone off. Here’s how to roll out your automated MAPs without making buyers feel like they’re in a project management bootcamp.

Frame it as a helpful tool. “This helps us stay on track and avoid surprises,” not “Here’s another thing to log into.”
Share only what matters. Use Buyerassist’s controls to hide internal steps and keep the buyer’s view simple.
Be flexible. If a buyer hates email, set reminders to go to Slack or just use in-app nudges.
Get feedback. After a few deals, ask buyers (and your own team) what’s working and what’s annoying.

Pro tip: Don’t force every buyer into the same automation. Some big enterprise deals will want a custom touch. Use automation to save time, not to turn your process into a robot.

Step 6: Measure, tweak, and keep it human

Automation isn’t “set it and forget it.” The real world is messy, and deals don’t always follow the playbook.

Check your data. Are tasks still getting stuck? Are buyers ghosting you at certain steps? Use Buyerassist’s analytics or just ask the team.
Trim the fat. If nobody ever completes a certain step, kill it from the template.
Update as you go. When the sales process changes, update the MAP and the automation rules.
Keep talking. Automation is no substitute for real conversations. Use MAPs to enable discussion, not to replace it.

The bottom line: Start simple, iterate, and don’t automate for automation’s sake

The best MAPs are the ones people use — and automation should make that easier, not harder. Focus on clear steps, helpful reminders, and only the integrations you’ll actually use. Skip the bells and whistles until you’ve nailed the basics.

Remember: If a step doesn’t help you or your buyer move the deal forward, don’t bother automating it. Keep things lean, get feedback, and keep improving. That’s how you get faster deal cycles — not by adding more software, but by making the process so smooth nobody even notices the automation.

Ready to make mutual action plans actually work for you? Start small, keep it real, and let Buyerassist do the boring stuff.