Gong has built a strong reputation as a revenue intelligence platform that helps sales teams improve performance through AI-driven insights. It records and analyses conversations, offering detailed feedback to refine sales strategies. For many businesses, this can be a game-changer—but that doesn’t mean it’s the perfect fit for everyone. Depending on your industry, team structure, and workflow, Gong might not provide the value you need or justify its cost.
Understanding Gong
What is Gong? Gong is a revenue intelligence platform designed to help sales teams improve performance by analysing customer interactions. It records, transcribes, and analyses calls and meetings to provide insights that help businesses refine their sales strategies. While it’s a powerful tool for sales-driven organisations, it’s not necessarily the right fit for every business. Depending on your team’s structure, goals, and workflows, you may find that other solutions align better with your needs.
High Costs That Might Not Justify the Investment
One of the biggest factors to consider when adopting new technology is cost. Gong is a premium platform, and with that comes a significant price tag. For startups, small businesses, or teams with limited budgets, the investment might not deliver a return that justifies the expense. If your team isn’t making high-volume sales calls or heavily relying on AI-driven insights, you might not see enough value to warrant the cost.
Complexity Can Slow Down Adoption
Gong is a sophisticated platform with advanced analytics and deep insights, but that also means there’s a learning curve. Teams that aren’t highly data-driven may struggle to make full use of its features. If your team prefers straightforward tools or lacks the time for extensive training, the complexity of Gong’s system might end up being more of a hindrance than a help.
Not Ideal for Every Industry
While Gong is built primarily for sales teams, not every business follows the same sales process. Industries with unique workflows, such as creative agencies, service-based businesses, or companies relying on relationship-building over structured sales calls, may not find Gong’s insights as relevant. If your team doesn’t rely heavily on recorded calls or detailed deal-tracking, the core features of Gong might not add much value to your operations.
Privacy Concerns Could Be a Dealbreaker
Recording calls and meetings brings up potential privacy concerns, especially for businesses operating in regions with strict data protection regulations. Employees and clients may also feel uneasy knowing every conversation is being analysed. If maintaining a high level of privacy and trust is a priority for your organisation, you may need to weigh whether Gong’s recording and transcription features align with your company’s values and legal requirements.
AI-Driven Insights Might Not Suit Your Team’s Workflow
Gong’s strength lies in its AI-powered analysis, providing detailed breakdowns of conversations and sales performance. However, not every team wants or needs AI-generated feedback. Some businesses prefer more hands-on coaching, human-driven decision-making, or simpler reporting methods. If your team thrives on personal interactions and organic feedback rather than AI-driven analytics, Gong’s core value proposition might not be a great fit.
It’s Not as Customisable as You Might Think
While Gong offers robust insights, it’s not the most flexible tool for teams looking for deep customisation. Businesses with unique sales processes or reporting structures might find it limiting. If you need a solution that adapts to your existing workflow rather than requiring you to adjust to a predefined system, this could be a sticking point.
Requires a Lot of Data to Be Effective
For Gong’s AI to work effectively, it needs access to a large volume of data. If your team doesn’t conduct a high number of calls or meetings, the insights might not be as meaningful. Smaller teams or businesses with longer sales cycles may not generate enough data for Gong’s analytics to provide actionable takeaways, making it less valuable in the long run.
Your Team’s Size and Structure Matters
Gong is built with large sales teams in mind. If your business has a small team, individual contributors, or a non-traditional sales structure, you might not get the same benefits as a larger, enterprise-level organisation. Companies that rely on one-on-one relationship-building rather than structured sales pipelines may not see the same impact from Gong’s features.
Could Lead to Information Overload
Having access to deep insights is great—until it becomes overwhelming. Gong provides a wealth of data, but if your team doesn’t have the time or expertise to sift through it all, the sheer volume of information can become a burden. Not every business benefits from this level of detail, and some teams may prefer a simpler, more intuitive approach to tracking performance.
Finding the Right Fit for Your Team
While Gong is a powerful tool for the right businesses, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Every team has unique needs, and it’s important to find tools that align with your goals, budget, and workflow. If Gong doesn’t seem like the right fit, there are plenty of other options that might suit your team better—without the high costs, complexity, or industry limitations.
