Traditional deal reviews often focus on the basics—pipeline updates, surface-level risks, and general next steps. However, the modern sales environment, marked by complex buyer behaviors and increasing competition, demands a more strategic approach: using advanced tools and analytics to identify overlooked risks, uncover buyer sentiment trends, and fine-tune strategies that accelerate deal velocity and maximize win rates.

With the integration of Revenue Operations and Intelligence platforms, sales teams can identify challenges earlier, focus on human connections, and refine their processes to ensure deals stay on track. By uncovering actionable insights, deal reviews evolve from routine updates to sessions that directly improve win rates and pipeline performance.

In this article, we’ll explore how evolving deal review strategies can transform your revenue operations. From leveraging cutting-edge technology to fostering collaboration and accountability, we’ll break down proven frameworks and critical elements for conducting impactful deal reviews that propel your business toward sustainable growth.

The State of Deal Reviews

Drawing insights from a survey of over 1,000 revenue leaders and contributors across sales, marketing, customer success, and operations, the 2025 RevOps Compensation & Impact Report shines a light on compensation trends, workload priorities, the power of forecasting methodologies, and the current state of deal reviews.Are you included in deal review calls with reps

The report reveals that nearly half of revenue teams do not participate in weekly deal review calls, which limits collaboration, coaching opportunities, and risk mitigation. When revenue teams are not actively participating in these crucial conversations, they may struggle to stay aligned with the sales process and provide the necessary support to close deals effectively.

Probability of Hitting Target

The report also highlights the significant impact that effective deal reviews can have on revenue performance. Teams that find deal reviews very helpful are three times more likely to hit their revenue targets compared to those who find them less valuable. This stark difference underscores the importance of not only conducting regular deal reviews but also ensuring that they are structured and executed in a way that maximizes their impact.

How to Run an Effective Deal Review

So, what makes a deal review truly impactful? The most effective deal reviews are those that focus on aligning leadership, identifying risks, moving sales deals forward, and coaching reps. When deal reviews are used as a platform for cross-functional collaboration and strategic problem-solving, they can help teams proactively address potential roadblocks and seize growth opportunities.

Effective deal reviews require a clear structure and the right tools to ensure revenue growth. This framework should focus on three key areas: consistent cadence and structure, technology-driven insights, and a strong emphasis on coaching and collaboration.

Establish a Consistent Cadence and StructureHow often does your team run deal review calls with reps?

Data shows that only 11.6% of revenue teams conduct deal reviews more than once a week, while 23.3% participate in these meetings less than once a week. For the latter teams, a regular cadence is essential to maintain momentum and ensure that all relevant deals are properly considered.

To establish an effective deal review process, consider the following:

  1. Set a weekly or bi-weekly schedule for deal review meetings
  2. Create a standardized agenda that covers key aspects of each deal
  3. Develop a sales deal review template to ensure consistent data collection
  4. Assign clear roles and responsibilities for each participant in the review

 

Adhering to a consistent structure not only saves time but also enables teams to track progress, identify patterns, and make data-driven decisions.

Leverage Technology for Insights and Efficiency

Revenue Operations and Intelligence (RO&I) platforms like BoostUp provide real-time insights into deal health, buyer engagement, and pipeline risk. These platforms can help teams:

  • Automate data collection and analysis
  • Identify at-risk deals and prioritize action items
  • Gain visibility into buyer-seller interactions and sentiment
  • Forecast revenue accurately and adjust strategies accordingly

Leveraging technology streamlines the deal review process, allowing managers to focus on high-impact activities such as coaching and objection handling. With the right tools in place, teams can make informed decisions and drive revenue growth more effectively.

Focus on Coaching and Collaboration

While technology is a powerful enabler, the human element remains critical in deal reviews. The effective processes prioritize coaching and collaboration, empowering reps to develop their skills and work together to overcome challenges. To foster a coaching mindset:

  • Use deal reviews as an opportunity to provide targeted feedback and guidance
  • Encourage open communication and knowledge sharing among team members
  • Celebrate successes and learn from setbacks as a team
  • Continuously refine your coaching approach based on rep performance and feedback

Creating a collaborative environment during deal reviews not only enhances rep performance but also promotes a culture of continuous improvement and shared accountability.

For more practical insights on conducting impactful coaching sessions, check out BoostUp's webinar on the actionable laws for sales 1:1s.

5 Critical Elements of a High-Impact Deal Review

These 5 critical components can further improve the deal review process: assessing deal health and risk, analyzing buyer engagement and sentiment, identifying key stakeholders and decision-makers, and defining clear action plans and next steps. Let’s see each of them in detail.

Assessing Deal Health and Risk

Proactively spotting and addressing deal risks

72% of report respondents stated that deal reviews are very effective for proactively identifying and addressing risks. To gauge the overall health and risk of each sales deal, teams must examine a range of factors, such as deal stage, pipeline velocity, and historical win rates. This involves analyzing deal progression against benchmark metrics, identifying stalled or aging deals that require immediate attention, and evaluating the accuracy and completeness of deal data in the CRM.

In addition, AI-powered insights can help predict deal outcomes and prioritize actions, enabling teams to make proactive decisions and allocate resources effectively. Regularly assessing deal health and risk is crucial for maintaining a robust pipeline and driving revenue growth.

Moving Beyond Process Compliance in Deal Reviews

Enforcing process compliance

Many teams fall into the trap of using deal reviews to enforce process compliance rather than driving meaningful outcomes. 63.5% of the report respondents find such reviews only somewhat or not effective in boosting revenue attainment. While process adherence is essential, reviews overly focused on compliance neglect the dynamic aspects of deal progression.

To maximize value, deal reviews should shift from administrative updates to actionable discussions. Teams should focus on identifying deal-specific roadblocks, such as delayed buyer responses or decision-making bottlenecks. Prioritizing progress over the process allows sales teams to uncover risks earlier and develop strategies to move deals forward.

Actionable reviews also foster better alignment between sales and leadership, ensuring resources and attention are allocated to high-impact opportunities. By evolving beyond compliance, deal reviews can become strategic tools that directly contribute to revenue growth and improved pipeline health.

Analyzing Buyer Engagement and Sentiment

Another critical element of high-impact deal reviews is analyzing buyer engagement and sentiment. Understanding how buyers interact with and perceive the sales process is essential for gauging the true health of a deal.

Moving deals through the funnel more effectively

The report highlights that 54.5% of respondents consider deal reviews key to moving deals through the funnel, with engaged buyers being a significant factor in successful outcomes. To effectively analyze buyer engagement and sentiment, teams must monitor the frequency and quality of buyer interactions, assess buyer responsiveness and enthusiasm, and identify any concerns or objections raised by the buyer.

Additionally, sentiment analysis tools can provide valuable insights from buyer communications, helping teams adapt their approach and address potential roadblocks proactively. Keeping a pulse on buyer engagement and sentiment ensures that the sales team is aligned with the buyer's needs and expectations, increasing the likelihood of a successful outcome.

Identifying Key Stakeholders and Decision-Makers

Effective deal review also involves identifying and approaching the right stakeholders and decision-makers in the buyer's organization. To ensure that the sales team is targeting the people who have the greatest influence on the buying decision, it is important to map out the buyer's organizational structure and hierarchy.

This involves identifying the individuals involved in the buying process, assessing their level of engagement and influence, and developing targeted engagement strategies for each key stakeholder. Having a clear understanding of the key players enables sales teams to tailor their approach, build strong relationships with the right individuals, and ultimately drive the deal forward.

Defining Clear Action Plans and Next Steps

Finally, a high-impact deal review must focus on defining clear action plans and next steps.

Review Call Effectiveness

The report emphasizes the importance of this element, with 59% of respondents stating that deal reviews are powerful for aligning teams and leadership. To ensure that the deal review translates into tangible progress, teams must identify the most critical actions required to move the deal forward, assign ownership and deadlines for each action item, and establish a follow-up mechanism to ensure accountability.

Regularly reviewing and adjusting action plans based on deal progress is also crucial for maintaining momentum and adaptability. Defining and executing clear action plans helps teams stay focused, aligned, and motivated, ultimately increasing the chances of a successful deal outcome.

Measuring the Impact of Deal Reviews on Revenue Attainment

Probability of Hitting Target

Organizations that effectively use deal reviews to proactively spot and address risks are 2.4 times more likely to hit their targets.

To truly understand the impact of deal reviews on revenue attainment, it's essential to establish clear metrics and KPIs. This includes tracking the number of deal reviews conducted, the percentage of deals reviewed, and the win rates of reviewed versus non-reviewed deals. Additionally, measuring the effectiveness of action items and the speed at which they are implemented can provide valuable insights into the efficiency of the deal review process.

By regularly monitoring these metrics and analyzing their correlation with revenue performance, organizations can continuously refine their approach to deal reviews and optimize their impact. This data-driven approach enables sales leaders to make informed decisions, allocate resources effectively, and ultimately drive predictable, sustainable revenue growth.

Leveraging QBR sales and strategies during deal reviews can further enhance their effectiveness. Integrating insights from QBRs, such as progress against goals, pipeline health, and rep efficiency, can provide context and help in setting the right priorities for deal reviews. Additionally, a well-defined compensation management system that incentivizes participation and performance in deal reviews can drive higher levels of ownership and accountability.

The Relationship Between Funnel Movement and Deal Reviews

Probability of Hitting Target

Teams that conduct effective reviews are up to 4x more likely to hit revenue targets. This success stems from focusing on actionable insights rather than surface-level updates.

To drive funnel movement, reviews must prioritize metrics like deal aging, buyer engagement, and stage progression. For stalled deals, cross-functional collaboration can help identify obstacles and develop tailored strategies to address them.

Proactive deal reviews also enable teams to concentrate on high-value opportunities, ensuring resources are directed where they will have the most significant impact. By incorporating structured discussions that address specific bottlenecks, organizations can reduce deal cycles and improve overall closure rates, making reviews an essential lever for funnel acceleration and revenue attainment.

Leveraging BoostUp's RO&I Platform for Deal Review Excellence

BoostUp's RO&I platform is designed to supercharge deal reviews, providing sales teams with the actionable insights, automated data capture, and seamless collaboration tools they need to drive success.

One of the key benefits is its ability to provide real-time visibility into the health and progress of each deal. The platform continuously analyzes vast amounts of data from various sources, including email communications, calendar events, and CRM records, to provide a comprehensive view of each opportunity. This enables sales teams to quickly identify potential risks, spot trends, and make data-driven decisions during deal reviews.

BoostUp's AI-powered insights help sales leaders focus on the most critical deals and actions. The platform automatically prioritizes deals based on factors such as engagement levels, sentiment analysis, and historical win rates. This ensures that deal reviews are laser-focused on the opportunities that have the greatest impact on revenue attainment.

Another significant advantage is BoostUp’s ability to automate data capture and eliminate manual data entry. The platform seamlessly integrates with popular CRM systems, ensuring that all relevant deal information is accurately captured and up-to-date. This not only saves time but also improves data quality, providing a solid foundation for effective deal reviews.

It also facilitates seamless collaboration among sales team members, enabling them to work together more effectively during deal reviews. The platform provides a centralized hub for sharing insights, assigning tasks, and tracking progress. This ensures that everyone is aligned and accountable, reducing the risk of missed opportunities or communication breakdowns.

Integrating BoostUp's RO&I platform into the deal review process empowers sales teams to make smarter, faster decisions and drive predictable revenue growth. The platform's actionable insights, automated data capture, and collaboration tools enable teams to run more effective deal reviews, focus on the right opportunities, and ultimately close more business.

Conclusion

Organizations that prioritize effective deal reviews are significantly more likely to hit their revenue targets and drive sustainable growth.

To maximize the impact of deal reviews, sales leaders must adopt a structured, data-driven approach that leverages the right strategies, processes, and technologies. This includes establishing a consistent cadence and framework, focusing on key elements such as deal health, buyer engagement, and stakeholder management, and defining clear action plans and next steps.

Sales teams must embrace the power of Revenue Operations and Intelligence platforms like BoostUp to supercharge their deal review process. These platforms provide the real-time insights, automated data capture, and collaboration tools needed to make smarter, faster decisions and drive predictable revenue growth.
The strategies and best practices outlined in this article provide a roadmap for sales leaders looking to elevate their deal review game and achieve excellence. Adopting these principles, combined with the right technology, can transform deal reviews from a routine task into a strategic growth driver.

Sales leaders need to emphasize the importance of effective deal reviews, foster a culture of continuous improvement, and empower their teams with the skills and resources they need to succeed.

Discover the full insights from the 2025 RevOps Compensation & Impact Report—click here to download your copy.