What Is Multimodal Input?

Multimodal input means giving information to a system using more than one type of signal, for example voice, text, images or other media. In practice, multimodal input lets users interact in the way that feels most natural at any moment instead of being limited to typing.

How Multimodal Input Works In Modern AI

In modern AI systems, multimodal input is captured, converted into a common internal representation, then analysed together. Speech is turned into text, images are translated into visual features, and text is tokenised, so the model can understand how these different signals relate to each other.

For example, a field sales rep might speak a quick recap of a client visit, add a photo of a shelf display, and type a short note about pricing objections. A system that supports multimodal input can combine all three signals into one structured record that is ready to sync with the CRM.

Why Multimodal Input Matters For Field Sales Teams

For field sales teams on the road, multimodal input is not a nice to have, it is essential for speed and safety. Reps often need to capture details from customer visits in the car, in noisy environments, or between tight back to back meetings, where opening a laptop and typing is not realistic.

A proactive AI assistant like Donna uses multimodal input so reps can talk, type or show what happened in a visit. Donna turns voice notes, short typed updates and photos of whiteboards or product displays into structured notes, to dos and CRM updates, without extra admin work.

Typical Multimodal Input Types

• Voice spoken recaps of meetings captured on the go and converted into structured notes.
• Text quick corrections, extra context or answers to follow up questions entered by the rep.
• Images photos of shelves, showroom layouts, flipcharts or business cards linked to the right account.
• Documents attachments like quotes or visit reports that are summarised and logged.
• Contextual signals calendar entries, location and CRM data combined with other inputs to enrich records.

Together, these forms of multimodal input create a much richer and more reliable picture of every customer interaction, without adding time to the rep's day.

Benefits Of Multimodal Input For CRM Adoption And Data Quality

When multimodal input is built into an AI assistant that lives in your CRM and calendar, it becomes far easier to keep data complete and up to date. Reps can leave a voice note right after a visit, add a quick photo, and let the system do the heavy lifting of mapping information to accounts, opportunities and custom objects.

This leads to higher CRM adoption, more consistent reporting, and fewer blind spots for managers who need real time visibility into the field. Customer stories on how teams cut admin time and improved data quality with Donna are available in the dedicated customer stories section.

For sales leaders considering multimodal input in their workflow, the key is to look for a solution that is proactive, on the go, and deeply integrated with your existing CRM, so every interaction is captured accurately without extra effort from the team.