Key takeaways (TL;DR)
- ACTO replaced unpopular role‑play exercises with realistic, on-demand practice sessions with lifelike AI Humans.
- Tavus’s platform stood out by allowing ACTO to integrate their own custom language model via API, so the AI humans could respond with industry-specific knowledge and context.
Company snapshot
Industry: Life sciences (pharma training platform)
Size / stage: ~85 employees; venture-funded scale-up
Use‑case: AI sales coaching & onboarding simulations
The challenge
Pharmaceutical sales representatives traditionally practiced with in-person role‑plays, a method many reps dreaded and often avoided. ACTO, an omnichannel learning platform for life sciences companies, saw that these conventional training exercises were not only unpopular but also difficult to scale across global teams.
They needed a modern way to let reps practice conversations with healthcare providers that felt authentic, personalized, and available on-demand.
The goal was to improve rep confidence and competence in doctor interactions by replacing the static, inconvenient role‑plays with a more engaging, flexible solution powered by artificial intelligence.
Why they chose Tavus
ACTO explored several options, including large tech vendors and game-engine avatars, but found them either cost-prohibitive or too complex. They ultimately chose Tavus for its unique blend of cost-effectiveness and technical flexibility. Tavus’s platform stood out by allowing ACTO to integrate their own custom language model via API, so the AI humans could respond with industry-specific knowledge and context.
Just as importantly, Tavus’s AI Humans met ACTO’s high bar for realism, from natural voice and lip-sync to the avatars’ photorealistic appearance. The low latency and seamless embedding of Tavus into ACTO’s mobile and web apps ensured a smooth user experience. In short, Tavus offered a turnkey solution that felt tailor-made for ACTO’s sales coaching vision, without the hefty price tag of alternative approaches.
Looking ahead, ACTO’s product team is also exploring deeper integrations, such as leveraging AI Humans in customer-facing scenarios.
Closing thought
By partnering with Tavus, ACTO transformed its training approach, turning what was once dreaded role-play into an engaging, scalable practice that is poised to elevate sales teams worldwide.