Full architecture (diagram)
A serious AI SDR architecture has five layers, with two-way flow between most of them:
- Data layer — sources (Apollo, Clay, LinkedIn) feeding the system.
- Scoring layer — model that weights and prioritizes leads.
- Copy layer — LLM with a system prompt + per-lead enriched data.
- Sending layer — Instantly, Smartlead or equivalent with warm-up and rotation.
- CRM layer — HubSpot/Pipedrive/Salesforce with two-way sync.
Domains and email infrastructure (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, warm-up)
The piece that decides whether your email hits the inbox or spam. Without this dialed in, none of the rest matters.
- Secondary domains. Never use your primary domain for outbound. Buy 1-5 secondary domains (acme.io, getacme.com, etc.).
- SPF, DKIM, DMARC configured correctly from day one. Without them, you're spam by default.
- 2-3 week warm-up ramping volume gradually from a new domain.
- Reasonable per-inbox volume — 50-150 emails/day max. More is gambling with your reputation.
- Reputation monitoring with GlockApps, MailReach or similar.
Lead sourcing and enrichment
Prompt quality is directly proportional to data quality. The standard tools in 2026:
| Tool | Strength | Approx. cost |
|---|---|---|
| Apollo | Volume, broad B2B data | $50-300/mo depending on use |
| Clay | Advanced enrichment with waterfalls | $150-800/mo |
| ZoomInfo | Enterprise quality | $8,000-30,000/year |
| LinkedIn Sales Nav | Native LinkedIn data | $70-150/mo per user |
| Clearbit | Enrichment by domain or email | $500-2,000/mo |
Scoring and triggers
Not every lead is worth the same. Scoring decides who to prioritize and when to reach out:
- Static scoring — based on firmographics (title, company, industry).
- Dynamic scoring — based on signals (site visit, whitepaper download, role change).
- Triggers — events that fire specific sequences (new funding, key-role hiring, press mention).
Sequences with AI personalization
A well-designed sequence has 3-7 touchpoints spread over 2-4 weeks, with AI personalization in at least the first two:
| Touchpoint | Day | Personalization |
|---|---|---|
| T1 — Opening email | Day 1 | High (prospect data + specific angle) |
| T2 — Value follow-up | Day 4-5 | High (reference to something specific) |
| T3 — Bump | Day 8 | Low (short reminder) |
| T4 — Angle shift | Day 12 | Medium (new angle, similar data) |
| T5 — Final | Day 18 | Low (honest breakup) |
CRM integration (HubSpot, Pipedrive, Salesforce)
Integration has to be two-way: the agent reads from the CRM (don't contact leads already closed/lost) and writes to it (create contacts, log activity, update fields).
Day-to-day monitoring and deliverability
- Weekly bounce-rate check (<2% is healthy).
- Domain reputation monitoring.
- Reply-rate review by segment and by copy.
- Monthly prompt and segment iteration based on the data.