By the numbers
51%
G2, 2026
51%
Of buyers think more highly of a SaaS vendor when AI includes them in an answer
G2, 2026
87%
Of SaaS brands have zero AI search mentions across ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI
Search Engine Journal, 2026
Why B2B SaaS buyers are switching from Google to AI search
When someone needs a project management tool, a CRM, a data platform, or a compliance solution, they no longer open a browser and read ten comparison pages. They ask ChatGPT. They ask Perplexity. They get a shortlist of three and they start there.
This is not an SEO problem. Most SEO and GEO — generative engine optimisation — tools only address the technical layer: schema, crawlability, metadata. Xyra Foundry goes further, auditing the UX layer and the content strategy layer that most SaaS companies overlook entirely. These are the layers where the buying decision actually forms.
The B2B SaaS companies on that shortlist are not always the most capable or the most established. They are the ones whose websites are structured in a way AI can read, extract, and recommend with confidence. If your content architecture is not built for retrieval, you do not get recommended. You do not even get considered.
Findings from close to 100 SaaS companies
We ran structured AI visibility scans across close to 100 UK SaaS companies, testing how each appeared across five prompt types on ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews. We tested what happened when large language models were asked to recommend, compare and evaluate solutions in each company's category.
54%
Medium and Low Visibility
Appearing inconsistently or not at all, missing from the comparison, category and use-case prompts where buyers build their shortlist.
46%
Recognisable by name, but still absent from the comparison and category discovery prompts where buying decisions actually form.
High Visibility (branded only)
Scans conducted across close to 100 UK SaaS companies spanning HR tech, fintech, compliance, operations, procurement, data platforms and specialist verticals. Prompt types tested: unbranded category search, decision query, comparison query, use-case query, branded query.
What AI visibility audits reveal in SaaS companies
These are the patterns we see most often. None of them require a website rebuild.
All of them have a fix.
1
Your product content is not built for comparison prompts
When buyers ask AI "what is the best CRM for a 50-person sales team" or "compare project management tools for agencies," AI looks for content that directly addresses use-case specifics, competitor differentiation, and buyer context. Most B2B SaaS websites are built around features. Feature content alone does not get retrieved in comparison mode.
2
Your authority signals are not readable across third-party platforms
AI citations are driven by reviews and third-party editorial mentions, not your own site. AI uses G2, Capterra, Trustpilot and independent editorial sources to validate the recommendations it makes. If your review profile is thin, or your product is absent from industry roundups and "best of" lists, AI will not surface you with confidence. It defaults to the competitor with cleaner external signals.
3
Your use-case content is written for search, not for retrieval
AI is not looking for keyword density. It is looking for content that maps capabilities to specific business problems in a structured, extractable format. If a buyer's question cannot be answered directly from your page, your page does not get cited. Most B2B SaaS sites fail this test on their most important use cases.
4
Your highest-intent visitors arrive to the wrong page
AI-referred buyers convert at a significantly higher rate than search visitors — but only when the page they land on matches the intent they arrived with. These buyers are already mid-funnel. They have chosen a category. They are evaluating fit. If they land on a generic homepage or a feature list, the moment is lost before it starts.
What Makes Xyra Different
Most audits cover one layer. Xyra covers three.
SEO and GEO tools tell you whether your schema is correct. They do not tell you whether your content structure, your UX, or your decision journey is built for the patient who just arrived from an AI recommendation.
Three ways to work with us
Start where you need to. Most clinics begin with Diagnose to understand where they stand, then move to Fix once priorities are clear.
All engagements start from £699.
Tier 1 - Diagnose
AI visibility score across 30 items. Top issues identified and ranked. Clear view of where you stand vs competitors. Delivered as a structured report.
Tier 2 - Understand
Full annotated audit across all four pillars. Specific UX and content recommendations. Conversion friction analysis. Prioritised by revenue impact.
Tier 3 - Fix
Everything in Understand. 90-day prioritised roadmap. Backlog ready for your team to action. Optional implementation support.
Exact scope and tier confirmed at point of enquiry.
Frequently asked questions
1
Why is my SaaS product not appearing in ChatGPT or Perplexity results?
The most common reason is that your content is not structured in a way large language models can extract and use to answer a buyer's question. AI systems do not read websites the way humans do. They look for content that directly addresses specific use cases, maps features to business problems, and is supported by external authority signals such as reviews and editorial mentions. If those elements are missing or poorly structured, AI bypasses your product in favour of a competitor whose content is easier to retrieve and recommend.
2
What is the difference between SEO and GEO for B2B software companies?
SEO optimises your website to rank in traditional search results. Generative engine optimisation(GEO) optimises your content and structure to be retrieved, cited and recommended by AI systems such as ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews. For B2B SaaS, the distinction matters because AI-referred buyers behave differently: they arrive mid-funnel, already in evaluation mode, and convert at a significantly higher rate than search visitors. Being ranked on Google does not guarantee you will appear in AI-generated answers.
3
How do I get my SaaS product recommended by AI when buyers are researching solutions?
Appearing in AI-generated answers requires three things to work together: your content must be structured so AI can extract clear answers to buyer questions; your entity — what your product is, who it is for, and what makes it different — must be consistent and readable across your site and third-party sources; and your decision journey must be built for buyers who arrive already in evaluation mode. Most B2B SaaS sites address none of these consistently. An AI Readiness UX Audit identifies exactly where the gaps are and what to fix first.