Can I keep my phone number if I use an AI receptionist?
Yes. Most owners do not want a new phone number, and you do not need one. You ask your phone company to forward some calls to a number we set up for you, so customers keep dialling the number they know and see no change. We set this up with you on the setup call and suggest starting with after-hours calls.
Three ways to forward
- Always: every call goes to us.
- After a number of rings: you get the first chance, and if you do not pick up, we answer.
- When you are busy: if you are on another call, the next caller goes to us.
What your carrier offers, what it costs and the exact keys to press differ from one carrier to the next. On the setup call we look at your carrier together and give you the exact steps for it.
The steps
- The setup call. We agree what the line should answer, your hours, and who a caller should be passed to.
- We set up the rules, starting from one of our industry templates. You can read every rule and change it.
- The safety check. It runs hard practice questions and stays off if it fails a serious one.
- You set up forwarding with the number and steps we give you.
- The test call. You and your staff call your own number, from a different phone, before any customer does.
- Going live, starting with after-hours calls and widening it when you are happy.
Other options
If you want a separate number for the line, for your website or your ads, we can set that up too. If you want to move the number itself, talk to us before you contact your carrier, and we will tell you plainly what we support today. You cannot buy a number yourself inside the product yet, so numbers are set up with our help.
Common questions
Do customers see a different number?
No. Your carrier passes the call along, so customers see no change.
Can I buy a phone number myself in the product?
Not yet. Phone numbers are set up with our help today.
Should I replace my receptionist with it on day one?
We do not suggest that, and we will tell you so. We suggest starting with after-hours calls and overflow.