Kevin Young 
If you are the owner of a small business, you probably understand what it takes to acquire paying customers. The chances are high that your resources are constrained, and it is critical to have an approach where you do more with less. As interest in your business grows, the internal team will have more calls and requests to deal with, and the limited front desk assistants may not have the time to handle them. That’s where an AI receptionist from a top service provider like Signpost can come in handy. In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss how AI voice agents are redefining customer services and solutions for small businesses.
Learn the concept of AI receptionists
As the name suggests, AI receptionists are programs that work as front desk receptions and leverage the power of artificial intelligence. Your calls are attended by the program that’s tailored to offer responses to typical questions, requests and complaints. Is an AI receptionist the same as a virtual assistant (VA)? No, VAs are remote workers who manage calls and administrative tasks without coming to the office and can work either full-time or part-time. On the other hand, AI-based virtual answering assistants are the same as AI receptionists.
Availability and scalability
These are often the top two reasons why many small businesses are now using AI voice agents. Unlike humans, who are bound by office hours and limited availability to take calls, an AI receptionist works around the clock. The computer program can attend to callers even when the office is closed. For many startups and small businesses, an increase in call volume is often about seasonal demand, and hiring more people to manage the work can be expensive. AI receptionists are designed to attend numerous calls at the same time, and that ensures your business remains accessible for potential leads and customers alike.
Helping the internal team
As we discussed, hiring more people when you are expecting more calls isn’t always feasible. The whole recruitment process is costly and time-consuming. You will need to spend time finding applicants, and even after selecting a few, there are expenses like salaries, perks, benefits, and training. With an AI receptionist, you can get away with these costs and help your internal team to perform better. Most businesses, including large corporations, now rely on AI voice agents to manage initial calls. If a customer needs more human support or has a complex query, the real experts step in.
Keep your customers happy
No matter the industry, people are now spoilt for choice. When someone needs a product or a service, they are not keen to wait. Instead, they will look for the next best alternative in the same price bracket. That’s the precise reason why you cannot risk missing even a single call. With AI receptionists, these calls are recorded, and you know how to serve your leads and existing clients better.
Train your AI receptionist
AI receptionists are designed using machine learning, advanced natural language processing, and speech synthesis, and you will typically have control of responses. Top companies offer a knowledge base that can be updated, and if there are additional changes, you can incorporate them to ensure your AI agent responds better. The flexibility and the easy onboarding process give more reasons to have AI as your first responders for customers.
Get more business & expand your brand
Customers who get a prompt response are more likely to recommend your business to others. When it comes to creating brand value for a small business, superior customer service remains the focal point, and your AI receptionist will help you achieve that without expanding your resources.
