AI receptionist vs voicemail
Many callers who reach voicemail hang up and call the next business on Google. An AI receptionist answers instead, so the caller gets their answer or their booking straight away.
Side by side
| AI receptionist (The AI Front Desk) | Voicemail | |
|---|---|---|
| Caller gets an answer | Yes, straight away | No, they wait for a callback |
| Books the appointment | Yes, on the call | No |
| Works for texts and emails | Yes | No |
| Urgent calls | Booked into your earliest slot, and you're texted | Sit in your inbox until you check |
| Your time | No callbacks for routine questions | Listening to messages and calling everyone back |
| Cost | From £92.08 a week | Free, but every hang-up can be a lost job |
What missed calls really cost
If a missed call is a new customer worth a few hundred pounds, even a few a week adds up to thousands a year. Try the missed call calculator to see your own number.
Keeping your own number
You don't have to give anything up. The AI Front Desk gives you a number that's always answered, and you can forward your existing number to it when you're busy or out of hours.
Questions
Do customers leave voicemails?
Many don't. People calling a new business often try the next one instead of leaving a message.
Can I keep my own number?
Yes. The AI Front Desk gives you a new number, and you can forward your existing number to it when you can't answer.
What happens to urgent calls?
You set what counts as urgent, and The AI Front Desk books those callers into your earliest free slot and texts you straight away.
More guides
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