AI receptionist or answering service for your company switchboard

Here we explain the difference between answering machines, manned answering services and an AI phone agent. Read how the different options work to find the right solution for your switchboard.

An answering machine records a voice message that you listen to later. A manned answering service lets an external person answer in your name and take a message for you. The AI phone agent conducts the conversation itself. It resolves the issue or forwards the call to the right person with full context.

How an answering machine works

A traditional machine plays a message recorded in advance when no one at the company can answer. The caller gets an opportunity to leave their own voice message after a beep. You listen to these messages when you have time and then call the person back.

This option is highly suitable when you have a low volume of incoming calls. It also works well if your callers do not expect an immediate response. It is a simple way to ensure that no inquiries are completely lost when your staff is busy.

What a manned answering service means

This involves an external company taking the calls you do not have time to answer. A human answers in your company name. The person notes what the matter is about, takes contact details and then sends a message to you. Your own staff then takes over and contacts the caller afterwards.

This method is excellent when you want to offer a personal greeting without hiring more of your own staff. The caller gets to speak with a human immediately, even if the issue cannot be resolved during that specific call. An internal reception works similarly but is located on your premises, which is ideal if you also receive physical visitors.

The way the AI phone agent operates

When you choose this option, the agent receives incoming calls for your business. The agent speaks with a natural voice and conducts a real dialogue. It is designed to understand what the caller wants even when the issue is stated in their own words. This means they avoid listening through a long menu of options to reach the right place.

Once it is connected to your existing business systems, automations allow the agent to retrieve information and perform tasks within your own databases during the conversation. The function is available around the clock and takes an unlimited amount of incoming calls at the exact same time. No one has to wait in a queue to get through.

Transferring calls to your employees

Regardless of the solution, difficult issues often need to be forwarded to your own staff. With a manned service, you usually receive a message in a system. You read what the matter is about before you call the person back when you have time.

When you use Real Talk, the caller's conversation is forwarded if the person asks for human contact. The employee gets direct access to the collected data so the customer avoids repeating themselves. The handover takes place while the call is still ongoing.

Connecting the service to your phone setup

A good first step is to begin with a limited scope. You expand the responsibility when you feel comfortable. You keep your existing phone system. We assign a phone number that you easily add to your current environment.

From there, you control which contacts are forwarded to the agent.

  • The agent is added as a receiver behind the company's own setup.
  • You decide if it should take all inquiries or just the ones your employees do not have time for.
  • All information and data is processed in data centres within the EU.

Frequently asked questions

What separates an answering service from an AI phone agent?

An answering service means that a human at an external partner answers and takes a message for you. An AI phone agent answers directly. It conducts a dialogue and can resolve tasks once it is connected to your systems.

Do we need to change our telephony platform to use Real Talk?

You keep your existing phone system exactly as it is. We assign a standard phone number to the agent. You then add this number under an existing option in your current routing structure.

Which languages does the agent speak?

The agent conducts natural conversations in Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Danish, and many other languages. It can switch languages in the middle of an ongoing dialogue if the caller prefers it. You configure the pace and select a fitting personality yourself.

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This guide is written by Real Talk, the Nordic AI phone agent.

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