What an AI receptionist is
A website AI receptionist is a chat assistant on your site that answers customer questions using information you have given it, takes the details of anyone who wants a job done, and sends those details to you. Think of it as a polite first point of contact that never goes home.
What it does well
- Answers the repeat questions. Service areas, opening hours, what you do and do not do, how quotes work.
- Catches leads out of hours. A visitor at 9pm gets a reply and leaves their name and number instead of leaving your site.
- Saves you typing. You get a tidy message slip with the name, number and what the job is.
- Books time with you. If it is connected to your calendar, it offers times you are actually free.
- Treats urgent jobs differently. Words like "locked out" or "burst pipe" can trigger an urgent alert to you.
What it should not do
- Diagnose problems, give safety or legal advice, or promise outcomes.
- Quote a price for a job it knows nothing about, unless you have given it clear price information.
- Pretend to be a person. A good one says it is an AI assistant.
- Replace calling a customer back. It starts the conversation. You finish it.
How to judge one before you buy
- Does it answer only from your information, and does your own wording outrank everything else?
- Can you read every conversation, and see the questions it could not answer?
- Does it hand over cleanly, with a phone number for emergencies and a clear way to take over?
- Is there a cap on usage costs, so a busy month cannot produce a nasty bill?
- Where is your customers' data stored, and how long is it kept?
Is it worth it for your business?
It is most useful when enquiries arrive while you cannot answer, which describes most trades, mobile services and small clinics and studios. It matters less if someone is always on the phone. If you only get a few enquiries a month, a clear website and good Google Business Profile may be enough.
Our AI receptionist starts at $59 a month plus GST for website chat, with a one-off setup, and installing it takes a single line of code on most websites.
Common questions
Will an AI receptionist replace my staff?
No. It handles the first reply and collects details, so your people spend time on the jobs and calls that need a human.
What happens if it does not know the answer?
A well-built assistant says so and takes a message. Ours takes the visitor's details and sends them to you, and lists unanswered questions so you can teach it.
Can it answer the phone?
Website chat is available now. Phone answering is built and in early testing, so it is offered as early access.
Does it work on any website?
Yes. It is a single line of code that works on WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, Shopify and hand-built sites.