AI Receptionist vs Answering Service vs Hiring a Receptionist
There are three common ways to make sure your business calls get answered. None is right for every business, so here is how they compare.
| AI receptionist | Answering service | Hiring a receptionist | |
|---|---|---|---|
| When it answers | Whenever a call reaches it, including after hours | During the hours you pay for | During their working hours |
| Calls at the same time | Many at once | Depends on the service | One at a time |
| How you pay | For the conversation time used | A monthly plan, or per call or minute | A salary and benefits |
| Answers | The same answers you supplied, every time | From a script you provide | From their own knowledge of your business |
| Best for | Common questions, requests and reminders | Taking messages | Complex, sensitive or in-person work |
When a person is the better choice
Sensitive conversations, complaints and anything that needs judgement belong with a person. A good AI receptionist knows its limits: it hands those calls to your team, or takes a message for them.
Using them together
Many businesses keep their team on the phone and let an AI receptionist take what they can’t: calls during busy times, at lunch and after hours, plus reminder and follow-up calls. Your team then spends its time on the conversations that need it.