An AI receptionist that picks up when you can’t.
A natural-sounding voice agent on your business line, set up by our Toronto studio. It answers day or night, books the job, transfers what’s urgent and logs each call to your CRM.
- AgentNorthside HVAC. Who am I speaking with?
- CallerIt’s Dana, at the Kim residence. Our furnace clicks, but there’s no heat.
- AgentSorry about that. What’s the address?
- Caller48 Birch Street. Thursday morning would be great.
- New job
- Furnace repair, 48 Birch St
- Asked for
- Thursday morning
- Then
- Logged to the CRM, owner alerted on Telegram
What happens when a customer calls
The phone rings while you’re on a job, with a client or asleep, and many callers who reach voicemail just try the next business. An AI receptionist holds a real conversation: it works out what the caller needs and acts on it.
- 1 · Ring
Your number rings
Calls forward to the agent always, after hours, or when you don’t pick up. Your customers dial the same number.
- 2 · Conversation
The agent answers
It introduces itself as a virtual assistant, works out what the caller needs and answers common questions on hours, service areas and policies.
- 3 · Outcome
Books the job
Into Google Calendar, Outlook, Cal.com or your booking system, and reschedules too.
Transfers urgent calls
To you or the on-call person, with the context.
Qualifies new leads
Service, address and urgency, ready for a callback.
- 4 · After the call
You get the summary
Every call is logged to your CRM, with an alert on Telegram, SMS or Slack.
AI receptionist vs answering service vs voicemail
Each has its place, and many businesses pair an AI receptionist with a human backup.
| Voicemail | Answering service | AI receptionist | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who answers | A recording | A live agent, often shared across many businesses | An AI voice agent trained on your business |
| Availability | 24/7, but nobody responds until you call back | Depends on the plan; some are 24/7 | 24/7, including evenings and holidays |
| Busy periods | Takes messages | Callers may wait when agents are busy | Can take several calls at once, depending on the phone setup |
| Booking | No | Some services book; many only take messages | Books straight into your calendar |
| CRM & follow-up | Manual | Usually a message by email or app | Call details and summary written to your CRM automatically |
| Unusual or emotional calls | Not applicable | A strength: people handle nuance well | Follows your rules and transfers to a person when needed |
| Typical cost model | Usually included in your phone plan | Monthly plan or per-minute / per-call fees | One-time setup plus usage (phone minutes and AI) |
Pricing models vary by provider. For published rates, Canadian rules and a call-by-call comparison, see the guide AI receptionist vs answering service.
Who an AI receptionist is for
Anywhere a missed call means a lost customer: home services (HVAC, plumbing, locksmiths, cleaning, renovation), clinics and salons, real-estate teams and property managers, restaurants and other busy front desks.
For plumbing, HVAC and electrical shops, our guide to AI for home service businesses covers emergency calls, dispatch and follow-up.
We built this flow for a Toronto home-services company. Read the Lane case studyWhat we connect, and what you decide
- Phone & voice
- ElevenLabs, Twilio and your existing number (kept), or a new one.
- Calendars
- Google Calendar, Outlook, Cal.com
- CRM
- HubSpot, GoHighLevel or a custom CRM
- Alerts
- Telegram, SMS, Slack
- Your rules
- What it books, when it transfers and what it must never say, written with you.
- Testing
- Dozens of test calls, awkward cases included, before it meets a customer. After launch we review calls, tighten answers and add skills as you grow.
A receptionist works best connected to the rest of your operations: automated follow-ups, CRM and invoicing, and AI across your team.
AI receptionist FAQ: cost, languages, keeping your number
Will callers know they’re talking to an AI receptionist?
We recommend the agent introduces itself as a virtual assistant. It’s honest, and callers rarely mind when their problem gets solved on the first call. It can always hand over to a person.
Can I keep my current business phone number?
Yes. Most setups forward your existing number to the agent (always, after hours, or when you don’t pick up), so nothing changes for your customers.
What happens with an emergency or an angry caller?
You set the rules. Typical setups transfer emergencies and upset callers straight to a person, or text the on-call tech with the details.
How much does an AI receptionist cost?
It depends on call volume, the tools we connect and what the agent does. After a free call you get a fixed setup price plus an estimate of running costs (phone minutes and AI usage).
Does the AI receptionist speak French or other languages?
Yes. Voice agents can speak and understand many languages, including French, Spanish and Hebrew, and can switch to match the caller.
More on phones and AI receptionists
Talk through how your calls are handled
A free 30-minute call with the founder. Within 48 hours you get a written plan and a fixed quote.