If you run a small business, you are already aware of the hard work and effort in acquiring a customer. It often takes years of extensive effort to create a loyal base. Ensuring your customers remain that way and are served timely are aspects you cannot afford to ignore. Hiring, training, and retaining a dedicated support team can be daunting, especially for small businesses with limited resources. Beyond the money spent, there is also a constant need to manage customer care executives and receptionists who handle calls and respond to queries. If you are looking for an alternative that’s more cost-effective and functional, consider looking at AI receptionists. In this guide, we will discuss more about the benefits and how to find the best ai receptionist.
Know the potential
No matter the domain or the type of company you own, it is crucial that every call is answered. For instance, an existing customer may require product support, or maybe someone saw your ad and wants to place an order – If your small business is unavailable, it indicates unreliability. An AI receptionist can work around the clock without a pause, ensuring each call is answered immediately, often after two rings. Today, companies are training their AI models aggressively to respond to customers and callers in the most human-like way possible, and you can expect the virtual receptionist to share precise information with the caller. AI receptionists can also schedule meetings, make appointments, or guide a caller to a real customer care expert for more custom or complex queries.
Are AI receptionists enough for small businesses?
The answer depends on the type of products and services you sell, but for regular small businesses, AI receptionists are more than enough to handle regular calls. Based on the features, an AI virtual receptionist can offer the following advantages –
- Handle significant volumes of calls around the clock
- Respond to common questions, queries
- Take appointments
- Reroute calls to certain departments
- Converse in diverse languages
Furthermore, you can continue to train your AI receptionist with time. This brings us to the next question – Will you need a customer care team? Having executives and customer support experts is never a bad idea, especially when offering more personal solutions to customers. In fact, many companies have a rather hybrid model, where their AI receptionists work as first responders while the human experts handle more complicated queries and customers. The approach is effective because a caller doesn’t have to wait long for simpler needs or questions.
Selecting between AI receptionists
There are all kinds of AI-powered solutions in the market, but before choosing one, start with the requirements and features you need. Consider the average daily call volume, what languages your target audiences speak, and the nature of calls and queries you get. Check with the service provider whether they have cloud infrastructure to ensure uptime. The purpose of AI receptionists is to ensure availability, and uptime is probably the most crucial factor for any small business. You may also want to review the extent of control you would have, whether you can tailor certain responses, and keep a tab on call volume and data. Not to forget, compare options based on feedback and reviews. If an AI receptionist is designed for your industry and serves small businesses, that should be your first choice.
Concluding notes
When you respond to customers on time and without making them wait, you create trust and value. That eventually adds to your brand’s market standing, and people are more likely to return or recommend your business to others. If you don’t have a customer care team, you are already missing out. Get an AI receptionist and automate how you respond to calls without delay.
