AI receptionist
What does an AI receptionist actually do on a call?
An AI receptionist answers your business phone in a voice, tells the caller it is an automated assistant, answers routine questions from the information you approve, takes a useful message, and passes the call or the message to your team.
Tell us about your business and what you need.
The short answer
In short.
Where your calendar supports it, it can also request or book appointments. It should not guess prices, promise jobs or give advice outside the brief you set.
It answers with your approved facts
Your hours, service area, services and booking instructions become its source for routine questions. It answers from those, not from guesswork.
It says what it is
The assistant should make clear it is automated.
It takes a message someone can act on
You agree which details your team needs, such as the caller's name, number, suburb and what they need, and where the message goes.
It hands over to a person
You set the transfer or callback route, and what happens when the person receiving it cannot answer.
It books, where that is set up
With a tested calendar connection, it can book. Otherwise it collects an appointment request for your team to confirm.
What stays with your team
Quote job-specific prices, promise appointments it cannot confirm, or give advice outside its brief.
Privacy
Call records and customer details need an agreed access and retention arrangement. If you record calls, check the rules that apply to you; the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has privacy guidance for businesses.
When it helps
Calls while staff are busy, after hours, or at peak times.
AI receptionist, virtual receptionist or answering service?
An answering service uses people in a call centre to take your calls and messages. A virtual receptionist is usually a person working remotely for several businesses. An AI receptionist answers in a voice on its own, around the clock, using the information you approve.
What to check for an Australian business
For an Australian business, check that the AI phone service handles Australian accents and place names, says clearly that it is an automated assistant, and stores call records somewhere you are comfortable with. Ask how it hands calls to a person, and test it by calling it yourself before your customers do.
When an AI receptionist suits a business
An AI receptionist suits a business that misses calls while on the tools, after hours or at busy times, and gets the same routine questions often. It is less suited to calls that need judgement, such as a complaint or a complex quote; those should go to a person.
From clients
What clients say about working with spareday
“I now have a custom dashboard that lets me track exactly what my competitors are doing, spot viral content trends in real time, and script high-performing content ideas on demand. The difference has been night and day. I’m no longer guessing.”
“He created a stunning website for us that captures and nurtures leads with an automated email marketing system, which has filled a huge gap in the business and saved a lot of time (and money!).”
“He didn’t just build me a great website, he created an easy-to-manage system that allows me to make updates myself whenever I need to. He has spared me so much time doing all of this myself!”
Official guidance
For independent guidance, see the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
Common questions
Questions people ask.
Can I keep my existing business number?
Usually the aim is to work with the number customers already use. Any forwarding or number changes are agreed before setup.
Can it quote prices?
Job-specific pricing stays with your team. The assistant's answers are limited to what you approve.
Who you’ll work with
Hi, I’m Reece.
spareday is my business, based here in Newcastle. You’ll deal with me from the first review of your website, and I’m the person you talk to each month about what’s working.
Find us
spareday in Newcastle.
12 Grey Street, Wickham, Newcastle NSW 2293.
Next step
Get a free growth plan.
spareday sets up an AI receptionist in Newcastle around the calls you receive and the number customers already use, and tests the whole call path before it goes live. Get a free growth plan.
Or call 0485 017 387.