Think of a situation where a paying customer calls your plumbing business to have an emergency leak fixed. It is past business hours, but your website says prompt support. The front desk receptionist is no longer there to take the call, which eventually goes to voicemail. The customer posts a negative review online. Now, you are left with dented brand value. All of that could have been avoided if you had an AI voice receptionist from a top service like https://www.signpost.com/. In this guide, we will discuss how AI is reshaping customer support, especially for small businesses.
Small business budget constraints
A complete process goes into hiring a front desk executive. There are costs of recruitment, as well as additional expenses like training, salaries, benefits, and perks. Even if you spend all that money, the hired staff can only handle a certain number of calls in a day. More importantly, they cannot answer two calls at the same time. AI receptionists don’t have those limitations, which is why that might be a better fit. While switching to AI for customer service may sound like a big move, there are few onboarding costs and other expenses. It is a common myth that only big businesses expecting large call volumes can benefit from AI voice agents.
Scale as you want
One of the most prominent reasons to hire an AI receptionist is to scale your business. Did you know that AI can handle as many as a million simultaneous calls? No call will ever go to the voicemail, and the caller will get initial support. If your business expects calls at odd hours or when there is a seasonal spike in demand, there is no need to hire additional staff, as AI will continue to respond.
Happy customers add to your brand
Spending on an AI receptionist is even more beneficial from a branding point of view. Remember that customers are usually impatient and will not mind switching to a different service when their selected option isn’t available. When you respond promptly to each call and offer adequate support, they are likely to recommend your company and will post positive reviews, which will bring more business.
Capture potential leads
Besides paying customers, you have to also respond to requests for products and services. Someone might be interested in your brand and want to know more, and with AI around, you don’t have to worry about your real people being available. The good news is that all calls are recorded automatically, and unlike humans, AI will capture details for future use. Also, AI receptionists are extremely consistent with responses.
AI is only getting better
Small business owners have precise control over how an AI receptionist responds. You can update the scripts in the knowledge base from time to time, add new questions and responses, and train the AI model to perform better. With advancements in tech, such as natural language processing, speech synthesis, and machine learning, AI is only getting better and will remain at the forefront of superior customer service.
AI receptionists are cheaper
As we discussed, hiring real people costs a lot more. On the contrary, most service providers have flexible packages for AI receptionists. For instance, you could pay for a specific duration or number of calls, and all additional services are billed separately. It is best to look for billing details in advance.
Final word
While AI cannot replace human staff for complex issues or when a customer needs more help, this can change the way you deal with callers. Check online for top-rated AI receptionists, and before you choose one, ensure the model is designed for small businesses and is scalable and flexible.
