What is an answering service, and does my business need one?
An answering service answers your business phone when you cannot, so callers reach someone instead of voicemail. It takes messages, answers basic questions and passes urgent calls to you. It can be run by live operators at a call centre, by a virtual receptionist, or by an AI voice agent. You need one if missed calls cost you customers.
Updated · By AI-Voice-Agent.ca
Types of answering services
| Type | Who answers | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Live answering service | Call centre operators | Calls that need a human decision |
| Virtual receptionist | A remote person or AI doing front-desk work | Booking, routing and messages |
| AI answering service | An AI voice agent | Routine calls, overflow, after hours, high volume |
| After-hours service | Any of the above, only when you are closed | Businesses with emergencies at night |
What is the point of an answering service?
Most callers who reach voicemail do not leave a message, and someone with an urgent problem calls the next company. An answering service keeps those callers with you, records what they need and gets the urgent ones to you right away.
Related questions
What do you call an automated answering service?
An AI answering service, AI receptionist or AI voice agent. An older phone menu where you press a number for sales is called an auto-attendant or IVR, and it does not hold a conversation.
Do you offer a live (human) answering service?
No. We set up AI voice agents. If your calls need a human operator, a live service is the better fit, and we will tell you so.
Stop losing jobs to voicemail
Setup is free for our first 10 businesses. 7 spots are left. Tell us about your calls and we reply by email to book the first session.