How do I connect a business's existing phone number to an AI agent without changing the number?
Most businesses do not want to change their phone number, because it is part of their name, address and phone (NAP) listings. For the AI to answer, it needs either a Votel phone number or calls forwarded to one, so the quickest option is call forwarding.
- Give the business the phone number of its AI agent.
- Have the business forward calls to that number. Almost every phone service has a forwarding option. Usually you forward only the calls they do not answer, so those go to the AI agent instead of voicemail, rather than all calls all the time.
- For owner operators who use a cell phone as the business line, every carrier (T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon and others) has a keypad code that forwards calls, for example only unanswered calls, or only when the phone is unreachable or has no service. Have the customer key in the code with the AI agent's number in place of the placeholder. Doing it together on a call works well.
With carrier forwarding, the number of rings before the call forwards is set by the carrier, not by Votel. When Votel places the call, for example ringing a business's receptionist first and having the AI answer only after hours or when nobody picks up, you control how many times it rings before the AI picks up.
Forwarding from another provider means you pay for two phone calls. If that matters, port the number into Votel instead; it then appears in your phone number list and you choose which agent answers it.