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What is AI Call Handling?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way people interact with businesses. AI virtual assistants have reached a level of text and speech recognition, where they can respond to requests in a human-like manner.

Furthermore, this conversational AI provides personalised interactions at a scale (and budget) never before possible. This article dives into how this is transforming the nature of call handling for businesses.
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Introduction to AI Call Handling

In today’s fast-paced business environment, efficient and effective customer service is more important than ever. AI call handling is a cutting-edge solution that leverages artificial intelligence to manage and respond to incoming calls, enhancing customer experience.

By utilising advanced technologies such as natural language processing and machine learning, AI voice assistants can understand and interpret human language, providing timely and accurate responses to customer inquiries. This not only enhances the customer interactions but also streamlines operations, allowing businesses to focus on more strategic and profitable tasks.

Definition of AI Call Handling

AI call handling refers to the use of artificial intelligence technology to manage and respond to incoming calls in a business setting. This technology leverages natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms to understand and interpret human language, enabling AI assistants to handle customer inquiries, provide support, and resolve issues efficiently.

By integrating AI assistants into their call handling systems, businesses can offer a more personalised, responsive and scalable customer service experience, leading to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Brief overview of AI technology in call handling

The integration of AI technology in call handling is revolutionising the way businesses interact with their customers. AI-powered virtual assistants can handle routine and repetitive tasks, such as answering frequently asked questions, routing calls to the right department, and providing basic support.

These changes not only improve customer experience but also free up human agents to focus on more complex and high-value tasks. By automating routine interactions, businesses can operate more efficiently and reduce operational costs, all while maintaining a high level of customer service.

Natural Language Processing (NLP) for Human-like Engagement

Conversational AI has evolved significantly in 2024 alone, transforming phone calls and voice interactions into more human-like experiences. Thanks to advanced speech recognition and AI-powered chat capabilities, voice assistants, such as CallChimps, now engage callers in a conversational manner and can interpret conversational responses with ease.

NLP lies at the heart of these interactions, enabling more fluid and conversational interactions on each call. These AI assistants excel at note-taking, answering user queries with the finesse of a seasoned professional, all while maintaining a natural flow that keeps callers engaged.

These virtual assistants go beyond simple commands, leveraging the power of generative AI to create responses that adapt to each unique conversation. So whether you're seeking information, solving problems, or asking for admin assistance, an AI assistant can provide human-like responses to improve communication and enhance engagement.

How AI Call Handling Works

AI voice assistant for call handling-1

The Role of AI Assistants in Call Handling

AI assistants play a crucial role in AI call handling by using NLP to understand and interpret customer inquiries. Each virtual assistant can be integrated with various systems and tools, such as customer relationship management (CRM) software, to provide personalised support and resolve issues efficiently. An AI assistant can also learn from previous customer interactions and improve their responses over time.

Consumers are becoming more familiar with popular AI voice assistants, such as Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant, throughout their lives. Android devices have had Google assistant for years, with Gemini offering even more capabilities to some users now. Apple devices have also had a long-standing voice assistant, with Siri. Other platforms, such as PCs, are also embracing virtual assistants and voice assistance is a common way of engaging with these.

Consequently, people are more accepting of an AI-powered voice assistant answering calls. These AI voice assistants can answer questions, understand voice commands and respond accordingly, enabling customers to interact with businesses in a more natural and conversational way.

In addition to leveraging conversational AI with voice assistants, AI meeting assistants can also be used to enhance the call handling experience. These assistants can automatically transcribe and summarise calls, create to do lists, and share these outputs by messaging apps. In turn, this content provides valuable insights and actionable data for businesses to improve their customer service and support.

Overall, AI call handling is a powerful technology that can help businesses improve their customer experience, increase efficiency, and reduce costs. By leveraging AI assistants and integrating them with various systems and tools, businesses can provide a more personalised and effective customer experience that sets them apart from the competition.

AI Assistant or Virtual Assistant?

AI assistants and AI virtual assistants are the same thing, and are also known as digital assistants or intelligent assistants. Each AI virtual assistant is typically a collection of AI agents, each helping the AI assistant work by breaking complex tasks down into specific sub-tasks. Each agent can then complete tasks in line with its specialism, with the overarching AI digital assistant uniting these responses to solve more complex tasks.

It's easy to anthropomorphise an AI assistant, but the reality is each AI virtual assistant is a collection of agents with different specialisms, working as a team. Conversational AI handles the customer interaction, delegating work for various tasks down to lower-level AI agents.

Conversational AI: Beyond traditional call handling automation

Conversational AI is the interface layer for customer interactions - interpreting customer requests and delivering information back to customers in a more engaging and meaningful way than automated call handling systems of old.

Gone are the days when call handling meant endless hold times and frustrating interactions. In the era of AI assistant technology, automation meets intelligence to revolutionise customer service.

Digital agents don't just answer voice queries; they're adept at performing a wide variety of tasks. From scheduling appointments and setting reminders to reading news articles and using these to inform their response to questions on calls.

Furthermore, AI call handling agents excel at extracting relevant information and highlighting key points, making self-service a breeze for customers.

The Explosion of AI Assistants

AI Virtual Assistant at Home

AI assistants have come a long way since Siri burst onto the scene, via the iPhone 4S, in 2011.

From being your personal AI meeting assistant to powering up smart home devices, assistant AI can be found almost everywhere. We're not far off a world where your smart speakers not only play your favorite tunes but also tackle administrative tasks and improve service quality across various industries.

AI chatbots are revolutionising customer interactions, expanding the customer base for businesses while providing personalised experiences based on user preferences. Whether it's through hands-free speakers in your living room or AI-powered apps on your smartphone, these smart devices are becoming an indispensable part of our daily lives.

According to Tech Jury, in 2024, 97% of mobile users are already using AI-powered voice assistants and over 4 billion devices already work on AI-powered voice assistants. With such large-scale adoption by users, it's only a matter of time before more businesses embrace the efficiency of AI-powered call handling solutions like CallChimps.

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  • 24/7/365 Call Handling
  • 180 min of call time included
  • Personalised greeting
  • Answers questions about your business
  • Call transcripts and summaries sent to your email and/or mobile
  • Unlimited parallel calls: 100% answered within 3 rings

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FAQ

Don’t Sit There Scratching Your Head...

We get asked a lot of questions, so here are answers to some of the most common ones.

What are AI virtual assistants?

AI virtual assistants are sophisticated software programs that use artificial intelligence to perform various tasks and interact with users. These virtual assistants can handle a wide range of duties, from scheduling meetings to providing customer support.

AI virtual assistants are increasingly used across various industries, with key features including natural language processing, machine learning, and the ability to understand and respond to voice commands. Popular examples include AI chatbots, Google Assistant, Siri and Alexa.

What is a Voice Assistant?

A voice assistant is a type of AI-powered software program that uses speech recognition to understand and respond to spoken commands. Key features of a voice assistant include the ability to process natural language, perform tasks based on voice input, and provide audio responses.

Voice assistants can handle a variety of functions, such as setting reminders, answering questions, and controlling smart home devices, making them an increasingly popular tool for both personal and professional use.

How are businesses using AI virtual assistants for growth?

Businesses are leveraging AI assistants and virtual assistants as essential building blocks for growth and efficiency. These AI-powered tools are being integrated into various aspects of business operations, from customer service to internal communications. For example, many companies are using AI assistants within Microsoft Teams to streamline collaboration, automate routine tasks, and enhance productivity.

AI virtual assistants are also transforming call handling, with solutions such as CallChimps enabling a broad range of businesses to more efficiently handle inbound calls.

By handling repetitive queries and tasks, these virtual assistants free up human employees to focus on more complex, value-adding activities, ultimately driving business growth.

How to use AI for calls?

Integrating AI into calls typically involves implementing a virtual assistant or voice assistant system. These AI-powered solutions can handle various aspects of call management, including answering initial inquiries, routing calls to appropriate departments, and even resolving simple issues without human intervention.

To use AI for calls, businesses can adopt virtual assistant platforms, such as CallChimps, that integrate with their existing phone systems, allowing for seamless AI-enhanced call handling that improves efficiency and customer experience.

How is AI used in call centers?

AI is revolutionising call centers through the implementation of virtual assistants, AI assistants, and voice assistants. These AI-powered tools can handle a range of tasks, such as answering frequently asked questions, routing calls to appropriate agents, and even resolving simple issues autonomously.

AI can also analyse call data in real-time, providing agents with relevant information and suggestions during conversations. This integration of AI in call centers leads to improved efficiency, reduced wait times, and enhanced customer satisfaction.

Will AI replace call center agents?

While AI and virtual assistants are becoming increasingly sophisticated, they are unlikely to completely replace human call center agents in the near future. Instead, AI technologies like voice assistants and virtual assistants are more likely to augment and support human agents.

These AI tools can handle routine queries and tasks, allowing human agents to focus on more complex issues that require empathy, critical thinking, and nuanced communication. The future of call centers will likely involve a collaborative approach, with AI and human agents working together to provide optimal customer service.

Is there a free AI voice assistant?

Yes, there are several free AI voice assistants available to users. Many virtual assistants come pre-installed on smartphones and other devices at no additional cost. Examples include Google Assistant on Android devices, Siri on Apple products, and Copilot on Windows systems.

These voice assistants offer a range of functionalities, from answering questions to setting reminders and controlling smart home devices. While more advanced or specialised virtual assistants might come with a cost, basic AI voice assistant features are widely available for free on many platforms.

CallChimps is also available as a free AI voice assistant - for handling inbound calls. CallChimps provides 30 minutes of free AI-powered virtual assistant each month to users on a Business plan.

How do I choose the right call answering service for my business?

To choose the right call answering service for your business, assess your specific needs, compare pricing plans, and consider conducting proof-of-concept trials with different providers. This approach will help you identify the best fit for your requirements and budget.

What are Virtual Receptionists and Virtual Office Services?

Virtual receptionists and virtual office services provide a cost-effective solution for businesses seeking professional administrative support without the need for an in-house team. A virtual receptionist is a remote professional, or AI agent, that can handle tasks such as answering calls with your company name, managing appointments, and providing customer service. These services are particularly valuable for small and medium businesses that want to maintain a polished image while minimising overhead costs.

In addition to answering calls, virtual receptionists can transfer calls to the appropriate department or staff member, ensuring smooth communication for your business.

Virtual office services go beyond call handling to also offer mail handling, call forwarding, and access to meeting spaces, giving businesses a flexible and affordable alternative to traditional office setups. This allows companies to maintain a professional presence and streamline operations, helping them focus on growth and efficiency.