Your AI Receptionist can automatically answer calls when you're unavailable and represent you professionally. It captures key details from missed calls, helping you prioritize follow-ups.
Enable your AI Receptionist for calls
Turn it on
From the mobile app
Open the Beside mobile app
Go to the AI tab
If you're on the 👥 Business plan with multiple lines, select the line you want to configure from the dropdown at the top left
In the Phone section, under Phone Calls, toggle on Answers Phone Calls
From the web dashboard
Go to app.beside.com → click AI Receptionist in the left sidebar
Select the line you want to configure from the dropdown at the top right
Click the Calls tab
Toggle on Answer Missed Calls
Define the scope
Under Scope, choose who your AI Receptionist answers:
Missed calls from Everyone - answer all missed calls
Missed calls from from unknown numbers - only new or unknown callers
Missed calls from saved contacts - only saved numbers
You can also tap Exclude Contacts to prevent specific people from being routed to your AI. 📖 Control who your AI Receptionist handles
On the web dashboard, the scope is set via Missed From Unsaved Numbers in the Calls tab.
📌 Note: If you don't pick up and your AI Receptionist isn't configured to handle that call (e.g. the caller is outside your defined scope), the call goes to your Beside voicemail instead. No call is ever lost.
Adjust when your AI picks up
By default, calls ring 4 times before being sent to the AI Receptionist. You can adjust this from "Direct to Receptionist" (0 rings) up to 10 rings.
From the mobile app
Go to the AI tab
In the Phone section, under Scope, tap Answers after (iPhone) or Rings before AI answers (Android)
Select the number of rings
From the web dashboard
Go to app.beside.com → click AI Receptionist in the left sidebar
Select the line from the dropdown at the top right → click the Calls tab
Click Rings before AI answers and select the number of rings
Customize your greeting and ending message
From the mobile app
Go to the AI tab
In the Phone section, under Preference, you can set:
Welcome Greeting: The first thing your AI says when it picks up. Keep it warm and professional. Example: "Hi! You've reached Alex's AI Assistant. How can I help today?"
Ending Message: How your AI wraps up the call. Example: "Thanks for calling, we'll get back to you soon. Have a wonderful day!"
From the web dashboard
Go to app.beside.com → click AI Receptionist in the left sidebar
Select the line from the dropdown at the top right → click the General tab
Click Greeting Messages to expand the section
Edit the Introduction Message (what your AI says when it picks up) and the Closing Message (how it ends the conversation)
Click Save Changes at the top right
💡 Tip: Use short, friendly sentences that sound like something you'd actually say. It makes your AI feel more human and approachable.
Set up Call Transfer
Your AI Receptionist can redirect calls automatically to the right person or phone line based on scenarios you define.
Test your setup
Tap Try Receptionist at the bottom of the AI tab, then Call Receptionist to simulate a call. You'll hear how your AI answers, routes, and ends calls before going live.
⚠️ Important: If you're forwarding your personal number to Beside, calling your Beside number from that same number may not work. Beside detects this as a self-call and may end it automatically. Use a different phone to test.
Set up your AI Receptionist for texts and emails
Now that your AI Receptionist handles calls, you can also enable it for:
📌 Next step: Teach your AI Receptionist about your business so it can answer questions accurately. 📖 Train your AI Receptionist
FAQ
What if call recording is turned off for a contact?
What if call recording is turned off for a contact?
The AI Receptionist will still handle their calls and generate a transcript. Call recording settings don't affect AI Receptionist behavior.
Is there a maximum call duration for AI Receptionist calls?
Is there a maximum call duration for AI Receptionist calls?
Yes. Calls handled by the AI Receptionist are limited to 10 minutes per call. If the call reaches the limit, it may end automatically.
What happens if I don't answer and the AI Receptionist is off?
What happens if I don't answer and the AI Receptionist is off?
The call goes to your Beside voicemail, where the caller can leave a recorded message.
Can I have different AI Receptionist settings per line?
Can I have different AI Receptionist settings per line?
Yes. On the 👥 Business plan, each line has its own AI Receptionist with independent settings for scope, greetings, transfer rules, and knowledge base.