Your AI Receptionist can reply to incoming text messages from clients, leads, and collaborators, ensuring timely, consistent responses even when you're unavailable.
You can choose to have it handle calls only, texts only, both, or exclude specific contacts entirely.
⚠️ Important: The AI Text Receptionist only replies to messages sent directly to your Beside line. It does not support SMS forwarding from personal numbers or third-party messaging apps like WhatsApp. Messages sent to your personal phone number - even if forwarded - will not be handled by the AI.
You can find your Beside number in the app under Settings → Phone numbers.
Enable your AI Text Receptionist
From the mobile app
Step 1: Access your AI Receptionist settings
Open the Beside mobile app.
Go to the Settings tab.
Tap on your line.
Then, AI Receptionist.
Select the Text Messages tab at the top of the screen, next to the General icon.
Step 2: Turn it on
Toggle Reply to Text Messages on.
When active, the Text Messages icon shows a green indicator, and the related settings appear below.
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 Texts tab
Toggle on Reply to Text Messages
Choose who your AI replies to
From the mobile app
Under Scope, choose your preferred audience:
Texts from Everyone: your AI Receptionist replies to all incoming texts.
Only from Contacts: only people saved in your contact list.
Only from Unsaved Numbers: ideal for new leads or first-time texters.
You can also tap Exclude Contacts to prevent specific people from being answered by your AI. 📖 Control who your AI Receptionist handles
From the web dashboard
The scope is set via Texts from Everyone (or the selected option) in the Texts tab. Excluded contacts are visible in the same tab but can only be added or removed from the mobile app.
Customize your AI Text Receptionist's signature
The signature is appended to the end of every AI text reply. You can personalize it to identify your AI clearly.
For example: "- Sent by Bobby's AI Receptionist"
From the mobile app
Under Preferences, tap Signature to customize how your AI signs off.
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 Texts tab
Click Signature to expand the section
Edit the signature text
📌 Note: Even if you leave the Signature field blank, the AI Receptionist may still include the default signature "sent by AI assistant". To disable it, enter a minimal placeholder such as a single dot (.) or short custom text. The engineering team is reviewing improvements to allow fully removing the signature.
What your AI Text Receptionist can do
Smart, instant replies to incoming texts
Shared knowledge base with your AI Receptionist
Book meetings directly on your calendar (if connected) - 📖 Learn more here.
Switch to manual replies
Want to take over a conversation yourself? Simply reply manually in the chat.
When you do, your AI Text Receptionist automatically pauses its replies in that conversation for 24 hours - this prevents overlapping or duplicated responses while you're handling things personally. After 24 hours, your AI will only resume if that contact sends a new incoming message.
FAQ
Does the AI Text Receptionist work with WhatsApp?
Does the AI Text Receptionist work with WhatsApp?
No. The AI Text Receptionist does not support WhatsApp.
WhatsApp is a separate messaging platform and is not connected to your Beside line. The AI Text Receptionist only works with standard SMS/text messages sent directly to your Beside number.
❌ Messages sent via WhatsApp will not be seen or replied to by the AI.
❌ Forwarding WhatsApp messages to your Beside number is not supported.
✅ Only standard SMS texts sent directly to your Beside number are handled by the AI.
You can find your Beside number in the app under Settings → Your line.
Does it work with my personal number or forwarded SMS?
Does it work with my personal number or forwarded SMS?
No. The AI Text Receptionist only replies to messages sent directly to your Beside number. Messages sent to your personal phone number - even if call or SMS forwarding is enabled - will not be handled by the AI. SMS forwarding is not supported.
To use the AI Text Receptionist, your contacts must text your Beside number directly. You can find it in Settings → Your line.
Does it work with my current AI Receptionist setup?
Does it work with my current AI Receptionist setup?
Yes! It uses the same knowledge and preferences you've already configured.
Does it replace the AI Receptionist for calls?
Does it replace the AI Receptionist for calls?
No, they work side-by-side. The AI Receptionist handles calls, while the AI Text Receptionist handles texts.
Can it schedule appointments?
Can it schedule appointments?
Yes! The AI Text Receptionist can book meetings directly on your calendar, just like the AI Receptionist for calls. Make sure you've connected your calendar in the Beside mobile app settings to enable this feature.
Can I set a delay before it replies?
Can I set a delay before it replies?
Not yet. The AI Receptionist replies instantly, but flexible timing options are in development.
Can I turn it off?
Can I turn it off?
Yes. You can disable it entirely from Settings → Your line → AI Receptionist → Text Messages (mobile), or from AI Receptionist → Texts tab on the web dashboard.
Can the AI Text Receptionist automatically send text replies after calls or missed calls?
Can the AI Text Receptionist automatically send text replies after calls or missed calls?
Not yet. Currently, the AI Text Receptionist only responds to incoming text messages. Automatic replies triggered by calls or missed calls are not supported.