Once you've added your business details and knowledge, it's important to test how your AI Receptionist interacts with callers and messages.
You can use the Test Receptionist feature to simulate both calls and text messages, so you can see your AI Receptionist in action before going live.
Try your AI Receptionist
Open the Beside mobile app and go to the AI Receptionist tab.
At the bottom of the screen, tap Test Receptionist.
A small window will appear with two options:
📞 Call Receptionist: test how your AI Receptionist handles incoming calls.
💬 Text Receptionist: try a simulated text exchange with your AI Receptionist.
⚠️ Important: Self-calls and self-texts (from your own forwarded number) may not reach the AI. Use Test Receptionist or another phone number to test.
Test your AI Call Receptionist
From the AI Receptionist settings, in the 📞 Calls tab.
Tap Test Receptionist at the bottom of the screen
Tap Call
Pretend to be a client or lead, ask typical questions about your business, hours, or services.
Observe how your AI greets you, answers, and wraps up the call.
If the response doesn't sound right, go back to Preferences or Knowledge to make adjustments (e.g. tone, greeting, ending message, information).
Test your AI Text Receptionist
From the AI Receptionist settings, in the 💬 Text tab.
Tap Test Receptionist at the bottom of the screen.
This will open a new chat in your native messaging app.
A pre-filled message will appear: "Hello, what's the name of your business?"
You can edit this message or send multiple texts to your Beside number to test your Receptionist. Ask as many questions as you like to see how your AI Receptionist responds.
Adjust Preferences settings as needed for better accuracy.
✅ Done: You've tested your AI Receptionist and can now fine-tune it to better represent your business.
FAQ
I called my own Beside number but the AI didn't answer - why?
I called my own Beside number but the AI didn't answer - why?
If you're calling from the same number that's forwarded to Beside, the AI may not pick up. Use the Test Receptionist feature inside the app, or call from a different phone number to test properly.
Can I test the AI Receptionist from Beside for macOS?
Can I test the AI Receptionist from Beside for macOS?
The Try Receptionist feature is currently only available in the Beside mobile app. You can test from iOS or Android, and the results apply to all platforms since your AI Receptionist settings are shared across devices.
My AI Receptionist's responses sound wrong - how do I fix them?
My AI Receptionist's responses sound wrong - how do I fix them?
Go to your AI Receptionist settings and check your Knowledge section (business info, FAQ, additional knowledge). The AI responds based on what you've provided. Update or add more details, then test again with Test Receptionist.