Once you've added your business details and knowledge, it's important to test how your 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 Receptionist in action before going live.
📌 Testing your Receptionist is currently done from the Beside mobile app. The settings you adjust there apply to calls and texts on every surface, including the web app at app.beside.com.
Try your Receptionist
Open the Beside mobile app and go to the Receptionist tab.
At the bottom of the screen, tap Test Receptionist.
A small window will appear with two options:
📞 Call Receptionist: test how your Receptionist handles incoming calls.
💬 Text Receptionist: try a simulated text exchange with your Receptionist.
⚠️ Important: Self-calls and self-texts (from your own forwarded number) may not reach the Receptionist. Use Test Receptionist or another phone number to test.
Test your Call Receptionist
From the Receptionist settings in the mobile app, open 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 Receptionist greets you, answers, and wraps up the call.
If the response doesn't sound right, adjust your greeting or ending message in Scenarios, or update tone (Preferences) and business information (Knowledge).
Test your Text Receptionist
From the Receptionist settings in the mobile app, open 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 Receptionist responds.
Adjust Preferences settings as needed for better accuracy.
✅ Done: You've tested your Receptionist and can now fine-tune it to better represent your business.
FAQ
I called my own Beside number but the Receptionist didn't answer - why?
I called my own Beside number but the Receptionist didn't answer - why?
If you're calling from the same number that's forwarded to Beside, the Receptionist may not pick up. Use the Test Receptionist feature inside the mobile app, or call from a different phone number to test properly.
Can I test the Receptionist from the web app?
Can I test the Receptionist from the web app?
The Test Receptionist feature is currently only available in the Beside mobile app. You can still configure your Receptionist on the web app at app.beside.com, but testing it requires the mobile app.
My Receptionist's responses sound wrong - how do I fix them?
My Receptionist's responses sound wrong - how do I fix them?
Go to your Receptionist settings and check your Knowledge section (business info, FAQ, additional knowledge). The Receptionist responds based on what you've provided. Update or add more details, then test again with Test Receptionist.