Your AI Receptionist helps you handle calls, texts, and draft follow-up emails automatically, so you never miss a client, even when you're away.
This guide walks you through what your AI Receptionist does, how to activate it, and how to customize it to fit your workflow.
What your AI Receptionist does
Your AI Receptionist acts as a smart assistant that:
Answers missed calls and collects important details
Transfers calls to the right person based on scenarios you define (👥 Business plan only - 📖 Set up Call Transfer)
Sends and replies to text messages when you're busy
Drafts follow-up emails you can review and send later
Schedules appointments by gathering caller preferences, checking calendar availability, and sending confirmation emails.
You can personalize what your AI Receptionist says, how it sounds, and what information it collects, directly from the Beside app or the web dashboard.
ℹ️ AI Receptionist vs Beside Voicemail
Both the AI Receptionist and your Beside Voicemail help manage missed calls, but they work differently and can complement each other.
The AI Receptionist learns from your Knowledge and Preferred Name, so it can respond naturally and in line with your tone for selected callers. It holds real-time, smart conversations and can ask questions or collect details.
Beside Voicemail acts as a fallback when the AI Receptionist is turned off or unavailable. It plays your pre-recorded greeting (default or custom) and records an audio message after the beep.
Activate your AI Receptionist
From the mobile app
Open the Beside mobile app.
Go to the Settings tab.
Tap on AI Receptionist
If you're on a 👥 Business plan with multiple lines, first tap the line you want to edit.Navigate between the 📞 Calls, 💬 Texts, 📧 Emails tabs, then choose what you want your AI to handle by toggling ON:
Answer missed calls
Reply to texts
Draft emails
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
Navigate between the Calls, Texts, and Emails tabs and toggle on what you want your AI to handle
✅ You're live: Your AI is now ready to handle incoming calls, messages or emails according to your settings. You can deactivate any channel temporarily by toggling Deactivate at the bottom of each tab.
Onboarding Checklist (iOS)
When you first sign up, Beside shows you an Onboarding Checklist - a guided set of steps designed to help you get fully set up and experience the full value of the app during your trial.
The checklist includes the following steps:
Forward your number - set up call forwarding from your primary number to Beside, so your AI Receptionist can handle calls from the number your contacts already use.
Customize your AI Receptionist - add your name, business details, and a personalized greeting so the AI sounds like it's actually representing you.
Set up permissions - grant microphone, notification, and contacts access so Beside can work properly in the background.
Connect a calendar - link your Google Calendar so your AI Receptionist can check your availability and book appointments on your behalf.
Test your AI Receptionist - use the "Try Receptionist" button to simulate a real incoming call and hear your AI in action before going live.
📌 Note: The Onboarding Checklist is currently available on iOS only. Each step can be completed independently - you don't need to follow them in order, and you can always return to the checklist to complete any remaining steps.
FAQ
Can I use the AI Receptionist on both calls and texts at the same time?
Can I use the AI Receptionist on both calls and texts at the same time?
Yes. You can enable the AI Receptionist for calls, texts, and emails independently. Each channel has its own toggle in your AI Receptionist settings, so you can activate any combination that fits your workflow.
Does the AI Receptionist work on Android?
Does the AI Receptionist work on Android?
Yes. The AI Receptionist is available on both iOS and Android. Some features like the Onboarding Checklist and certain voice options may be available on iOS first, but core call and text handling works on both platforms.
What happens if the AI Receptionist is turned off?
What happens if the AI Receptionist is turned off?
If the AI Receptionist is deactivated for calls, missed calls go to your Beside voicemail instead. For texts, no automated replies are sent. You can reactivate it anytime from Settings → AI Receptionist.
Can I use the AI Receptionist with my personal phone number?
Can I use the AI Receptionist with my personal phone number?
The AI Receptionist works on your Beside line. To have it handle calls to your existing number, you need to set up call forwarding from your carrier to your Beside number.