AI receptionists are powerful, but implementation matters. Here are the most common mistakes businesses make and how to avoid them.
Implementation Success Rate
Mistake #1: Making Your AI Too Chatty
The Problem: Long-winded responses frustrate callers.
The Fix: Start chattiness at 5-6. Adjust based on industry.
Mistake #2: Not Testing Before Going Live
The Problem: Embarrassing early interactions.
The Fix: Spend an hour testing various scenarios (new customer, complaint, etc).
Mistake #3: Overcomplicating Initial Setup
The Problem: Confusion and delayed deployment.
The Fix: Start with basics: greeting, simple booking, one routing rule.
Mistake #4: Not Training AI on Your Business
The Problem: Generic answers to specific questions.
The Fix: Build a knowledge base with services, pricing, and policies.
Mistake #5: Forgetting After-Hours Settings
The Problem: AI trying to book appointments when you're closed.
The Fix: Clearly define business hours and after-hours logic (e.g., take message vs. book for next day).
🎯 Key Takeaways
- • Keep it simple at first
- • Test thoroughly before forwarding calls
- • Treat your AI like a new employee—it needs training