Answer
How to Switch from an Answering Service to an AI Receptionist
Switching takes 3 steps: (1) forward your phone number to the AI platform, (2) configure your greeting, business rules, and calendar integration, (3) test with a few calls, then cancel your old service. Most businesses complete the switch in under an hour with no downtime.
Step 1: Set up the AI platform
Sign up, choose your plan, and configure your business profile: business name, hours, services, emergency criteria, and calendar sync. Write or customize the greeting script. Set up routing rules: what constitutes an emergency, when to page your on-call person, and how to handle after-hours calls.
Step 2: Forward your number
Most platforms give you a dedicated forwarding number. Update your phone line's call-forwarding to point to the AI number. Test with a few calls from different phones — verify the greeting plays, the AI captures details correctly, and call summaries arrive in your dashboard.
Step 3: Cut over and cancel
Once you're confident the AI is handling calls well, cancel your old answering service. Keep the old service's forwarding active for a week as backup if you want a safety net. Port your main number if you want to consolidate billing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose any calls during the switch?
No — phone forwarding is instant. The old service stops getting calls the moment you update forwarding.
Can I keep my existing phone number?
Yes. You forward your number to the AI platform. No need to port unless you want to consolidate.
How do I know it's working?
Every call produces a transcript and summary in your dashboard. Monitor the first week to verify quality.
Never miss another call.
See how Magic Receptionist works for your business.
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