An AI voice receptionist answers the call itself with a synthetic voice. Missed call text back lets the call ring out, then continues the conversation in writing. If your callers expect to talk to someone, or many don't use WhatsApp, voice may suit you better. If your customers are happy to message, text back gives them a conversation they control and you a written record of every job.
How they compare
| Missed call text back | AI voice receptionist | |
|---|---|---|
| What the caller experiences | The call rings out, then a WhatsApp from your business arrives within seconds | A synthetic voice answers and talks with them |
| Speed of reply | Seconds after the call ends | Immediate, on the call |
| After-hours cover | Yes | Yes |
| Can it quote? | Yes, from your price list | Depends on the product |
| Can it book? | Yes, into your calendar | Often, depending on the product |
| Record of the job | The whole written chat | Usually a transcript or summary |
| Names, addresses and email addresses | Typed by the customer, so they're spelled the way the customer spells them | Heard and transcribed, and unusual names, local place names and email addresses are easy to mishear |
| Noisy or patchy calls | Not a problem, because the conversation is typed | Wind, traffic, a building site or poor reception can garble what's heard |
| Fixing a mistake | The details are in the chat, so the customer can spot and correct them | A misheard detail can go unnoticed until someone turns up at the wrong address |
| What the customer keeps | The agreed time, price and address, in their WhatsApp | Nothing in writing, unless the provider sends a follow-up |
| Cost model | Monthly plan | Often per minute or per call |
| Setup time | A few business days | Varies by provider |
| What the caller needs | Nothing extra |
General comparison of categories, not of named products. Features and pricing vary by provider.
Where voice receptionists tend to go wrong
Voice AI has come a long way, but a phone call is still a hard place to collect details accurately.
It writes down what it thinks it heard
Names, street names and email addresses are where speech recognition slips, especially unusual names and local place names. You get the AI's summary, not the customer's own words, and nothing marks which detail is wrong.
Real calls are noisy
People ring from a ute, a windy section or a building site, often with one bar of signal. Every bit of noise is a chance for a wrong number or a wrong word.
Some callers hang up on a robot
Some people put the phone down as soon as they realise they're talking to a machine, and that lead is gone.
Nothing to refer back to
After the call, the customer has to remember the time and price they were told. In a chat, it's all there.
When an AI voice receptionist is the better choice
- Your callers expect a voice and would always rather talk than type.
- Many of your callers don't use WhatsApp. Text back on Conversiq needs it today, and not every New Zealander has it.
- Your calls need long, detailed back-and-forth that's easier to say out loud than type.
When text back is the better choice
- Your customers prefer to message, and can reply between other things without being put on the spot by a robot voice.
- You want everything in writing. Addresses, job details and agreed times are in the chat for both of you.
- You want a predictable bill: a monthly plan, not paying for every minute of every call.
- You want replies to come from your business, through your verified WhatsApp Business profile.
Questions
Is Conversiq an AI receptionist?
In a way, but it works in writing rather than by voice. It doesn't answer the call. It follows up the calls you miss on WhatsApp.
Do AI voice receptionists get names and addresses wrong?
They can. Anything spoken has to be turned into text, and unusual names, local place names, street numbers and email addresses are the details most often misheard, especially on a noisy line. With text back, the customer types those details themselves.
Can I use both?
You could, but most businesses only need one way to handle missed calls. Pick the one your customers are most comfortable with.
Do customers mind getting a message instead of a voice?
Try it yourself: call the demo line on 022 032 8283, let it ring out, and see how it feels from the customer's side.
