AI Answering Services for Plumbers: A Complete Buyer’s Guide

Your front desk staff is spending most of their time attending to the phone. Your plumbing business is still missing calls on holidays and weekends, and you are wondering whether it is time to use an answering service. AI answering services are drastically different from call centers. The latter is expensive and not ideal for small service businesses, but AI can take care of call handling, significantly reduce the workload of your team, and improve the customer experience. Right here is a list of things to check before you choose an answering service for plumbers. 

1. 24/7 Availability: The first reason why many small businesses use an AI answering service is because they cannot scale their existing team or hire more people. The eventual goal is simple – Being available for customers 24/7. If you are choosing AI to take care of your calls, that’s the first thing to check. 
2. Customization: Eventually, your team will be using the AI system, which means they should have access to the backend and must be able to customize scripts and greetings. When you compare options, always ensure the AI voice receptionist can be tailored to represent your plumbing service. 
3. Ability to capture leads: AI voice agents should automatically capture leads and collect details like names, locations, and contact numbers so that your staff can contact those in need. The ability to use the data on demand is a key aspect, no matter the size of your business. 
4. Call routing: Plumbers often receive urgent calls, and if AI can identify that a caller needs emergency assistance, it should automatically transfer the call to an electrician. Check the call routing or transferring process in detail. 
5. Onboarding experience: Using an AI voice receptionist doesn’t have to be a complex process. You will find providers who can complete the setup process in minutes, and AI can start handling calls immediately. 
6. Reviews and marketing automation: If the system also comes with a review option, that’s always an advantage, as you can get feedback from customers once the job is complete. Marketing automation is another feature that AI answering services offer. 
7. Integration capabilities: If the AI system can integrate easily with other systems, such as QuickBooks and Housecall Pro, that’s certainly an advantage. You don’t have to worry about data access and other things. 
8. Payment tracking: Many providers also allow plumbers to track payments before, during, and after the job. That’s a great advantage because your technicians or staff don’t have to call customers to get details. 
9. Data security and privacy: How the customer data is stored is worth checking. While access is critical, you want to be sure that caller information is secure and protected in accordance with compliance needs. 
10. Support: Even the best AI answering systems can face issues, and during such distress times, you want the provider to offer immediate help. Ensure you select an option that doesn’t compromise on uptime. 

Final word

Using an AI voice agent for your plumbing company isn’t just about reducing your team’s workload. It is also about enhancing the overall experience of customers and helping callers on time so that they return and become repeat customers. Yes, your front desk staff will have less to deal with, but that also means they can focus on tailoring services for those who need custom help. Look for a provider who doesn’t charge a fortune and has an AI answering service with the features above. 

You will be surprised to know the money you will save in the long run, and in no time, add-on revenue will compensate for the initial investment.