Meet Upfirst
Electronic receptionist
Provide exceptional customer support 24/7. Reduce your workload while answering every call and booking more appointments – all with affordable plans.
Introduction
What is an electronic receptionist?
There’s a few ways to look at an electronic receptionist: one is a virtual receptionist, often working remotely, and fields calls on your behalf. Virtual receptionist services can often book appointments for you, provide bilingual services, answer commonly asked questions, and do just about anything a front desk receptionist can do when someone calls in – usually at affordable rates compared to hiring full-time staff.
The other kind of electronic receptionist is a type of computer screen that acts as your front desk kiosk for visitors checking in. Both are designed to take some of the labor of administrative office tasks off your shoulders, so you can save money and keep your focus on the core tasks that matter most to running your business.
At Upfirst, we answer phone calls for you 24/7 while you run your business, like a digital receptionist over the phone. Without raising your hand, we can schedule appointments, qualify leads, provide customer service, route calls, and answer common FAQs.
About our answering service
Why use our virtual receptionist to answer calls
Answering calls is necessary to almost all businesses, yet sometimes it gets in the way of your work – we know how it is. Maybe you’re a real estate agent in the middle of a showing when an important client rings your phone line. Or maybe you’re an electrician caught up in some rewiring when someone calls in to ask about your rates. Or maybe you already have front desk staff at your accounting firm answering calls for you but they’re getting overwhelmed with high call volume during tax season. You get the picture – whatever it is that your company does, it can be a struggle handling phone calls and staying focused on your primary work.
That’s where our virtual receptionist comes in. Our agent never takes a minute off and answers calls 24/7. We take the pressure off of answering phone calls. Voicemails, missed calls, and wait times? Say goodbye to those.
Benefits of electronic receptionist services
What can an electronic receptionist answering service do for you?
Never miss a call
Stop worrying about picking up the phone if you’re busy or enjoying some much needed downtime after hours. Our virtual agent answers every call, every time. Your customers will always have a friendly voice to speak to, making them feel heard. We can even handle a high volume of calls during peak seasons or answer multiple calls simultaneously. We’re always on the job, even when you’re off.
Say goodbye to voicemail
Nobody loves leaving voicemails. They can pile up, go unchecked, or just feel plain impersonal. Instead of funneling customers into a voicemail box, your electronic receptionist always engages with them, providing immediate assistance or collecting the info you need to follow up with ease.
Hands-free appointment scheduling
Wouldn’t it be great if you could automate your appointment scheduling process? Now you can. Add our virtual receptionist to your customer service team, and you can schedule appointments based on your availability, leaving you free to focus on more important tasks. No more phone tag, no more double-bookings.
Affordable plans
Hiring a full-time receptionist gets really expensive, especially if you’re a solopreneur or a small business. Salaries, benefits, training, and office space add up fast. Our answering service eliminates these overhead costs. For an affordable monthly plan, you can add a dedicated call handling service to your company.
Great customer service, increase loyalty
Phone calls are the most preferred method of contact when customers want to reach out to your business, so it's absolutely key that you have great customer support set up. With Upfirst, you make sure your audience always has a friendly voice ready to serve your audience by creating meaningful interactions and promptly answering questions.
quick, easy setup
How our receptionist answering service works
Sign up online and choose the plan that fits your needs. You can use your existing business phone number or get a new one through our system. We even have 800 numbers available for those who need a national presence.
Next, customize your greeting, set your preferred language options, and provide your business details. Let our AI learn the ins and outs of your brand—your services, scheduling preferences, and protocols. We encourage you to make a few test calls to see how the system responds. If something doesn’t feel right, tweak it until it does. This step ensures total confidence before you go live.
Once everything checks out, simply click “activate.” Your electronic receptionist goes live, ready to handle calls day and night. That’s it. You’re now free to focus on running your business, knowing you’ve got professional support on the line at all times.
Features
Top electronic receptionist answering features
At Upfirst, we’ll answer every call with the same care you bring to your business. You’ll also get a full suite of features to help serve your clients and grow—at a price that’s affordable.
Industries that use our answering service
Popular industries that use our electronic receptionist service
Restaurants
From confirming reservations to delivering takeout orders during peak dinner time, busy restaurants can lighten the load with our answering service. No more hold times for customers calling in.
E-commerce
Online retailers have a golden opportunity to place an order for customers when they call in asking product questions. With an order taking service, you can answer common questions and help customers place an order directly over the phone.
Contractors
Plumbers, electricians, HVAC techs, and more can let an electronic receptionist handle incoming calls while they’re out on a job site. It’s perfect for scheduling appointments and relaying rates without distracting you from your current project.
Health & wellness
Yoga studios, beauty salons, and more can automate their scheduling process. Our answering service creates a stress-free customer experience.
Finance
Financial advisors, accountants, and tax professionals can use the electronic receptionist to route clients to the correct advisor, take messages, and schedule consultations without interrupting important client work.
And more
This service isn’t limited to these industries. Any business that wants to deliver professional support without hiring full-time staff can benefit from a virtual receptionist. From law firms to insurance companies, if your phone rings, you bet we can answer it.
Try our electronic receptionist service for free
Ready to upgrade your phone support? Join the waitlist and enjoy hands-free appointment scheduling, 24/7 coverage, and exceptional customer support.
FAQs about our virtual receptionist services
Don't see your question answered here. Our support team is here to help. Get in touch today.
What are the benefits of an electronic receptionist?
An electronic receptionist reduces the time you spend answering and returning calls, freeing you up to focus on your core business tasks. It ensures no missed calls, keeps customers happy with immediate responses, schedules appointments automatically, and creates a more professional image—all at a cost that’s lower than hiring a full-time staff member.
How do I know if I need a virtual receptionist?
If you find yourself too busy to answer calls, losing potential customers to voicemail, or feeling overwhelmed by administrative tasks like scheduling and call routing, a virtual receptionist might be right for you. Even if you only miss a few important calls a month, the opportunity cost of lost leads can add up quickly. An electronic receptionist ensures every call is handled professionally, all the time.
Can your service integrate with my CRM and calendar software?
Absolutely. We support integrations with popular CRM and calendar tools, allowing for easy scheduling and caller data management. Sync appointments to your Google Calendar, track customer interactions in your CRM, and make sure no details get past you.
Can it handle multiple calls at the same time?
Yes. Our system is designed to handle simultaneous calls with no hiccups. Whether you’re experiencing a lunchtime rush at your restaurant or a surge in inquiries during a seasonal promotion, your virtual front desk receptionist will handle it all.
Why is this service better than a voicemail?
Unlike voicemail, which often feels like a dead-end for customers, an electronic receptionist engages callers in real-time. Instead of leaving a message and hoping for a callback, customers can get immediate assistance—whether that’s having their call routed to the right person, scheduling an appointment, or simply getting the information they need right away. This creates a more positive, professional customer experience.
Will I receive transcripts and call summaries?
Yes, you’ll receive written call summaries so you can quickly understand the nature of each call without having to re-listen to recordings. These summaries can include caller information, requested services, and any next steps, making it easy to follow up effectively.
You will also receive full transcriptions of the conversation so you can listen to it on-the-go, and see how helpful each interaction is to your customers.
How quickly can I get set up with your answering service?
You can be up and running in as little as one afternoon. After you sign up, just configure your preferences, record (or choose) your greeting, and test out the system. Once you’re satisfied, hit “go live” and start enjoying the benefits right away.
How much money will I save compared to hiring in-house staff?
Hiring an in-house receptionist involves not just salary, but also benefits, training, and sometimes even office space. Our plans start at an affordable monthly plan and scale according to your needs. Over time, these savings can be significant—often covering the cost of other growth initiatives within your business.