Upfirst

Your South African business, always answered – powered by AI

Take messages

Capture every lead and customer query. We’ll take messages from your callers and send them to you instantly by SMS or email, so you can follow up when it suits you.

Answer questions

Keep your customers informed. Teach your AI receptionist the answers to your most common questions so callers always get the info they need – no more waiting or confusion.

Illustration of an AI answering service in action, showing a smartphone screen with a caller and chat bubbles where the AI answers calls, books appointments, and collects caller information.

Book appointments

Let us handle your bookings. Upfirst can send customers a link to your calendar or collect their preferred date and time, making appointment scheduling simple for you and your clients.

Transfer calls

Personal call routing, your way. Whether you need urgent calls transferred to your mobile or certain queries sent to a colleague, Upfirst makes it easy to get calls to the right person in your team.

See all features

South African virtual receptionist

How to set up your answering service in South Africa

Get a friendly, professional receptionist who answers every call in English or local languages—24/7.

1. Add your information

Tell us about your business and how you'd like your calls to be handled. You can set instructions for greetings, call transfers, appointment bookings, and more—so your virtual receptionist works just like a member of your team.

Upfirst AI receptionist setup screen showing how a real estate agent can add info about showing availability and buyer/seller services.

2. Set the rules

Choose your new South African phone number. Simply pick a number with your preferred area code. In some cases, our team may need extra documents, such as your business registration or proof of address, which we’ll help you submit if needed.

Call transfer rule setup for a real estate agent, showing how to forward tour requests or property inquiries to a mobile number.

3. Forward your calls

Start receiving calls right away. Our AI-powered receptionist will answer every call professionally, day or night, and send you detailed summaries by text and email so you can respond at your convenience.

AI receptionist greeting an incoming call for Lemon Tree Real Estate, demonstrating 24/7 answering service for realtors.

4. Never miss a call again

Whether it’s a new buyer, seller, or tenant calling, your AI answering service answers 24/7. You’ll get a detailed call summary by text and email so you can follow up fast.

Call summary and transcript of a real estate lead asking about a 3-bedroom home, showing how Upfirst captures buyer inquiries for real estate agents.

Get a South African phone number

What information is needed to get a virtual number in South Africa?

South African phone numbers are regulated to make sure each number is connected to a real person or business in the correct region. Before we can activate your South African virtual number, you’ll need to provide a **local address** in the same geographic area as the number you’re requesting. This requirement helps ensure compliance with local regulations. Once your number is set up, you can forward calls from your existing phone number to your new South African virtual number, and Upfirst’s AI receptionist will answer them for you.

key features

Get your South African number and unlock your AI receptionist

Our smart answering features help small businesses in South Africa look professional, stay organized, and never miss a call—even on your busiest days.

24/7 live call answering

Stay connected around the clock. Answer every call and capture leads automatically even when you're busy or out of office.

Bilingual receptionist

Answer calls in Zulu, Afrikaans, English, and 90+ other languages. Make every caller feel welcome and grow your business across South Africa.

Lead capture

Collect lead details the moment they call. Qualify leads and tell us the right questions to ask callers.

Appointment scheduling

Let your realtor virtual receptionist set up showings and appointments. Send calendar links live on the call to interested clients.

Customized scripting

Shape every conversation whether the caller is a seller, buyer, landlords, or even tenants. Customize call handling how you want.

Call forwarding

Forward calls fast to the right person. Set up call routing rules and transfer callers when it matches your criteria.

Emergency dispatching

Handle urgent tenant calls without delay. Dispatch them to the appropriate on-call maintenance worker.

Detailed call summaries

Receive detailed summary of each call, allowing you to follow up effectively. Upfirst also captures a recording and the full transcript, just in case.

South Africa answering service FAQs

Have a question that isn't answered here? Get in touch with our team.

How does my business benefit from your answering service?

Our service helps your business look more professional and ensures you never miss a call—no matter how busy you are. All incoming calls are answered in your company’s name by friendly, trained agents who follow your instructions. This means your customers always get a prompt, helpful response, even outside office hours. You save time, reduce overheads, and can focus on growing your business while we handle the calls.

How long does it take to get set up with a local South Africa number?

Getting started is quick and easy. Once you provide your South African business address, we can set up your local number instantly—usually within a few minutes. This means you can begin forwarding calls to Upfirst and start providing a professional experience to your callers right away.

Can I use the answering service only during certain hours or for overflow calls?

Absolutely. You’re in control of when calls are forwarded to us. Use Upfirst for all calls, just during busy times, after-hours, or whenever your team is unavailable. This flexible setup makes it easy to handle call spikes, staff shortages, or seasonal demand without missing important opportunities.

Are calls answered in my company’s name and can I customise the responses?

Yes, every call is answered with your business name and handled according to your instructions. Our agents use scripts tailored to your preferences, so callers experience a seamless extension of your team. You can update call handling instructions, FAQs, and escalation procedures anytime through your dashboard.

South Africa virtual phone numbers with AI answering