Call handling service
Call handling that gets you the full story.
A call handling service answers your business calls and deals with them: the caller's questions answered, their details taken, and everything you need to follow up passed to you. Sayora does it in your business name for £49 a month.
Overflow, evenings or every call. Keep your existing number.
A message says who rang. A handled call says what to do.
Here's the thing: when someone else answers and can't put the caller through, you end up with a message. Call handling is about what's in it. Below is the same call both ways, an illustration rather than a real caller.
A message taken
Sam rang. Please call back on 07700 900183.
You ring back, ask everything that wasn't asked, and only then find out what Sam wanted.
A handled call
Sam Patel, 07700 900183. First self-assessment return as a sole trader, records in a spreadsheet. Asked if you take on new clients and was told yes. Free after 5pm on weekdays.
You ring back after five knowing what Sam needs, and you can get straight to the return.
Three things on every call. The rest when they apply.
On every call
- Answers in your business name In a real, warm British voice. New callers hear that it's your AI receptionist.
- Finds out who's calling and why A new enquiry, an existing customer or someone selling something: Sayora asks what the call is about and works from there.
- Records the call Every call is recorded and transcribed in your Sayora app, so you can check exactly what was said.
When they apply
- Answers their questions From your business information and the answers you've added. No answer on file? Sayora is instructed to say so and take the details.
- Takes the lead and sends it to you Name, number and what they need, plus up to three extra details you've asked for. The summary reaches you by text, email or both when the call ends.
- Books the appointment When you've connected Google Calendar or Cal.com and chosen what callers can book, and the caller wants one.
- Ends sales calls When the call is selling to your business or playing a recorded message.
- Marks the lead urgent When the caller needs help today, says it can't wait or is making a complaint.
And one thing Sayora doesn't do: put the caller through to you. If your callers need a person on the line, a service with call transfer is the better fit.
Read it at a glance. Ring back ready.
Here's Sam's call as it lands in your Sayora app. The summary says what Sam wants and what they've already been told, and urgent leads sit at the top of your inbox.
Your text says the same in a line or two, with a link to your leads in the app. Underneath sit the recording and the transcript, so you can check exactly what was said before you ring back.
One gotcha: an appointment only goes into your diary once you've connected your calendar and chosen what callers can book. Without that, Sayora won't offer or ask for a time, though any time the caller mentions comes to you with the lead, for you to confirm when you ring back.
Summary
First self-assessment return Sole trader, first year filing, records in a spreadsheet. Asked if you take on new clients and was told yes. Free after 5pm on weekdays.From overflow to every call.
You choose which calls reach Sayora with an ordinary call divert, set once by dialling the short codes the Sayora app shows you, and you can change it whenever you like. Your number stays with your provider.
Overflow when you're busy
Your phone rings first and Sayora picks up the calls you miss. On a mobile, calls you decline or that arrive while you're on another call can go to Sayora too.
Reception cover
Lunch, holidays, a day out of the office. Let calls ring through and Sayora takes them while nobody's at the desk.
Evenings and weekends
The same divert covers the hours you're closed: whatever you don't answer, Sayora does.
After-hours answeringEvery call
On a mobile, send every call straight to Sayora so your phone doesn't ring at all, then ring back from the summaries when it suits you.
Call handling, in plain English.
What is a call handling service?
A service that answers your business calls and deals with them for you: it finds out who's calling and why, answers their questions, takes their details and passes on everything you need to follow up. Some services use people and some use AI. Sayora is AI, answering in your business name and sending you each lead by text, email or both.
How is call handling different from an answering service?
Mostly in emphasis, and many providers use the two names for the same thing. "Answering service" stresses that someone picks up. "Call handling" stresses what happens next: the questions answered, the details taken and the follow-up made easy.
Can Sayora handle overflow calls only?
Yes. Set your divert to ring you first, and Sayora answers only the calls you don't pick up. On a mobile you choose 10, 15 or 20 seconds, and calls you decline or that arrive while you're on another call can go to Sayora too. On a landline, calls you don't answer go to Sayora.
Can Sayora put a caller through to me?
No. Instead of transferring, Sayora takes the details and sends you the lead, marked urgent when the caller needs help today, says it can't wait or is making a complaint. If your callers need a person on the line, a service with call transfer is the better fit.
What do I get after a call?
When a caller leaves a lead, a summary by text, email or both when the call ends: who rang, their number, what they need and whether it's urgent. Every call is also recorded and transcribed in your Sayora app, so you can hear exactly what was said before you ring back.
How does Sayora know what to say for my business?
Sayora builds your receptionist from your website in minutes, and you ring it to test it before you claim it. After that you can add the questions callers ask with your own answers, and up to three extra details you'd like it to ask for. When a caller asks something Sayora hasn't been given, it's instructed to say so and take their details for you to answer, rather than guess.
Does Sayora screen sales calls?
Yes. Sayora ends calls that are selling to your business or playing a recorded message. Try a sales pitch alongside a real enquiry when you test it.
Sayora takes the call. You take it from there.
Build a receptionist for your business, ring it as a customer who needs a callback, then read the text it would send you.
£49/mo. Unlimited minutes. Cancel anytime.