Forwarding your phone to an AI receptionist: keep your own number

Short answer: you simply keep your own phone number. Your assistant gets its own number, and you forward your existing number to it: always, only when you don't answer, or only outside opening hours. On a mobile you do this with a short code, on a phone system in its admin panel.

Do I keep my own phone number?

Yes. Your customers keep calling the number on your website, your van and your business cards. What changes is what happens when that number rings. At ClientAssist the number of your assistant is included in the fixed monthly fee; there's nothing to port or cancel.

When do you forward: always, when unanswered, or outside opening hours?

You decide, and it makes a big difference to how you work.

• Always: the assistant answers every call and transfers when needed. Useful if your hands are busy all day.
• Only when unanswered: your phone rings first. If you don't pick up, the assistant takes the call. This is the gentlest way to start.
• Only outside opening hours: you handle calls during the day, the assistant answers in the evening and at weekends. This is easiest with a phone system that supports a schedule.

Which codes do you use on a mobile?

On a mobile number, the standard GSM codes work with Dutch providers. Type them like a phone number and press call. Replace number with your assistant's number.

• Always forward: **21*number# — switch off with ##21#
• When unanswered: **61*number# — switch off with ##61#
• When busy: **67*number# — switch off with ##67#
• When unreachable: **62*number# — switch off with ##62#
• Switch everything off at once: ##002#

For unanswered calls you can also choose after how many seconds to forward, between 5 and 30: **61*number**20# forwards after 20 seconds. If a code doesn't work, the same setting is usually in your provider's app or customer portal.

How does it work with a phone system or landline?

With a phone system such as Voys, Belcentrale, KPN ÉÉN or 3CX, you set up forwarding in the online admin panel. There you can usually add a schedule too, so the assistant only answers outside opening hours. With KPN ÉÉN you'll find it in MijnKPN Zakelijk under the Forwarding tab.

If you have a landline without a phone system, it works with a code on your handset or through your provider's customer portal. Not sure how your phones are set up? No problem: we work it out with you during setup.

What does forwarding cost?

Switching on forwarding is free with the major providers. Your provider usually charges the forwarded part of a call as an outgoing call to the number you forward to. On many mobile plans that falls within your bundle; on a business landline it may cost per minute. Check with your provider.

On top of that, ClientAssist costs €99 a month plus the minutes your assistant actually spends on calls, from €0.35 per minute. You can see what that means for your number of calls on the pricing page.

How do you switch it back?

With the same code preceded by ##, or with ##002# for everything at once. On a phone system you switch off forwarding in the admin panel. Nothing changes about your number, so switching back takes effect straight away. Want to try it calmly first? Start with forwarding when unanswered: you answer yourself when you can, and miss nothing when you can't.