Global business communications provider RingCentral has unveiled its first agentic AI solution that can answer calls and handle customer inquiries, with an Australian-accented version expected to launch by mid-2025.
The AI Receptionist (AIR) uses generative AI to automatically answer customer questions and transfer callers to the right department, functioning like a traditional receptionist but without the associated costs.
"The launch of RingCentral AI Receptionist marks our foray into agentic AI and the creation of a new category in AI-powered business call handling," Kira Makagon, president and chief operating officer at RingCentral said.
Early trials with US businesses have shown promising results, with one healthcare provider reducing average answer times from 12 seconds to zero, while a security company resolved more than 50 per cent of inbound calls automatically.
The system can handle multiple locations, provide SMS confirmations of important details, and deliver call transcripts and analytics to help businesses understand customer inquiry patterns.
Currently available to selected US businesses during its controlled availability phase, the service includes features such as intelligent call routing based on natural conversation and the ability to answer routine questions about business hours, services and locations.
The system will initially support English, with Spanish launching at the end of Q1.
The Australian version, complete with local accent recognition and response capabilities, is expected to be available by the end of Q2 2025.
RingCentral is offering a one-month, 100-minute free trial during the initial rollout phase.
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