How long does it take to implement an AI phone assistant?
Implementing an AI phone assistant is measured in days, not months. At Echo, the build-out takes approx. one week, with go-live in 5-7 business days within that. Your part is to hand over your price list, your business hours, your 15-20 most common questions, and calendar access. We build the knowledge base, handle the voice selection and the connection, and then a free 7-day live trial starts.
The most common worry about an AI assistant isn't the price, it's the time: many people assume it's a long, complicated IT project. It isn't. Here's what the full process looks like.
1. Consultation (15 minutes)
We start with a short call: what kinds of calls you get, what you want to replace, how your current process works. This tells us what the assistant needs to know. You don't need to prepare anything. Knowing how your own business runs is enough.
2. Intake and voice selection
This is the only step where we ask you for material. The intake covers: your price list, your business hours, 15-20 common questions with their answers, and calendar access. Nothing starts without it, because the assistant only talks about what you've provided. It doesn't make up data. You also pick the voice: one that fits your business, from more than 50 options.
3. Connection and testing
We build the knowledge base, set up the calendar integration, and connect the phone. Calls reach the assistant from your existing number via call forwarding, which we set up together. Then we test it together: we call it, walk through the typical scenarios, and fine-tune where needed.
4. Go-live and the 7-day trial
Then the free 7-day live trial starts: real calls, with your own customers. At the end of the week you won't have an opinion, you'll have data on what it handled. If it doesn't convince you, you pay $0 and we switch it off.
And after that?
Onboarding doesn't end at go-live. During the first 4-6 weeks we fine-tune the assistant based on real calls, at no extra charge. This is when we polish its answers to the most common real-world questions so it gets more accurate over time.
The exact timeline also depends on your side: the sooner the intake is ready (price list, business hours, common questions), the sooner go-live can start.
Related questions
How much work is it for me during onboarding?
Your main task is putting together the intake: price list, business hours, 15-20 common questions, calendar access. We build the knowledge base, handle the connection, and run the tests.
Do I have to pause my business during onboarding?
No. The build-out happens in the background, and your phone keeps working exactly as before. Forwarding only takes effect when we switch it on together at go-live.
What if my prices change along the way?
The knowledge base can be updated: if your price list or business hours change, let us know and the assistant's answers are updated too. That's exactly what the fine-tuning in the first weeks is for.