Home / Glossary / Virtual Receptionist
A virtual receptionist answers and handles incoming business calls remotely rather than from a physical front desk. The role can be filled by a remote human agent or by AI software, and typically includes greeting callers, screening, taking messages, and transferring calls to the right person.
The term virtual receptionist covers any receptionist function performed off-site. Some providers staff live remote agents who follow a script for your business, while others use AI software to answer calls automatically.
A virtual receptionist usually greets each caller in your company name, gathers basic information, answers common questions, and either takes a message or connects the caller to a team member. This lets small businesses present a professional first impression without hiring an in-house front-desk employee.
Whether human or AI, the goal is the same: no missed calls and a consistent, polite response to everyone who reaches your line.
It depends on the provider. Some virtual receptionist services use live remote agents, while others use AI software. Both handle calls without sitting at your physical office.
Related: AI Receptionist, Answering Service, Call Screening, Message Taking