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AI switchboard for teams and small businesses

An AI switchboard is a voice agent that answers every incoming call, greets the caller, works out which department they need, captures their details, and routes them to the right person or place. Kalvo runs on your existing number, takes many calls at once, and never returns a busy tone.

In short

  • Greets every caller, identifies the department they need, and routes them to the right place.
  • Takes as many calls at once as arrive, so no caller hears a busy tone or a queue.
  • Works on your existing number, for a sole trader's mobile or a team with several departments.
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62%

of calls to small businesses go unanswered

Source: 411 Locals, 2016 study

What is an AI switchboard?

An AI switchboard is a voice agent that answers your calls, greets each caller in your business name, finds out what they need, and directs them to the right department or person. Kalvo does this on your existing number, handles many calls at the same time, and never leaves anyone on hold. Unlike a traditional switchboard, there is no hardware to install and no menu of numbers for callers to press through. Kalvo speaks naturally, asks a short question or two, and moves the caller where they need to go. It also books appointments, answers common questions from a knowledge base you update in plain language, and takes a message when that is the right outcome. You choose how it behaves. Run it fully automatic, so it handles calls on its own, or in approval mode, where you review actions first. It works across phone, your website chatbot, and email, with WhatsApp coming soon.

How does Kalvo work out which department a caller needs and route them?

Kalvo listens to why each person is calling and matches it to the departments you set up, such as bookings, accounts, or an emergency. It greets the caller, asks a short question if the reason is not clear, captures their details, then routes the call to the right team, number, or person. You describe your departments and rules in plain language, the same way you would brief a new receptionist. Tell Kalvo which topics go where, who covers each area, and what counts as a genuine emergency. It follows those rules on every call, so callers reach the right place without pressing through a long menu. When the reason is clear from the start, Kalvo routes straight away. When it needs more, it asks one plain question, confirms the details, and passes them on. For genuine emergencies you can have it transfer to a person, and for anything else it can book, answer, or take a message.

How many calls can Kalvo take at once?

Kalvo takes as many calls at once as arrive, so no caller ever hears a busy tone or waits in a queue. This matters because around 62% of calls to small businesses go unanswered. Everyone is greeted straight away, whether a single caller rings or 20 ring at the same time. A traditional line handles a single call at a time. The second caller hears an engaged tone, and many simply hang up and try a competitor. Kalvo removes that limit, answering every call in parallel so a busy morning does not turn into missed work. There is no separate capacity to buy or configure. Whether calls come in one after another or all at once, each caller is greeted and handled. Your plan sets the minutes you pay for each month, not how many calls can ring at the same time, so a sudden rush is covered.

How does Kalvo fit a team with multiple numbers, or a sole trader?

Kalvo fits both. For a sole trader whose mobile is the business, it answers when you cannot, books work, and takes messages, so calls never go to voicemail. For a team, it sits across several numbers and departments, greeting each caller and routing them to the right person or line. Sole traders get a professional first point of contact without hiring anyone. While you are on a job or driving, Kalvo answers in your business name, handles the routine questions, and books or captures the details you need. You pick up a tidy summary rather than a missed call. Teams get structure without a phone system rebuild. Kalvo works on the numbers you already use, follows the departments and rules you set, and can transfer a caller to a specific person when configured. As you grow, you add departments or rules in plain language, so the switchboard keeps pace with the team.

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Common questions

How many calls can Kalvo handle at the same time?

As many as arrive. Kalvo answers every call in parallel, so no one hears a busy tone or sits in a queue, whether a single caller rings or dozens ring together. There is no capacity limit to configure. Your monthly plan sets the minutes you pay for, not the number of calls that can ring at once.

How is call routing set up?

You set it up in plain language, no technical work required. Describe your departments, who covers each one, and what counts as an emergency, the way you would brief a receptionist. Kalvo follows those rules on every call. You can update or add rules whenever things change, and run it fully automatic or in approval mode.

Does it work for a one-person business?

Yes. For a sole trader whose mobile is the business, Kalvo answers when you cannot, books appointments, answers common questions, and takes messages, so calls no longer go to voicemail. It works on your existing number and is live in minutes, giving you a professional first point of contact without hiring anyone.

Can it transfer a caller to a specific person?

Yes, when you configure it. Kalvo can route a caller to a named person or a specific line based on the reason for the call, and it transfers genuine emergencies to a person when you set that up. For other calls it can book, answer from your knowledge base, or take a message instead.

What does it cost?

Three plans. Starter is £49 a month for 100 minutes, Growth is £99 a month for 400 minutes, and Pro is £199 a month for 1000 minutes. Every plan takes unlimited simultaneous calls, so pricing is about the minutes you use, not how many callers ring at the same time.

Route every call to the right place

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