What should you check before buying an AI receptionist?

3. Establish the native-software price first

Current advertised offer checked for this issue. ServiceM8’s UK page lists Phone Connect Plus at £25 a month, including the AI Phone Agent and 500 call minutes, with 3p-per-minute overage. ServiceM8 Phone requires an active subscription to the underlying job-management product, so the phone price is not a complete standalone system cost. Confirm VAT, inclusions and account-specific terms before comparing proposals. (servicem8.com)

Buyer action: Ask an agency to explain the additional outcome its setup fee and retainer deliver beyond your existing software—not simply the additional features.

4. Make the supplier prove what “booking” means

ServiceM8 documents message capture, online booking submission and call transfers. Those capabilities do not establish that your particular engineer qualifications, service-area boundaries and appointment-duration rules have been validated. (support.servicem8.com)

Buyer action: Request a demonstration showing the resulting job record and diary entry. Distinguish a captured enquiry, a booking request and a confirmed appointment throughout the customer conversation.

5. Keep emergency handling outside ordinary booking

HSE guidance directs suspected gas leaks to the gas emergency service and says suspected unsafe appliances must not be used pending appropriate checks. That is a different pathway from an ordinary repair appointment. (hse.gov.uk)

Our launch rule: No autonomous gas or carbon-monoxide diagnosis. Use professionally reviewed, location-appropriate emergency instructions; do not leave an emergency caller waiting for an office callback.