BT Business wants to help UK SMBs get on board with AI — including a new AI receptionist

BT Business has introduced a new suite of AI tools to assist UK small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in adopting artificial intelligence. Among these offerings is the new AI Receptionist, an AI-powered tool designed to prevent small businesses from losing potential customers due to missed calls. According to BT Business research, missed calls cost UK SMBs £3.7 billion in lost revenue each year.

The AI Receptionist operates 24/7 and can schedule appointments, send confirmations, and integrate with Outlook and Google Calendar. It also captures and records conversations to generate insights from customer interactions. This tool aims to help SMBs overcome the challenge of managing customer inquiries efficiently and not missing out on crucial business opportunities.

BT Business conducted a study revealing that 67% of UK SMBs miss at least one call daily, potentially losing business as a result. The company's survey found that missing a single call can cost businesses up to £3.7 billion in annual revenue. The AI Receptionist addresses this issue by ensuring businesses can always answer the phone, thereby increasing the likelihood of converting potential customers into actual clients.

According to BT Business, phone calls remain the primary method customers use to contact businesses. However, failing to answer a call can significantly impact a customer's decision to make a purchase. Three-quarters (75%) of potential customers will contact a business up to three times before giving up, and over half (58%) would discourage friends and family from doing business with companies that fail to pick up the phone.

To support SMBs in their AI adoption journey, BT Business has also launched an AI Adoption Hub. This online resource provides advice, guides, and real-world examples on how AI can be utilized to enhance small businesses. Jon James, CEO of BT Business, emphasized that while AI offers significant potential to boost small businesses and contribute to the UK's economic growth, many firms struggle to understand how to begin and adopt the technology securely.

Jon James stated that the AI Receptionist is the first step in this process, enabling businesses to capture every opportunity, reduce administrative tasks, and provide responsive, personalized service around the clock while safeguarding customer data. The new tool is available on flexible BT Business contracts and can be quickly set up through a self-service portal, requiring minimal technical expertise.

Notably, the AI Receptionist can work across any UK fixed or mobile network, allowing businesses to maintain their existing phone number without switching to a new system. BT Business assures that customer data remains private and will not be utilized to train AI models.