That night, she starts writing a job post for a receptionist.

Many owners in Hawaiʻi reach this point. Before you post the job, here is a plain look at another option: an AI receptionist.

What an AI receptionist does on a call

• Answers in your business name, any hour of the day

• Answers common questions, like hours, parking, and price ranges

• Takes the caller's name, number, and what they need

• Books the appointment into your calendar

• Sends you a short text or email with the details

For the salon owner, that means the 2 p.m. caller gets an answer and a booking while she finishes the color.

What it does not do well

Be honest with yourself about these:

• It cannot greet someone who walks in the door.

• It does not know your regulars the way a long time employee does.

• A long or emotional complaint should go to you. A good setup passes those calls to a person.

How many calls go unanswered today

In a 2024 study of 85 small businesses, a real person answered only about 38% of calls. If your shop is like most, more than half of your callers never talk to anyone. An AI receptionist answers 100% of the calls you send to it.

Many shops use both

You do not have to pick one. A common setup in Hawaiʻi:

• A person covers the front desk during the busiest hours.

• The AI receptionist takes overflow calls, lunch hours, nights, and weekends.

Questions to ask any provider

Whoever you work with, ask these first:

1. Can I keep my current business number?

2. Can I hear a sample call before I sign?

3. Can it pass a call to me or my staff?

4. Who updates it when my prices or hours change?

5. Is it month to month, or a long contract?