Whippy Voice AI Agents can answer inbound calls, qualify leads, handle FAQs, and even schedule appointments. To work effectively, they need to be connected to your phone system. Every AI Agent in Whippy comes with its own dedicated phone number, which makes it flexible to plug into almost any setup, from traditional Legacy phone systems to modern VoIP systems with IVR menus.
This guide walks you through how to incorporate your AI Agent into your existing phone setup.
Why Connect Your Phone System to a Voice AI Agent
Ensure every call is answered, even during busy times or after hours.
Automate repetitive tasks (FAQs, lead capture, appointment booking).
Route important calls to live staff only when necessary.
Keep customers engaged without hiring extra staff.
Option 1: VoIP Systems With IVR Menus
If you already use an IVR (“Press 1 for Sales, Press 2 for Support”), follow this steps to route to your Voice AI Agent:
Log into your VoIP system’s IVR configuration.
Add an option to route calls to your Whippy AI Agent number.
Example: “Press 3 to speak with our automated assistant.”
Decide whether this option is primary (e.g., first point of contact) or secondary (backup when staff are unavailable).
This setup is ideal if you want callers to choose whether to interact with the AI Agent or staff.
Option 2: VoIP Systems Without IVR
If your office uses a VoIP phone system (like RingCentral, Zoom Phone, or Vonage) but without an IVR menu:
Log into your VoIP provider’s dashboard.
Set up an EXTENSION with call forwarding to your AI Agent’s number.
Set up automatic call forwarding rules.
Example 1: Forward calls after 3 rings if no one picks up.
Example 2: Forward calls to Whippy when lines are busy.
Test by calling your main number and transferring to the extension or waiting for the default fallback transfer.
Option 3: Analog & Legacy Phone Systems
If your office uses traditional analog lines or older PBX systems:
Contact your phone carrier and enable call forwarding on your main number.
Forward calls to the dedicated Whippy AI Agent number.
Decide when to forward: manual call transfers if possible, no-answer calls, or after-hours.
Example: A small law office sets calls to forward to their AI Agent after 5:00 PM so every lead is captured outside business hours.
Best Practices
Always test your routing after setup. Call your main number and walk through the path to ensure callers reach the AI Agent correctly.
Use the AI Agent for after-hours coverage, overflow calls, or initial lead capture.
Give callers an escape option back to live representative if needed.
Review call transcripts in Whippy to fine-tune scripts and improve performance.
Troubleshooting
IF Calls aren’t reaching the AI Agent
Confirm forwarding is active in your carrier or VoIP dashboard.
Make sure you’re using the AI Agent’s dedicated number.
IF Audio or call quality issues
Test with multiple devices to rule out phone carrier issues.
Check internet connection stability for VoIP setups.
IF IVR option not working
Verify the correct number is entered in your IVR menu settings.
Ensure your IVR system supports external forwarding.
Next Steps
Once your AI Agent is incorporated into your phone system, you can:
Add it to after-hours routing for 24/7 coverage.
Use it as an overflow option when lines are busy.
Pair it with Whippy Sequences to automatically follow up with missed calls or collected leads.
This setup ensures every call is answered, every lead is captured, and your staff stay focused on what matters most.