Grasshopper
Grasshopper has no direct connection to Reception.ai, so you connect it with call forwarding. Your receptionist answers on its own Reception.ai number, which you add as a forwarding number on a Grasshopper extension. Callers keep dialing your Grasshopper number.
First, go to Receptionists, select the Phone tile, and get a number. See Phone numbers.
Then pick one of the setups below.
Forward all calls
Add the receptionist as a forwarding number
In Grasshopper, go to Extensions and select Edit next to the extension that answers your number. Select Add a forwarding number and enter your receptionist’s number.
Connect calls without screening
Set How should Grasshopper handle calls to this number? to Calls will connect to you as soon as you pick up (Direct Connect).
With call screening or call announce on, Grasshopper asks whoever answers to press 1 to accept the call. Your receptionist can’t press keys, so those calls fail. Always use Direct Connect for the receptionist’s forwarding number.
Ring your team first
Add your own phone and the receptionist as forwarding numbers on the same extension, with your phone listed first. Under Options, choose to call your forwarding numbers in order, and set Ring for… on your own phone to how long it should ring before Grasshopper moves on to the receptionist.
Grasshopper’s True Solo plan allows one forwarding number per extension, so this setup needs another plan. Other plans allow up to 15 forwarding numbers per extension.
Forward after hours
Each forwarding number has a schedule. On the receptionist’s forwarding number, set When do you want this number to receive calls to the hours outside your business hours, and set your own phone’s forwarding number to your business hours.
What to know
- Caller ID: With The caller selected, your receptionist sees the caller’s number and can recognize returning callers. If the receptionist sees your Grasshopper number instead, every call looks like it comes from the same number, and returning callers can’t be recognized by their number.
- Changes take a few minutes: Forwarding changes can take up to five minutes to apply.
Test it
Call your Grasshopper number from another phone. Check that your receptionist answers right away, then open Inbox and confirm the conversation shows your phone’s number. See Testing.