What should you do with enquiries that arrive out of hours?
Answer them while they are fresh: an AI receptionist can reply to calls, WhatsApp and website chat at any hour, book what it can and leave your team a summary for the morning. Voicemail, an answering service or an auto-reply also work, and if you want someone to answer them, our out of hours answering service page shows what it costs and what Zatio does with each call.
If you want them answered, not just logged
This guide compares the options. The page below is about the one where Zatio answers.
Out of hours answering service with AI
What an out of hours answering service costs compared with a human service, what Zatio does with each evening and weekend call, and which sectors it pays off in.
AI call answering that picks up when you can’t
By default Zatio answers every call; with “When Zatio answers” your phone rings first for 10 to 40 seconds and Zatio picks up only if nobody does, and out of hours it answers directly.
Four ways to handle out-of-hours enquiries
| What we compare | Voicemail | Answering service | AI receptionist | Auto-reply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What the customer gets | A greeting and the chance to leave a message | A person who takes a message, during the hours the service covers | An answer to their question, a booking or a call back arranged | A message saying when you’ll reply |
| Channels | Phone | Mainly phone, depending on the provider | Depends on the provider; with Zatio, phone, WhatsApp and website chat | WhatsApp, email or chat |
| What your team finds in the morning | Voicemails to listen to | Messages from the service | A summary of each conversation and bookings already in the calendar | Messages to answer from scratch |
| Best for | Low volumes and callers happy to wait | Calls that should always reach a person | Questions answered from your information, and bookings | A simple acknowledgement on written channels |
| Price | Often included with your line or phone system | Set by each provider | Zatio, from £69 a month excluding VAT | Usually included in the app or tool |
What good out-of-hours cover looks like
Every enquiry gets a reply
The customer knows they have been heard and what happens next.
Answers from your own information
Hours, areas, rough prices and how to book, just as your team would say.
Bookings where possible
If your calendar has a free slot, the customer can book it there and then.
A clear handover
Your team starts the morning with a summary of each enquiry, ready to pick up.
Before you switch it on
Decide your hours
Note when your team answers and when you want help, weekends included.
Agree what can be booked
Which services can be booked without a person, and which need you to call back.
Check your information
The assistant answers from your website and anything you add, so make sure prices, areas and hours are current.
How Zatio does it
Out of hours, or around the clock
With “When Zatio answers”, during your hours your phone rings first for 10 to 40 seconds, and out of hours Zatio answers straight away. Or let it answer every call.
Phone, WhatsApp and website chat
The same assistant on all three channels, with the same rules, in all 3 plans.
Ready for the morning
A summary of each conversation in your dashboard, and by email if you switch it on, with bookings already in Microsoft Bookings, Calendly or Cal.com.
Price
From £69 a month excluding VAT, with 400 voice minutes, plus WhatsApp and website chat.
Questions
What is the simplest way to cover out-of-hours calls?
Voicemail is the simplest, but the caller can only leave a message. An AI receptionist answers their question, books where it can and leaves you a summary for the morning.
Can an AI receptionist answer only out of hours?
Yes. With “When Zatio answers”, during your hours your phone rings first for 10 to 40 seconds, and out of hours Zatio answers straight away.
What does my team see in the morning?
A summary of each conversation in the Zatio dashboard, and by email if you switch it on, with bookings already in your calendar and anything that needs a person flagged for follow-up.
Does it work on WhatsApp and website chat too?
Yes: phone, WhatsApp and website chat with the same assistant, in all 3 plans.
How much does it cost?
Zatio is £69, £129 or £259 a month excluding VAT, with 400, 1,000 or 2,000 voice minutes plus WhatsApp and website chat included. Month to month, no minimum term.
Can I try it?
Yes. Free 14-day trial with no card, including 30 voice minutes and 100 chat conversations. Your phone number arrives when your plan starts, and you connect WhatsApp yourself from your dashboard.
Zatio in your industry
How Zatio works in each industry: what it asks, what it books and what it passes to your team.
Hear how Zatio would answer at night
Leave your mobile and Zatio rings you within seconds.
- Keep your number
- No annual commitment
- 60-day guarantee
Rather talk to a person? Book a 20-minute demo.