# AI Receptionist vs Call Answering Service: Which Is Right for Your Irish Business?
If you're a dental practice owner or restaurant manager in Ireland, you've felt the pain of missed calls. You know you need help answering the phone. But the options can be confusing: traditional call answering services have been around for decades, and now AI receptionists are entering the market.
Which one actually solves the problem? Let's compare them honestly.
What Is a Call Answering Service?
A call answering service (also called a telephone answering service or virtual receptionist service) routes your overflow or after-hours calls to a human operator in a call centre. The operator answers in your business name, takes a message, and emails or texts it to you.
Popular providers in Ireland include AnswerConnect, Moneypenny, and Kendlebell.
What they do well:
- A real human voice on the line
- Basic message taking
- Call screening and transfer
Where they fall short:
- Operators don't know your business deeply
- They can't book appointments in your system
- Per-call pricing adds up fast (€1.50–€4.00/call)
- Quality varies — you get whoever's available
- Still limited hours (many aren't truly 24/7)
What Is an AI Receptionist?
An AI receptionist like VoiceFleet is a voice AI that answers your phone line directly. It converses naturally, understands context, and — critically — integrates with your booking system to take real action, not just messages.
What it does well:
- Answers every call instantly, 24/7/365
- Books appointments directly in your calendar
- Trained on your specific business (hours, services, FAQs)
- Consistent quality — every call handled the same way
- Flat monthly pricing — no per-call fees
Where it falls short:
- Very complex or emotional conversations may need a human
- Some callers (particularly elderly patients) may prefer a human voice
- Requires initial setup to train on your business
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Call Answering Service | AI Receptionist (VoiceFleet) | |---------|----------------------|------------------------------| | Availability | Business hours + limited after-hours | 24/7/365, no exceptions | | Response time | 10–30 seconds (queue dependent) | Instant — answers on first ring | | Business knowledge | Generic script | Trained on your practice/restaurant | | Appointment booking | ❌ Takes message only | ✅ Books directly in your system | | Cost (typical) | €200–€800/month (volume dependent) | €99–€599/month flat | | Per-call fees | €1.50–€4.00 per call | None — unlimited calls | | Consistency | Varies by operator | Identical quality every call | | GDPR compliance | Varies — check provider | ✅ EU-hosted, fully GDPR compliant | | Setup time | 1–3 days | Under 24 hours | | Scales with volume | Cost increases linearly | Flat rate regardless of volume | | Handles Irish accents | Depends on operator location | ✅ Trained for Irish English |
📞 Hear the difference yourself — try our AI demo →
The Cost Difference Is Stark
Let's say your dental practice receives 30 calls per day (a typical volume for a busy Irish practice).
Call answering service (at €2/call, after-hours only — ~10 calls):
- 10 calls × €2 × 22 days = €440/month
- And they're only taking messages — not booking.
AI receptionist (VoiceFleet Professional plan):
- €99/month flat — handles all 30 daily calls
- Books appointments, answers FAQs, sends summaries
- After-hours, weekends, bank holidays included
Over a year, that's €5,280 vs €1,188 — and the AI does significantly more.
For a restaurant handling 50+ calls per day (reservations, opening hours, dietary questions), the gap widens even further. A call answering service at that volume costs €1,500+/month. VoiceFleet: still €99–€199.
When a Call Answering Service Still Makes Sense
To be fair, there are scenarios where a human answering service is the better choice:
- High-emotion calls — bereavement services, crisis lines, sensitive medical situations
- Complex negotiation — calls requiring judgement calls a script can't cover
- Elderly clientele who strongly prefer human interaction and may struggle with AI
- Very low call volume — if you get 2–3 calls a day, the cost difference is minimal
For most Irish dental practices and restaurants? The AI handles 90%+ of calls perfectly, and transfers the rest to a human.
What About ViveoAI and Other AI Options?
If you're comparing AI receptionist providers, here's how VoiceFleet differs:
- Built for Irish businesses — Irish phone numbers, GDPR-first, EU data hosting
- Transparent pricing — €99/€299/€599 tiers, no hidden fees, no per-call charges
- Vertical expertise — purpose-built for dental and restaurant workflows, not a generic "AI for any business" tool
- Live demo — call our number and hear it work. Most competitors don't offer this.
See our full comparison: VoiceFleet vs ViveoAI →
🟢 Try VoiceFleet free — plans from €99/month, no contracts: Book a demo →
Real Results From Irish Businesses
"We switched from Moneypenny to VoiceFleet and saved over €300 a month. Plus the AI actually books appointments — our old service just took messages we had to call back on."
— Dental practice manager, Galway
"Friday and Saturday nights used to be chaos on the phone. Now the AI handles reservation calls while my staff focuses on the dining room."
— Restaurant owner, Dublin
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an AI receptionist handle accents?
Yes. Modern AI voice agents are trained on diverse accents, including Irish English. VoiceFleet is specifically optimised for the Irish market.
What happens if the AI can't handle a call?
It transfers to your designated number — a mobile, a landline, or your existing receptionist. The caller never hits a dead end.
Is my patient data safe with an AI?
VoiceFleet is fully GDPR compliant with EU-only data processing. All calls are encrypted, and a Data Processing Agreement is included with every plan. More on GDPR compliance →
Can I keep my existing phone number?
Absolutely. You set up a simple call forward from your existing number. Your patients see and dial the same number they always have.
The Bottom Line
Call answering services solved a real problem — but they're a 2005 solution to a 2026 problem. They take messages. AI receptionists take action.
For Irish dental practices and restaurants that need every call answered, every appointment booked, and every euro accounted for, an AI receptionist isn't just cheaper — it's fundamentally better.
VoiceFleet: AI voice agents for Irish dental practices and restaurants. From €49/month. GDPR compliant. EU-hosted.
Ready to try VoiceFleet?
See how AI voice agents can transform your business at 80% lower cost.