📲 Inbound Phone Calls

Learn how to set up AI Voice Agents in ChatAgentLab to handle inbound phone calls automatically.

How to Create a New Voice AI Agent for Inbound Calls

1. Get a Phone Number

You can activate AI Voice by using:

  • A phone number purchased directly inside ChatAgentLab
    (pricing varies by country; e.g., US numbers start around $1.75/month)

  • OR your own existing Twilio phone number connected through the platform

Phone numbers and AI Voice minutes are billed directly to the client.


2. Connect a Voice Agent

Configure the agent by choosing:

  • AI model
  • Language
  • Voice persona
  • First sentence
  • Behavioral prompt (instructions for how the agent should act)

Then set optional call settings such as background audio, call duration limits, call recording, the time zone, and the number to transfer calls to.


3. Add a Knowledge Base (Optional)

Your agent works best when it has access to the right information.
If your business has more details than you want to embed directly in the prompt, you can upload:

  • Text
  • Files
  • Website URLs

ChatAgentLab automatically trains your agent to reference this information during calls.


4. Connect Custom Tools

Extend your agent’s capabilities by connecting it to external systems such as:

  • CRM platforms
  • Scheduling systems
  • E-commerce backends
  • Custom APIs

This lets your AI perform real actions like creating leads, sending confirmations, or booking appointments.


5. Review the Analytics

After every call, you can:

  • Summarize the conversation
  • Extract lead information
  • Review transcripts
  • Send call data to email addresses or webhook endpoints

AI Configurator

Model

Controls which AI model powers your voice agent.
Each model has its own pricing and performance profile.

Primary model (e.g., GPT-4.1, ~$0.20/min) is ideal for most business calls.

Think of this as choosing the “engine” behind your agent.


Language

Choose which languages the agent understands and responds in.

  • Select Multi for automatic multilingual detection
  • Or pick a specific language if your customers only speak one

Voice

Choose the AI voice persona callers will hear.
Each voice has a unique style, tone, and delivery.

Pick what matches your brand — friendly, professional, calm, energetic, etc.


Temperature

Controls creativity in responses:

  • 0–0.3: Factual, consistent, best for support
  • 0.5: Balanced and natural (recommended)
  • 0.7+: More flexible or creative

First Sentence

The greeting callers hear first.

Example:
“Hi, you’ve reached the virtual assistant for [Company Name]. How can I help you today?”

This sets the tone and clarifies who they’re speaking with.


Prompt

This defines how your AI agent behaves.

Two parts typically exist:

a) Customization Instructions

Guidance for tailoring the prompt to your business.
Includes:

  • Replacing placeholders
  • Adding product info
  • Adjusting scripts
  • Removing instructional text before activation

b) Generic Voice Agent Script

The logic your agent follows, such as:

  • Greeting
  • Collecting caller info
  • Routing calls
  • Booking
  • Answering common questions
  • Closing the conversation

You can adapt it for any client or industry.


Call Settings

Background Audio

Optional subtle audio to make the AI sound more “live.”
Examples: Coffee shop ambience, outdoor sounds, static.


Max Duration

Limits how long each call can last.
The agent will politely wrap up when the limit is reached.


Record

Enable call recording for:

  • QA
  • Lead verification
  • Compliance review

Ensure you follow local recording laws.


Ignore Button Press

Determines whether the AI reacts to keypad input (DTMF).

  • Useful OFF for menu navigation
  • Useful ON for pure voice interactions

Timezone

Used for timestamps, scheduling, and call reports.


Call Transfer Settings

Enter the phone number to transfer calls to under specific conditions, such as:

  • Caller requests a human
  • Lead is qualified
  • Escalation is needed

Format: +1234567890 (include country code)


Knowledge Base (Optional)

The Knowledge Base gives your agent deeper context about your business.

Use it for:

  • FAQs
  • Product catalogs
  • Documentation
  • Policies
  • Service details

How It Works

Your AI references the data conversationally — it doesn’t read or repeat it verbatim.

Tabs

1. Text

Paste any text you want the agent to understand.

Examples:
FAQ lists, service descriptions, policies, onboarding instructions.

Click Train Chat Agent to apply.


2. Files

Upload documents such as PDFs, spreadsheets, or Word files.
Useful for:

  • Manuals
  • Internal docs
  • Product sheets
  • Compliance info

The system automatically indexes these.


3. Websites

Add URLs from your website so your agent always has updated info.

Useful for:
Pricing pages, feature lists, product pages, blog posts.


Best Practices

  • Keep information clear and concise
  • Update the KB whenever details change
  • Avoid confidential or sensitive content
  • Include the most common questions customers ask

Custom Tools for Voice Agents

Custom Tools allow the agent to perform actions through APIs — not just talk.

Useful for:

  • Sending SMS or email confirmations
  • Creating CRM leads
  • Checking order status
  • Writing data to Google Sheets
  • Triggering automation platforms

How It Works

Define:

  • Tool name
  • Description
  • Spoken message
  • Endpoint URL
  • Headers
  • Parameters
  • Input schema

The AI will call the tool whenever a matching intent appears during the conversation.


Analytics for Voice Agents

The Analytics section helps you track performance and automate follow-up.

1. AI Summary Prompt

Defines how the call should be summarized.

Examples:

  • “Summarize the call in 2–3 sentences.”
  • “Capture intent, budget, next steps.”
  • “List issue, troubleshooting steps, and resolution.”

2. Lead Collection Fields

Create custom fields the AI should extract during calls:

  • name
  • phone
  • email
  • company
  • service requested

These fields appear in:

  • Summaries
  • Webhook payloads
  • Notification emails

3. Webhook Integration

Automatically send call data to external systems.

Use cases:

  • Add leads to CRM
  • Trigger automations
  • Update databases
  • Notify teams in real time

4. Email Notifications

Receive call summaries and lead details directly in your inbox.

Useful for small teams that want immediate updates.


Best Practices

  • Keep summaries readable
  • Test webhooks before going live
  • Ensure API responses return valid JSON
  • Regularly adjust prompts for accuracy