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Microsoft Teams enhances communication by integrating chat, video meetings, file storage, and collaboration tools. Adding an answering service further improves productivity and customer engagement by handling routine inquiries efficiently.
Features like Intelligent Recap summarize meetings and organize key points, saving time. The Queues app streamlines call management, while Teams Phone ensures reliable communication with 99.999% uptime.
With automated answering services managing routine tasks, teams can focus on more critical interactions, improving efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Choose services that integrate smoothly with Teams, allowing seamless collaboration. Modern solutions use Teams’ AI to suggest contacts, speeding up issue resolution by connecting reps with the right departments.
Outsourcing answering services is more affordable than in-house support. Compare pricing—some start at $49/month for 100 calls, offering flexibility while ensuring professional customer service.
Prioritize automation, intelligent call routing, and live receptionists for complex issues. Top solutions automate up to 80% of interactions, significantly reducing support costs.
Round-the-clock service prevents missed opportunities. Multilingual support is essential for global businesses, ensuring quality service across diverse markets.
Opt for services tailored to your industry, with trained agents or AI familiar with relevant terminology and compliance requirements for more accurate responses.
Smith.ai launched in 2015 in Palo Alto as a virtual receptionist service for small businesses. Founded by Aaron Lee and Justin Maxwell, the company has grown from a small startup to serving thousands of businesses across numerous industries. Their focus has always been on combining human expertise with AI technology to deliver exceptional customer experiences.
Smith.ai's hybrid approach combines personalized human interactions with AI efficiency—perfect for small to mid-sized businesses that need professional call handling without the cost of in-house staff. Their receptionists undergo a rigorous 30-day training program, with ongoing quality assurance monitoring that maintains a 97% client satisfaction rate. Clients report saving an average of 10 hours weekly and seeing a 30% increase in qualified leads through Smith.ai's services.
A legal firm using Smith.ai increased client intake by 40% while reducing overhead costs by $35,000 annually. A healthcare provider reported 98% patient satisfaction after implementing Smith.ai's appointment scheduling service.
Founded in 2020 in San Francisco by Bob Summers and Ashutosh Prasad, Goodcall emerged as an AI-focused virtual receptionist for digital businesses. The company secured $4 million in seed funding led by Craft Ventures, allowing rapid development of their AI technology. Goodcall was built specifically for the post-pandemic business environment where remote work and digital communication became essential.
The pricing plan for GoodCall is as follows:
Goodcall's AI-first approach suits tech-savvy businesses seeking automation without sacrificing quality interactions. It excels at handling high call volumes and routine inquiries, freeing your team for complex tasks. Users report up to 35% improvement in call handling efficiency and significant cost savings compared to traditional receptionist services. The system continuously improves its understanding of your business through machine learning, becoming more effective over time.
A real estate agency using Goodcall increased lead capture by 45% while reducing missed calls to near zero. An e-commerce business implemented Goodcall during seasonal peaks and successfully managed a 300% increase in call volume without adding staff.
Established in 2002 in Portland, Oregon by Natalie Fung, AnswerConnect brings two decades of experience to virtual reception. The company began as a traditional answering service but evolved into a comprehensive communications platform. Now operating globally with offices in the US, UK, and Australia, AnswerConnect employs over 1,000 remote receptionists, maintaining a 100% remote workforce since 2007—long before it became common practice
AnswerConnect's industry experience translates to exceptional service quality. Their US-based team provides cultural familiarity for North American businesses, with robust Teams integration ensuring seamless communication. The company's commitment to sustainability includes a carbon-neutral operation and tree-planting initiatives (over 1 million trees planted through their environmental program). Clients report an average 27% increase in customer satisfaction scores after implementing AnswerConnect.
A healthcare provider using AnswerConnect improved patient scheduling efficiency by 40% while maintaining HIPAA compliance. A law firm implemented their legal-specific answering package and saw client retention increase by 35% through improved responsiveness.
Founded in 2000 in Wrexham, UK by brother and sister team Ed Reeves and Rachel Clacher, Moneypenny has grown globally to serve businesses of all sizes, including many Fortune 500 companies. What began as a small answering service has expanded to a global operation with 1,000+ employees across the UK and US. In 2018, they acquired VoiceNation and Ninja Number to strengthen their US presence. The company is known for its award-winning workplace culture, including a purpose-built headquarters with treehouse meeting rooms and a pub.
Moneypenny stands out by assigning dedicated receptionists who truly know your business. Callers often can't tell they're speaking with an external service rather than your in-house team. Their powerful combination of human expertise and technological innovation delivers exceptional call experiences, with clients reporting 99.7% caller satisfaction. The company's focus on receptionist well-being results in low turnover (under 5% annually), ensuring consistent service quality and institutional knowledge about your business.
A multinational professional services firm implemented Moneypenny's enterprise solution across 12 locations, improving call response rates by 98% and client satisfaction by 25%. A healthcare network, using its specialized medical answering service, reduced appointment no-shows by 35% through effective communication and reminders.
Established in 2006 in Salt Lake City by Bill Grodnik, Davinci Virtual expanded from virtual office solutions to comprehensive answering services. The company pioneered the concept of integrated virtual business services, combining physical address services, meeting spaces, and receptionist support. They now serve over 50,000 clients globally, with a particularly strong presence in the professional services, consulting, and technology sectors.
Davinci Virtual offers a complete business solution beyond answering services, ideal for businesses also needing virtual office capabilities, with Teams integration keeping communication centralized. Their comprehensive approach helps businesses maintain professional images without physical office overhead. The service particularly benefits mobile professionals, startups seeking enterprise-level presence, and established businesses expanding into new markets without additional facilities.
A consulting firm using Davinci's virtual office and receptionist services reported 40% growth in new client acquisition through improved professional presence. A tech startup leveraged its answering service to manage investor and customer calls during a product launch, successfully handling a 500% call volume increase during the critical period.
Established in 1990 in Tallahassee, Florida, by Mike Williams, PATLive brings over three decades of experience to the answering service industry. The company has evolved from a traditional telephone answering service to a technology-forward communications partner. Now, under the leadership of Scott Kendrick, PATLive serves thousands of businesses across multiple industries. Their receptionist team operates from a centralized US facility, ensuring consistent quality control and training.
PATLive's extensive experience means highly efficient call handling and professional customer interactions. They can handle complex tasks like payment processing, making them great for e-commerce businesses needing more than message taking. Their proprietary technology platform includes automatic failover systems, ensuring 99.999% uptime reliability. Clients typically see a 30% reduction in operational costs compared to in-house receptionists, with improved call coverage and customer satisfaction.
A home services company using PATLive converted 40% more service calls into booked appointments, resulting in $150,000 in additional annual revenue. An e-commerce retailer implemented their order processing service during holiday seasons, increasing sales capture by 35% during after-hours periods.
Formerly Answer 1, Nexa was founded in 1982 in Phoenix and rebranded in 2019 to reflect its expanded digital capabilities. Under CEO Jeff Mosler, a former executive at Endurance International and GoDaddy, Nexa has transformed from a traditional answering service to a tech-enabled customer experience company. They serve over 20,000 clients, with a particularly strong presence in the legal, home services, healthcare, and real estate sectors. Their 2021 acquisition of Alert Communications strengthened their legal intake capabilities.
Nexa excels in industry-specific knowledge, with teams trained in legal, medical, home services, and other specialized fields. This expertise, combined with Teams integration, ensures accurate information regardless of call complexity. Their client portal provides unprecedented transparency into call handling metrics and performance. Clients report an average 20% increase in captured business opportunities and 40% reduction in overhead compared to in-house reception solutions.
A multi-location dental practice implemented Nexa's healthcare answering service and saw appointment bookings increase by 35% while patient satisfaction scores improved by 28%. A legal firm using its specialized legal intake service reported a 50% increase in qualified consultations and an estimated $300,000 in additional annual revenue.
Established in 1991 in Richmond, Virginia, by Mike Peschio, MAP Communications has grown into a leading provider of professional services firms. The company remained family-owned until 2018, when it was acquired by Crest Rock Partners, enabling expanded technology investments. MAP specializes in high-complexity industries requiring significant training and compliance knowledge. All operations remain US-based, with multiple redundant call centers ensuring business continuity during emergencies or natural disasters.
MAP Communications suits professional services firms like law offices, medical practices, and financial services requiring HIPAA compliance. Their Teams integration enables secure communication while maintaining regulatory standards. The company's focus on quality over quantity—handling fewer calls per agent than industry averages—results in exceptional accuracy and customer experience. Their proprietary training programs include industry-specific terminology, compliance requirements, and common scenarios, ensuring receptionists can handle complex situations competently.
A multi-physician medical practice implemented MAP's HIPAA-compliant answering service and reduced after-hours emergency escalations by 40% through better call screening. A regional law firm using its legal answering service reported capturing 30% more potential clients and improving client satisfaction scores by 45%.
Founded in 2007 in New York by CEO Kalin Kassabov, AnswerForce provides 24/7 answering services for businesses across North America. The company has grown through strategic acquisitions, including VoiceNation's small business division in 2019. AnswerForce maintains operational centers in multiple states, creating redundancy and ensuring business continuity. They specialize in supporting service businesses, professional firms, and e-commerce companies with particular strengths in the home services sector.
AnswerForce offers flexible solutions tailored to businesses of various sizes. Their Team integration creates a unified communication environment that boosts productivity while ensuring every call gets answered. The company's commitment to quality is reflected in its 98% client retention rate—unusual in an industry with typically high churn. Their unique "no long-term contract" approach focuses on earning client loyalty through performance rather than contractual obligations.
A plumbing company using AnswerForce increased after-hours job bookings by 60%, capturing an estimated $180,000 in additional annual revenue. A real estate agency implemented their appointment scheduling service and improved showing coordination efficiency by 40%, allowing agents to focus on client interactions rather than administrative tasks.
The shift to self-service means contact centers now handle more complex issues. AI must be advanced enough to manage nuanced inquiries.
Customers expect fast, efficient service for complex requests, pushing companies to ensure AI delivers consistently high-quality interactions.a
AI adoption requires specialized skills, but hiring experts is challenging, limiting the ability to develop and maintain AI systems.
Stronger AI means heightened data privacy concerns. Companies must ensure compliance with regulations to maintain customer trust.
AI deployment can be costly, especially if extensive training and IT expertise are needed, creating challenges for budget-limited firms.
Implement AI in specific areas first, proving its value before expanding across the organization.
Select AI with strong privacy protections and automated compliance monitoring to maintain regulatory standards.
Use AI solutions that require minimal IT resources and are easy to implement, ensuring a strong ROI.
Leverage intelligent routing to match cases with the right agents, reducing resolution times and improving efficiency.
Choose AI with quick setup and minimal disruption, accelerating returns on investment while maintaining smooth operations.
By addressing these challenges strategically, businesses can integrate AI effectively while maximizing its benefits.
The answering service landscape is rapidly changing, with Microsoft Teams at the forefront of this transformation. Several technological advancements and market trends are reshaping how businesses manage communications and customer interactions.
AI is transforming answering services within Microsoft Teams. Microsoft’s AI-driven “copilots” enhance Teams with real-time transcription, intelligent recaps, smart recommendations, task automation, and personalized insights. Future AI will evolve beyond basic chatbots into virtual assistants that understand context and sentiment.
Voice recognition will advance, making AI answering systems nearly indistinguishable from humans. These systems will handle multiple calls efficiently, improving response times and accuracy. AI will increasingly work alongside human agents, enhancing rather than replacing them.
AI-powered answering services will thrive due to complex customer inquiries, high expectations, and labor shortages. Scalability allows businesses to handle peak demand without service disruption, benefiting industries like e-commerce.
Team integration will centralize customer interactions, improving efficiency and providing valuable insights. As AI adoption grows, operational costs will drop while satisfaction rises. Future services will prioritize personalization, using customer data to anticipate needs and enhance experiences.
Integrating an answering service with Microsoft Teams enhances productivity, collaboration, and customer experience. AI-powered automation streamlines routine inquiries, while human expertise ensures complex issues are handled effectively.
To implement this solution, assess your current processes, configure Teams to fit your needs, and adopt a phased approach, starting with basic features before expanding AI capabilities. Track key metrics like response time and customer satisfaction to measure success.
By combining AI efficiency with human interaction, businesses can stay ahead in customer service excellence, creating a more responsive and proactive support system.
Does Microsoft Teams have a service?
Yes, Microsoft Teams provides business communication services, including chat, video calls, VoIP, and integrations.
Does Microsoft Teams have a contact center?
Yes, Microsoft Teams integrates with third-party contact center solutions like Anywhere365 and Luware.
How do Teams provide voicemail services?
Microsoft Teams provides voicemail services through Microsoft 365, allowing users to receive, transcribe, and manage voicemails.
How to answer calls on Microsoft Teams?
You can answer calls on Microsoft Teams by clicking the call notification in the app on desktop or mobile.