From Zero to Live Calls in 30 Minutes: Setting Up AIVO
You heard the pitch: an AI assistant that answers your business phone 24/7. But what does setup actually look like? This is a straightforward, step-by-step walkthrough. No fluff, no hand-waving. By the end, your AI assistant will be handling live calls for your business.
Step 1: Create Your Account (2 Minutes)
Head to aivo.bz and click "Start Free Trial." You'll need your email address and your business name. No credit card is required for the 14-day trial. Once your account is created, you'll land on your dashboard. This is your command center for managing calls, reviewing analytics, and configuring your assistant.
Step 2: Build Your Knowledge Base (10 Minutes)
This is the most important step. Your knowledge base is everything the AI needs to know about your business to answer calls accurately. Think of it as training a new receptionist, except this one has perfect recall and never forgets details.
For a restaurant, you would add your menu with prices, hours of operation, location and parking details, reservation policies, and information about private event spaces. For a dental clinic, include your services and general pricing, accepted insurance providers, office hours, new patient procedures, and emergency contact protocols.
You can type this information directly into the dashboard, paste from existing documents, or upload files. The AI processes everything and makes it available for conversations. Don't worry about getting it perfect on day one. You can update your knowledge base anytime and changes take effect immediately.
Step 3: Set Up Your Phone Number (3 Minutes)
You have two options here. You can get a new Belizean phone number through AIVO, which is instant. Or you can port your existing business number, which takes a few days for the carrier to process. For the trial, we recommend starting with a new AIVO number. This lets you test everything immediately without disrupting your current phone setup. When you are ready to go live fully, you can port your main number.
Step 4: Customize the Voice and Behavior (5 Minutes)
Choose from several natural-sounding voices for your assistant. You want the voice to match your brand. A professional law firm might choose a calm, measured voice. A tour operator might pick something more energetic and friendly. Pro plan users can use voice cloning to create a custom voice that matches their brand perfectly.
Next, configure how the AI handles different situations. Set your business hours so the AI knows when to offer appointment booking versus taking messages. Define escalation rules for urgent calls. Set up notifications so you get alerts for high-priority inquiries. All of this is done through simple toggles and dropdowns in the dashboard, no coding needed.
Step 5: Test It (5 Minutes)
Before going live, call your AIVO number from your personal phone. Have a real conversation. Ask about your hours, try to book an appointment, ask a question that requires knowledge base information. Listen to how the AI handles it. If something sounds off, go back to your knowledge base and add or adjust the relevant information.
We recommend running three to five test calls covering different scenarios. Check that the AI pronounces your business name correctly, gives accurate pricing, and handles appointment booking smoothly. Make note of any gaps and fill them in your knowledge base.
Step 6: Go Live (5 Minutes)
Once you are satisfied with test calls, it is time to go live. If you are using a new AIVO number, publish it on your website, Google Business listing, social media, and printed materials. If you have ported your existing number, calls will start routing to your AI assistant automatically.
For the first few days, check your call analytics dashboard daily. You will see every call that comes in, how the AI handled it, and whether any calls need human follow-up. Use this data to refine your knowledge base and improve the AI's responses over time.
What Happens After the Trial
After 14 days, you choose a plan that fits your call volume. The Starter plan at $148 BZD per month covers 1,000 minutes, which works for most small businesses. The Pro plan at $398 BZD per month gives you 2,500 minutes plus advanced features like voice cloning, outreach campaigns, and priority support. If you decide AIVO isn't right for you, simply cancel. No contracts, no cancellation fees, no hassle.