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Building an AI Phone Assistant in 2 Hours? | Vapi x Make Tutorial

Education


Introduction

In today's fast-paced world, many restaurants are leveraging AI technology to enhance customer service. This article is a complete tutorial on how to create an inbound phone agent for a restaurant using Vapi and Make.com. This AI assistant, named "Lisa," is capable of taking reservations, storing transcripts of calls, and even remembering details about customers. Let's dive into the process step-by-step, so you can build your own AI phone assistant in just a couple of hours.

Preview of the AI Assistant

Before we begin, here's what the final product looks like:


Caller: Hey, Alex here. I'd like to reserve a table for tomorrow at 3:00 p.m.
Assistant (Lisa): Alex, how many people will be joining you for the reservation?
Caller: It's going to be three people.
Assistant: All right! I have a table reserved for tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. for a party of three under the name Alex. Is there any special occasion I should note for the reservation?
Caller: Yeah, it's my birthday.
Assistant: Awesome, Alex! Your table is all set for tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. to celebrate your birthday. We look forward to having you at Healthy Rap!

Isn't that amazing? You can personalize the experience and manage reservations with ease. If you want to follow along, grab some water, coffee, and snacks—it’s going to be an informative ride!

Tools You Will Need

To set up your AI assistant, you'll be using a combination of tools, which include:

  • Vapi: The platform that provides the voice AI infrastructure.
  • Make.com: A logic automation platform where you can execute features.
  • Google Calendar: For handling scheduling.
  • Google Sheets: To store caller information and transcripts.

Flow of the Assistant

Understanding how the AI phone call structure works is essential. The incoming call from the caller to the restaurant kicks off a flow where the assistant determines if the caller is new or returning. The assistant can ask for the caller's first name, answer queries, check availability, and take reservations.

Step-by-Step Implementation

  1. Setting Up Vapi: You need to create an account on Vapi and set up a new assistant. Start with the appointment setter template, and adjust the name to "Lisa."

    "Hello! This is Lisa from Healthy Rap. Who am I talking to?"

  2. Dynamic Name Recognition: Use OpenAI for AI responses and configure parameters like the name of the caller, date and time for the reservation, number of guests, and any special occasions.

  3. Using Make.com: Create scenarios in Make.com to handle logic and functions, such as reserving a table. Use functionalities like “Get Free Busy” from Google Calendar for checking availability.

  4. Storage Management: Use Google Sheets to store information about callers, their phone numbers, and any reservations they make.

  5. Transcripts: Save transcripts of the calls for record-keeping and future reference, allowing for continuous improvement of the assistant.

  6. Testing: Finally, initiate a call to see if everything works as expected. Adjust as necessary to ensure smooth operation.

Final Touches

To finalize your setup, ensure that your AI assistant can dynamically interact with the caller based on information provided previously and upon subsequent calls.

Now you've created a fully functional AI phone assistant!

Conclusion

With AI, you can automate repetitive tasks in your restaurant and offer a seamless customer experience. The tutorial covered the necessity of preparing each component to ensure everything works flawlessly. Implementing an AI phone assistant will undoubtedly enhance the customer experience at your restaurant.


Keywords

  • AI Phone Assistant
  • Vapi
  • Make.com
  • Google Calendar
  • Google Sheets
  • Reservations
  • Inbound Calls
  • Dynamic Interaction
  • Transcripts

FAQ

  1. What is Vapi?

    • Vapi is a platform that offers a voice AI infrastructure for businesses to create customized AI assistants.
  2. What is Make.com used for?

    • Make.com is a workflow automation tool used to connect different platforms and automate processes without coding.
  3. Can I integrate Google Calendar with my AI assistant?

    • Yes, Google Calendar can be integrated to manage and check availability for reservations.
  4. How can I store customer information?

    • Google Sheets can be used to store information about callers, reservations, and transcripts for future reference.
  5. Can this assistant remember returning callers?

    • Yes! The AI assistant can remember details about returning callers for a more personalized experience.
  6. How can I test the effectiveness of my AI assistant?

    • You can test your assistant by simulating calls to ensure all functionalities work as intended.