AI voice assistant, reception desk, outsourced answering or voicemail: what suits your clinic?
A vet clinic has four options for its phone: an AI voice assistant like AlloVet, the in-house reception desk, an outsourced answering service or voicemail. AlloVet answers every call, day and night; a person handles sensitive cases better. This table compares all four, without naming competitors.
The comparison in one table
Each cell describes what is common in that category. Providers vary: always check your own provider's terms.
Availability
- AlloVet
- 24/7
- In-house reception desk
- During opening hours, when someone is free
- Outsourced answering service
- Depends on the contract, often office hours
- Voicemail
- 24/7, but nobody answers
Calls during consultations
- AlloVet
- The assistant picks up while the team treats animals
- In-house reception desk
- The team stops what it is doing, or the call is missed
- Outsourced answering service
- Taken by an outside person
- Voicemail
- Message left, to call back
Booking appointments
- AlloVet
- In your calendar, during the call
- In-house reception desk
- Yes, by the team
- Outsourced answering service
- Varies: calendar access or just a message
- Voicemail
- No
Emergencies
- AlloVet
- Emergency keywords spotted, call transferred straight to your number
- In-house reception desk
- Handled by the team
- Outsourced answering service
- Depends on the instructions given to the provider
- Voicemail
- Depends on the greeting, often an on-call number
Knowledge of the clinic
- AlloVet
- Opening hours, prices, directions and instructions you approved
- In-house reception desk
- Complete
- Outsourced answering service
- Limited to the instructions given
- Voicemail
- Greeting only
Call records
- AlloVet
- Transcript and summary of every call in the portal
- In-house reception desk
- Depends on how the team works
- Outsourced answering service
- Report, depending on the provider
- Voicemail
- Voice messages
Human contact
- AlloVet
- No. Emergencies are transferred to your team
- In-house reception desk
- Yes
- Outsourced answering service
- Yes
- Voicemail
- No
Cost
- AlloVet
- From €99 per month, then based on minutes
- In-house reception desk
- Your team's working time
- Outsourced answering service
- Subscription or per-call price, depending on the provider
- Voicemail
- Low or included in the phone plan
| Criterion | AlloVet | In-house reception desk | Outsourced answering service | Voicemail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Availability | 24/7 | During opening hours, when someone is free | Depends on the contract, often office hours | 24/7, but nobody answers |
| Calls during consultations | The assistant picks up while the team treats animals | The team stops what it is doing, or the call is missed | Taken by an outside person | Message left, to call back |
| Booking appointments | In your calendar, during the call | Yes, by the team | Varies: calendar access or just a message | No |
| Emergencies | Emergency keywords spotted, call transferred straight to your number | Handled by the team | Depends on the instructions given to the provider | Depends on the greeting, often an on-call number |
| Knowledge of the clinic | Opening hours, prices, directions and instructions you approved | Complete | Limited to the instructions given | Greeting only |
| Call records | Transcript and summary of every call in the portal | Depends on how the team works | Report, depending on the provider | Voice messages |
| Human contact | No. Emergencies are transferred to your team | Yes | Yes | No |
| Cost | From €99 per month, then based on minutes | Your team's working time | Subscription or per-call price, depending on the provider | Low or included in the phone plan |
AlloVet price: base plan for a clinic with 1 to 2 vets. Integrations included. Above 2 vets: quote.
What AlloVet does not replace
- Welcoming clients at the clinic
- Medical advice: the assistant never gives any
- Complex situations, which stay with your team
When an AI voice assistant is a good fit
- Many calls come in during consultations
- Nobody is free at lunchtime, in the evening or at weekends
- You want a written record of every call
Combining options
You can keep your team on the phone and forward to AlloVet only unanswered calls, or calls outside opening hours. This depends on your phone operator's forwarding options.
To go further: our pricing, how emergencies are handled.
Comparison questions
Is an AI voice assistant cheaper than an outsourced answering service?
Often, but it depends on your call volume and the provider. AlloVet starts at €99 per month for a clinic with 1 to 2 vets, with 300 minutes included.
Will my clients prefer to talk to a person?
Some will. That is why the assistant says it is an AI, notes requests so your team can call back, and transfers emergencies.
Can I use AlloVet only in the evening and at weekends?
Yes, if your operator allows call forwarding by time of day or when a call is not answered.
Want to hear the assistant with your clinic's instructions?
Book a 30-minute demo, or ask for a free one-month test.