Newo.ai, IONOS launch AI receptionist for small firms

Newo.ai has partnered with IONOS on an AI receptionist service that small businesses can deploy from the IONOS customer portal.

IONOS customers can set up the AI Receptionist in as little as three minutes through the portal, according to the companies. The product targets smaller firms that manage customer communications with limited staff and variable demand.

Newo.ai said small businesses often miss enquiries during peak periods and outside business hours. The company cited industry data which puts the share of unanswered customer enquiries at up to 40%.

Newo.ai said early users of its AI Receptionist reported a 15% to 20% increase in revenue. The company linked the change to capturing and converting interactions that previously went unanswered.

Multi-channel handling

The AI Receptionist responds to inbound enquiries across phone calls, text messages, web chat, and social media channels. It operates 24 hours a day, according to Newo.ai.

The product includes tools for businesses to customise responses and manage appointments. It also consolidates communication across multiple channels into a single interface, Newo.ai said.

The companies positioned the launch at smaller organisations that want software they can deploy without technical specialists. Newo.ai said the service requires no specialised technical skills to deploy or manage.

"Our mission at Newo.ai is to make AI immediately useful for small businesses, not something that requires months of setup or technical expertise," said David Yang, PhD, Co-Founder, Newo.ai.

Yang also described the company's approach to channel distribution. "As a partner-first business, we focus on enabling trusted platforms to deliver immediate value to their customers. Partnering with IONOS allows us to reach businesses where they already operate and give them a simple way to provide always-on, professional customer engagement," said Yang.

IONOS reach

IONOS sells cloud infrastructure and other digital services to small and medium-sized businesses. The company also offers products for web presence, productivity, and digital commerce.

Newo.ai and IONOS said they share a view that AI products for small firms should be accessible and affordable. They also said such products should deliver immediate business value.

The AI Receptionist is available to IONOS customers through the IONOS portal, the companies said.

Newo.ai described itself as an AI startup founded by David Yang and Luba Ovtsinnikova. The company builds AI receptionists and agents for small and medium-sized businesses. It said the software answers calls and books appointments across voice, chat, and messaging.

Newo.ai also said it works with managed service providers, VoIP providers, software companies, and agencies. The company said its platform can launch trained agents in minutes and supports white-label services.

The partnership adds another distribution channel for Newo.ai in a market where small businesses have shown interest in tools that handle inbound customer contacts outside standard working hours. The companies did not disclose commercial terms or pricing for the IONOS portal offering.