GLOSSARY
AI, telephony, and compliance terms
Plain-language definitions of the terms you'll encounter while evaluating an AI phone system for your business.
After Hours Answering
Coverage for incoming calls received outside your normal business hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
AI Appointment Booking
Software that books, reschedules, and cancels appointments through conversation, by voice or text.
AI Receptionist
Software that answers business calls in a human-like voice, qualifies callers, and books appointments.
Call Screening
Identifying who is calling and why before deciding to forward, answer, or block the call.
Call Transcription
Automatic conversion of spoken phone audio into searchable text.
IVR (Interactive Voice Response)
An automated phone menu that routes callers based on touch-tone or spoken input.
Loi 25 (Law 25)
Quebec's modernized privacy law governing how businesses collect, use, store, and disclose personal information.
Missed Call SMS
An automatic text message sent to a caller within seconds of a call going unanswered.
PIPEDA
Canada's federal privacy law governing how private-sector businesses handle personal information.
Virtual Receptionist
A receptionist service that operates remotely, traditionally a human in a call center; today increasingly AI-powered.
