Getting Started
A step-by-step guide to setting up your phone assistant for the first time.
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Overview
This guide walks you through your first day with the AI assistant — from signing in to receiving your first AI-handled call. Complete these steps in order and you will be live by the end.
Before you begin
You need:
- Your account credentials (received after sign-up)
- Your business information (name, address, hours, menu or services)
- A phone that can configure call forwarding (mobile, VoIP, or landline)
- A payment method (credit card or ACH bank account)
First-time setup
Restaurants typically need the AI to answer menu questions, take phone orders, and push those orders to a POS system.
Your setup priorities:
- Business Info — upload your full menu with prices
- Hours — set your open/close times so the AI knows when to take orders
- POS Integration — connect Square or Clover so orders go directly to your kitchen
- Notifications — configure how you want to be alerted for every call
- Call Forwarding — route incoming calls to the AI
Service businesses typically need the AI to answer questions about services and book appointments.
Your setup priorities:
- Business Info — describe your services, pricing, and policies
- Hours — set your availability windows
- Appointments — connect Google Calendar, Outlook, or Calendly
- Notifications — configure how you want to be alerted for every booking
- Call Forwarding — route incoming calls to the AI
General businesses need the AI to answer common questions and route callers appropriately.
Your setup priorities:
- Business Info — write out everything the AI should know about your business
- Hours — configure when the AI is active
- Notifications — configure your alerts
- Call Forwarding — route incoming calls to the AI
Step-by-step walkthrough
Sign In
Go to ai.i118.com and sign in with your account credentials.
Activate your subscription
Navigate to Billing and Subscription and add a payment method. Your phone number is assigned after your subscription is active.
Write your business instructions
Go to Business Info and Instructions. Enter your business name, address, and detailed instructions the AI should follow. Include your menu, services, pricing, policies, and anything a human receptionist would need to know.
Set your hours
Go to Hours and Availability. Set your open and close times for each day. The AI uses these to know when to take orders versus play an after-hours message.
Configure notifications
Go to Notifications and Order Monitor. Configure at least one notification method so you receive summaries and call recordings.
Connect integrations (if applicable)
- POS: Go to POS Integrations and connect Square or Clover
- Appointments: Go to Appointment Integrations and connect your calendar
Configure AI voice and settings
Go to Additional Settings. Choose your AI voice, set a personality, and configure language options.
Set up call forwarding
Go to Call Forwarding and Phone. Follow the instructions for your phone type to forward incoming calls to your call forwarding number.
Run a test
Go to Testing. Launch the test widget and have a practice conversation with the AI. Verify it answers correctly, then place a real test call from another phone.
Once all steps are complete, your AI is live and answering calls. Use the Setup Checklist to confirm nothing was missed.
Key pages reference
| Page | What you configure there |
|---|---|
| Business Info and Instructions | What the AI knows and says |
| Hours and Availability | When the AI is active |
| Notifications | Where call alerts are sent |
| Call Forwarding | How calls reach the AI |
| Additional Settings | AI voice, personality, and languages |
| POS Integrations | Order routing to Square or Clover |
| Appointment Integrations | Calendar booking integration |
| Testing | Simulate calls to verify setup |
| Orders | Review all past call records |
| Billing | Subscription and payment management |
Last updated 1 week ago
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