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The Ultimate Guide to Voicebots and Callbots: Definition & Benefits

Discover how voicebots are becoming part of teams’ everyday routines, helping them improve the experience they deliver to their customers.

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The Ultimate Guide to Voicebots and Callbots: Definition & Benefits

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Summary

The terms voicebots and callbots are often used interchangeably, but if we need to distinguish between them:

A voicebot is more general, designed for contextual voice interaction on digital interfaces.

A callbot is specifically built to handle automated phone calls, with targeted use cases such as customer relations.

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📊 Differences between Voicebot and Callbot

CriteriaVoicebotCallbot
DefinitionVoice assistant that interacts through speech, often used on smart assistants or applicationsAutomated phone robot that handles inbound or outbound calls over a telephone network
Channel of useVoice applications (e.g., Alexa, Google Assistant, websites, mobile apps) Telephone network (landline, mobile, VoIP)
Mode of interactionNatural voice dialogue based on user requests (often self-service)Structured, usually scripted phone dialogue with speech recognition
Main purposeProvide information, execute voice commands, assist the userAutomatically manage customer calls (appointments, FAQs, reminders, support)
Example use casesOrdering a product by voice, checking information via a smart assistantPayment reminders, scheduling appointments, automated hotline responses
Network connectionInternet (APIs or connected voice assistants)Telephone network (PSTN, VoIP, SIP)
Implementation complexityMedium to high (depending on voice integration)Medium to high (requires connection with a telephony system)
Key technologyNLP (Natural Language Processing), TTS/STT (Text-to-Speech / Speech-to-Text)NLP, TTS/STT, telephony integration (CTI, SIP, etc.)
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FYI: The terms voicebot and callbot will be used interchangeably throughout this article, even though their applications may differ slightly depending on context.

With the rise of AI, AI voice agents have established themselves as true allies for enhancing customer experience and optimizing services. Capable of interacting by voice with increasing fluidity, it's clear that these conversational assistants are transforming the relationship between businesses and their customers. Each exchange is completed faster and with almost no effort.

Voicebots are available at all times—they never take breaks! But that's not their only advantage. They can also handle multiple requests simultaneously and adapt to the needs of different people who use them.

When properly configured, they prove very useful not only for lead qualification but also for handling complex requests, relieving human teams of the most repetitive tasks.

Key Figures and Highlights About Voicebots

Here are some recent statistics and insights to give you a global view of the market:

  • The global chatbot market is expected to reach $27.3 billion by 2030. This explosive growth reflects the fact that conversational automation is becoming standard practice in companies [1].
  • In 2023, there were 4.2 billion active voice assistants in circulation [2].
  • Today, more than a quarter of searches on the Google app are voice-based—a figure that highlights our new habits: less typing, more spontaneity [2].
  • According to a Dydu study, 44% of Gen Z respondents believe chatbots will make traditional customer support call centers obsolete [3].

What is a Voicebot?

Voicebots are more than just computer programs. A voicebot is an AI capable of listening, understanding, and responding with a fluency that is increasingly close to a human exchange.

How Does a Voicebot Work?

In practice, a phone call bot captures speech, converts it into text, analyzes intent, and formulates a response that is delivered back in spoken form. It bridges the gap between human speech and machines, making the interaction far more natural than filling out a form or navigating a long IVR menu.

Behind this apparent simplicity lies very sophisticated technology. If you're not afraid of technical terms, here's how it works:

When a user speaks, an Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) system converts sounds into text.

This text is then analyzed by a semantic engine that detects keywords and determines overall meaning.

The response is generated and then transformed into audio via Text-to-Speech (TTS) technology, before being delivered back to the user.

These voice assistants are now part of our daily lives: in our phones, smart speakers, apps, websites… They've integrated seamlessly into everyday objects in ways that just a few years ago felt like science fiction.

What is the Purpose of a Voicebot?

The role of a voicebot is to absorb a flood of calls that would otherwise overwhelm human teams, by handling simple, repetitive requests. The result: smoother management, shorter wait times, and agents who can focus on higher-value interactions—all without a human having to pick up the phone immediately.

A voicebot can answer common questions, update personal information in a file, or guide a user through an IVR system—doing so with far more flexibility than traditional automated systems.

Customers are no longer lost in a maze of options. All they need to do is speak, and the voicebot takes care of the rest.

Voicebot and Conversational AI: Why Do They Matter for Customer Service?

Integrating voicebots into customer service is a real game-changer. But what do they actually bring?

Faster Processing = Less Waiting

One of the biggest frustrations with traditional customer service is waiting. A client who waits too long is a frustrated client—and frustration often means lost loyalty or missed business opportunities.

With a voicebot, response times are drastically reduced. Customers no longer have to endure endless hold music or hear the dreaded, “Please hold, an agent will be with you shortly.” Information is delivered instantly, creating a much smoother experience.

Support That Never Sleeps

Unlike 100% human customer service, voicebots don't take coffee breaks or weekends off. They respond at any time—whether it's three in the morning or a public holiday—offering customers help exactly when they need it. This round-the-clock availability reduces pressure on support teams while increasing overall satisfaction, making voicebots especially relevant for B2C businesses.

Personalized, Tailored Experience

By analyzing captured data and drawing from their training, voicebots don't just respond—they “understand” who they are speaking to. They can recognize regular customers, retrieve their interaction history, and adjust recommendations to fit the context.

Greater Fluidity Across All Channels

Omnichannel communications is now the standard. Today, a customer might start an interaction on a website, continue it through an app, and finish it over the phone. Voicebots fit seamlessly into this omnichannel customer journey, ensuring smooth transitions across touchpoints. The customer no longer has to repeat their issue at each step—everything is logged, synced, and processed!

An Economic and Strategic Asset

By automating repetitive requests, businesses give human teams the freedom to focus on more complex, strategic cases that require expertise and human contact.

The benefits are clear: better resource allocation, reduced costs, and a customer service department that operates with greater efficiency.

A Tool for Continuous Improvement and Feedback Galore

Another strength of voicebots is their ability to listen. Every interaction becomes a valuable source of data, allowing companies to analyze trends, identify friction points, and adjust their strategy accordingly. Far from being static, these voice assistants learn and refine themselves over time, continually improving the user experience.

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Analyzing your customer conversations with a conversational AI tool can also help you obtain precise insights on how to improve their journey, solve their problems, or present your product/service.

How do voicebots make interactions easier?

In a strong customer service department, every element has to hit the right note—and above all, avoid disappointing or making the customer wait. It's essentially an orchestra that needs to be conducted with maestro-level precision.

Voicebots significantly improve customer interactions by boosting both efficiency and satisfaction. Here are some of the key ways they achieve that:

Repetitive Tasks Handled, Time Freed Up

A voicebot can recognize a simple request and respond immediately: account information, order tracking, quick troubleshooting…

It can also transfer the most complex requests to human agents. The latter can focus on what truly requires expertise and finesse, while the AI takes care of the rest.

A Smooth Connection with Business Tools

A voicebot doesn't work alone. It integrates with customer databases, CRMs, your conversational AI tool, reservation systems… It fetches information wherever it resides to deliver precise, personalized answers. Imagine an assistant that already knows your purchase history or preferences without you having to explain everything again on each call. Handy, right?

Fast, Effortless Identification

The identification and verification step can be tedious—especially when dictating a customer number to an agent who re-enters it manually. With a voicebot, everything becomes smoother thanks to voice recognition, data analysis, automatic confirmation… Just a few seconds are enough to secure and authenticate an interaction, speeding up the entire process.

Overcoming Language Barriers

A well-trained voicebot can juggle multiple languages and understand the nuances of each accent. Whether addressed in French, English, or Spanish, it can adapt its response to ensure a consistent experience, without leaving a customer behind due to a misunderstanding. It is therefore crucial to train the voicebot on enough relevant data to be sure you cover all request types, no matter the language in which they're expressed.

More Proactivity

What if, instead of waiting for a customer to call, you proactively offered useful information? A voicebot can send an appointment reminder, announce an important update, flag a promotion, or gather feedback after an interaction. This proactive approach nurtures the relationship and shows that the company anticipates needs rather than reacting too late.

How do you implement a voicebot?

To successfully integrate a voicebot into your company, it's essential to take a methodical approach. Here are the fundamental steps for a successful rollout:

1. Define the Company's Objectives and Needs

Before you get started, take the time to think carefully about what you want to accomplish with this voicebot.

What problems are you trying to solve? Perhaps you're receiving too many inbound calls and would like to automate answers to the most frequently asked questions? Or maybe you want to conduct customer satisfaction surveys?

2. Select the Right Voicebot Provider

Choose a voicebot provider that meets your specific criteria. You also need to be sure that the provider you select truly knows what they're doing.

Consider their reputation and experience, but also the ability of their product to integrate with your existing tools: CRM, ERP, conversation analytics solution, and more.

But be careful—not everything that looks polished is reliable. Ask for references, and don't hesitate to ask tough questions.

You'll also want them to be responsive and to offer real after-sales support, because at the slightest issue, you'll need someone you can count on.

3. Plan the Implementation

This is where you begin to establish your roadmap. A detailed schedule with clear milestones is essentially the compass for your project.

You need to know where you're going and how you'll get there. Who will manage each aspect of the project? What human and financial resources will be required? And most importantly, what's the ideal timeline? Anticipating unexpected challenges is always wise, but this planning stage will save you time in the long run.

4. Configure the Voicebot Without Leaving Room for Improvisation

Once planning is done, it's time for actual configuration. You'll likely need to choose between a no-code solution for quick integration or a fully customized solution—more complex, but perfectly tailored to your needs.

You'll then need to set up scenarios and define interactions that align with your brand: humor, tone, response style. Consistency with your brand identity is key! The voicebot should reflect who you are, and most importantly, your existing tools (CRM, ERP, etc.) must be properly integrated to avoid data transmission errors.

5. Test, Adjust, Refine

The testing phase can sometimes feel tedious. Don't settle for a quick test—check every detail. How does it respond to a tricky question? What happens if a customer doesn't speak clearly or has an accent different from your testers? Test every possible variation, then fine-tune.

This is the moment to iron out imperfections. You'll likely need several cycles of testing and adjustments before it's at its best.

6. Launch Phase

Once everything is ready, it's time to launch your voicebot. Avoid making the launch too discreet. It's better to communicate widely about this new feature. Announce it via your social media channels, newsletters, and website—your blog, for example.

Clearly explain how users can use it and what it can do for them: the real benefits. In other words, don't let your customers wonder where it is, as if it were just some gadget tucked away in a drawer. Make it an event.

7. Monitoring and Feedback: The Work is Never Finished

It's crucial to closely monitor the performance of the voicebot after launch. You'll need to track key indicators, listen to user feedback, and assess whether it's truly meeting your expectations.

Don't be afraid of negative feedback—it's part of the process and what allows you to improve. Be responsive and adjust the voicebot based on this feedback. Like a good recipe, a voicebot should get better with time. Most importantly, ensure that the user experience remains your top priority.

How to Choose Your Voicebot: What Criteria Should You Consider?

Finding the best chatbot for your business is no easy task.

How do you uncover that rare gem that will transform your customers' experience? Here are the criteria you should consider:

1. A Product that Aligns with Your Specific Needs

You first need to understand your needs and clearly define your objectives. Do you really need customer service active at night? Are you aiming to reduce the number of calls your support team receives? With clear goals in mind, you reduce the risk of spreading yourself too thin.

2. The Voicebot's Customization

Your voicebot is also an ambassador of your brand. Standardized solutions may have limitations and could even harm your reputation if they don't align with your brand identity. It's generally better to choose a provider that gives you full control over customization: tone, rhythm, level of language, even accent.

3. Choose a Solution that Integrates Easily

The voicebot you choose must integrate smoothly into your tech stack. Consider its compatibility with your business tools, especially your CRM and databases.

The best solution is one that guarantees a seamless integration, without requiring major changes to your infrastructure.

4. Evolution and Updates

The AI and voicebot market is evolving rapidly. You must ensure your technology partner keeps pace, offering regular updates and new features so you don't lose ground to competitors.

5. Support and Expertise

A serious provider doesn't just hand over a turnkey solution: they make sure your teams have the knowledge and tools to use it effectively. Responsive technical support, industry-specific training, and clear documentation—all of these make the difference between a voicebot that stagnates and one that becomes a true strategic asset.

6. Handling Sensitive Data = Mandatory Vigilance

Where there is data, there must be security. Ensure that the voicebot securely stores the information it processes, as some of it may be confidential.

Even the smallest security breach can have severe consequences. To minimize risks, check certifications, question practices, and demand transparency.

Your provider should demonstrate compliance with GDPR, hosting standards, encryption practices, and more. Everything should be scrutinized.

7. Evaluate Cost—But Focus on Value

A cheap voicebot that doesn't deliver is money wasted. Conversely, a well-calibrated solution can reduce operational costs, streamline customer experience, and generate real ROI.

Instead of chasing the lowest price, ask yourself the real question: how much value will this voicebot bring?

Final Word: Voicebots, a Revolution That Must Resonate Strategically

As you've seen, voicebots mark a turning point in the customer service sector and undoubtedly contribute to improving business performance.

Powered by AI, they bring much more than 24/7 availability. These technologies can personalize interactions, reduce operating costs, and increase the responsiveness of your customer care department.

Voicebots are also invaluable for addressing the challenges of collecting and analyzing customer and prospect data.

To fully benefit, it's up to you as a decision-maker to choose the voicebot that best matches your needs and to ensure a careful rollout, following the advice shared in this article.

Do you want to know how to improve your customers' experience while easing the burden on your agents?

Reach out to our Ringover experts or try our products for free!

Voicebot FAQ

What specific technologies differentiate a callbot from a voicebot in their operation?

The terms are often used interchangeably. For purists: a callbot integrates with telephony infrastructure (PSTN, VoIP, CTI) and must manage real-time audio streams, focusing heavily on speech recognition robustness. A voicebot, by contrast, relies on more permissive environments, often tied to voice assistants or applications, with a technical logic more focused on user experience and immediacy.

How does a voicebot transform speech into a smooth, natural vocal response?

The process happens in several stages: first, the voicebot captures speech via a microphone or phone call. ASR (Automatic Speech Recognition) transcribes speech into text. Then, an NLP engine detects intent and extracts key information. The system generates an appropriate response (either dynamic or scripted). The response is then converted into natural speech using TTS (Text-to-Speech). The most advanced voicebots use so-called neural voices to deliver a more human, nuanced tone.

How can a voicebot improve customer relations compared to a text-based chatbot?

A voicebot enables more direct, fluid, and intuitive interaction. It removes the barrier of typing, making it accessible to everyone—even those less comfortable with technology. It offers a more engaging experience, especially on mobile or over the phone. In urgent or on-the-go situations, it's also faster to use than a text chatbot. Finally, it can detect vocal signals such as hesitation or frustration, which enrich the customer experience.

What technical challenges are tied to speech recognition in a voicebot?

The main challenges include audio signal quality (background noise, poor articulation), recognizing accents, dialects, or colloquial expressions, and handling the natural variations of spoken language (incomplete sentences, hesitations). ASR must also work in real time with minimal latency. Contextual understanding remains a major challenge, especially in complex industries where user intents may be multiple or ambiguous.

How can the use of a voicebot evolve with conversational AI?

Conversational AI paves the way for far more autonomous voicebots. They can manage complex dialogues, adapt to the speaker's tone, and remember interaction history. With generative AI, they can even “improvise” answers on unscripted topics. The evolution toward more proactive voicebots—capable of initiating interactions at the right moment—also represents a strategic advantage for businesses.

Sources

  • https://www.ringover.fr/
  • https://fr.wikipedia.org/
  • https://www.grandviewresearch.com
  • https://comarketing-news.fr/
  • https://www.synup.com

Citations

  • [1]https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-chatbot-market
  • [2]https://www.synup.com/fr/voice-search-statistics
  • [3]https://comarketing-news.fr/infographie-le-marche-des-chatbots-en-2023/

Published on September 16, 2025.

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