Receptionist | SignalWire

ReceptionistAgent greets callers, collects their information, and transfers them to the appropriate department based on their needs.

Basic Usage

Python

TypeScript

from signalwire.prefabs import ReceptionistAgent
agent = ReceptionistAgent(
    departments=[
        {
            "name": "sales",
            "description": "Product inquiries, pricing, and purchasing",
            "number": "+15551234567"
        },
        {
            "name": "support",
            "description": "Technical help and troubleshooting",
            "number": "+15551234568"
        },
        {
            "name": "billing",
            "description": "Payment questions and account issues",
            "number": "+15551234569"
        }
    ]
)
if __name__ == "__main__":
    agent.run()

Department Format

Field	Type	Required	Description
`name`	string	Yes	Department identifier (e.g., “sales”)
`description`	string	Yes	What the department handles
`number`	string	Yes	Phone number for transfer

Importing ReceptionistAgent

Language	Import
Python	`from signalwire.prefabs import ReceptionistAgent`
TypeScript	`import { ReceptionistAgent } from '@signalwire/sdk'`

Constructor Parameters

ReceptionistAgent(
    departments=[...],                              # List of department dicts (required)
    name="receptionist",                            # Agent name
    route="/receptionist",                          # HTTP route
    greeting="Thank you for calling. How can I help you today?",
    voice="rime.spore",                             # Voice ID
    **kwargs                                        # Additional AgentBase arguments
)

Built-in Functions

ReceptionistAgent provides these SWAIG functions automatically:

Function	Description
`collect_caller_info`	Collect caller’s name and reason for calling
`transfer_call`	Transfer to a specific department

Call Flow

Diagram showing the receptionist flow from greeting through caller info collection to department transfer. — Receptionist agent call flow.

Complete Example

#!/usr/bin/env python3
## company_receptionist.py - Custom receptionist agent
from signalwire.prefabs import ReceptionistAgent
agent = ReceptionistAgent(
    departments=[
        {
            "name": "sales",
            "description": "New orders, pricing, quotes, and product information",
            "number": "+15551001001"
        },
        {
            "name": "support",
            "description": "Technical issues, troubleshooting, and product help",
            "number": "+15551001002"
        },
        {
            "name": "billing",
            "description": "Invoices, payments, refunds, and account questions",
            "number": "+15551001003"
        },
        {
            "name": "hr",
            "description": "Employment, careers, and benefits",
            "number": "+15551001004"
        }
    ],
    greeting="Thank you for calling Acme Corporation. How may I direct your call?",
    voice="rime.spore",
    name="acme-receptionist"
)
## Add custom prompt section
agent.prompt_add_section(
    "Company",
    "You are the receptionist for Acme Corporation, a leading technology company."
)
if __name__ == "__main__":
    agent.run()

Best Practices

Departments

Use clear, distinct department names
Write descriptions that help AI route correctly
Include common reasons in descriptions
Verify transfer numbers are correct

Greeting

Keep greeting professional and welcoming
Include company name if appropriate
Ask how to help (prompts caller to state need)

Transfers

Always confirm before transferring
Use final=True for permanent transfers
Test all transfer numbers