What a single phone call taught me about business, bottlenecks—and why your sales team might need an upgrade
Have you ever been so stunned by a customer service interaction that you hang up the phone and think, Wow. This is exactly why artificial intelligence exists?
That happened to me last week. And trust me, I wasn’t expecting a lesson in business automation from a cranky receptionist in Boston.
That happened to me last week. And trust me, I wasn’t expecting a lesson in business automation from a cranky receptionist in Boston.
Photo by: Vengo AI
The Call That Changed My Mindset
It started like any normal sales call.
I dialed a well-known Boston corporation, looking to speak with Manny Maita from their IT department. I had his full name, his email, and a purpose for calling. What I didn’t have? His extension.
So I asked the receptionist, “Hi, is Manny Maita available?”
Her response? An audible sigh, followed by:
“Well, there are a lot of Mannys here. You need a direct extension. We’re a huge company.”
I explained that this was the information I had, and I was just trying to be connected. But she wasn’t having it. No attempt to help. No offer to take a message. Just stone-cold dismissal.
In under a minute, I went from potential partner to “Don’t call us again.”
I dialed a well-known Boston corporation, looking to speak with Manny Maita from their IT department. I had his full name, his email, and a purpose for calling. What I didn’t have? His extension.
So I asked the receptionist, “Hi, is Manny Maita available?”
Her response? An audible sigh, followed by:
“Well, there are a lot of Mannys here. You need a direct extension. We’re a huge company.”
I explained that this was the information I had, and I was just trying to be connected. But she wasn’t having it. No attempt to help. No offer to take a message. Just stone-cold dismissal.
In under a minute, I went from potential partner to “Don’t call us again.”
Photo by: Vengo AI
The Bigger Problem: People Aren’t Scalable—AI Is
That call didn’t just kill a sale. It revealed a pattern I’ve seen across dozens of businesses:
The people representing your company on the front lines can make or break your growth.
But humans have off days. They’re rushed, distracted, burned out, or just not trained. And when they drop the ball, the ripple effect is real:
- Missed deals
- Negative brand impressions
- Broken trust before it’s even earned
So What’s the Solution? A Smarter Front Line
This is where Vengo AI comes in.
Imagine if that receptionist had been an AI agent:
Imagine if that receptionist had been an AI agent:
- She would have asked for context, then routed me correctly.
- She could’ve pulled up Manny Maita from internal data, or taken my information for follow-up.
- She’d have done it all instantly, without attitude, and in the company’s voice.
Instead of losing a customer, that company could’ve captured a qualified lead.
Vengo AI turns websites into 24/7 sales engines. It replaces outdated contact forms, FAQ pages, and yes—rude receptionists—with digital agents that speak like your best employee and work non-stop.
Vengo AI turns websites into 24/7 sales engines. It replaces outdated contact forms, FAQ pages, and yes—rude receptionists—with digital agents that speak like your best employee and work non-stop.
Photo by: Vengo AI
Key Takeaways:
- AI doesn’t get overwhelmed. It scales effortlessly.
- Every visitor gets attention. Vengo AI captures names, emails, and books meetings in real-time.
- No coding needed. One line of code installs your agent on any site.
- You control the tone. The AI sounds like you—not like a script.
- It converts. Our users see up to a 78% lead capture rate.
Conclusion: Don’t Let Lori at the Front Desk Tank Your Revenue
We’ve entered an era where customers expect instant answers, human-like interaction, and respectful engagement. Your front line—digital or not—needs to reflect that.
If your business is still relying on gatekeepers, scripts, or forms to guide the customer journey, ask yourself:
If your business is still relying on gatekeepers, scripts, or forms to guide the customer journey, ask yourself:
What’s the cost of one bad first impression?
Now ask:
What if every impression was your best one?
Vengo AI can make that happen. Start your free trial at vengoai.com. Let your AI agent do what Lori wouldn’t.