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  1. 1.Before you start
  2. 2.Open the conversation settings
  3. 3.Turn the AI Receptionist on
  4. 4.Give it a name and a personality
  5. 5.Review the advanced options
  6. 6.Save
  7. 7.Add your salon details
  8. 8.Connect a channel
  9. 9.Send a test message
  10. 10.If something is off
  11. 11.Common questions
GuideAccelerate plan

Set up the AI Receptionist

Turn on the AI Receptionist, give it a name and personality, and connect the channels where clients message you.

4 min readRole: Super Administrator or higherAI Receptionist & inboxUpdated October 25, 2026
Open in the app

The AI Receptionist replies to client messages for you and books appointments in the chat. Setting it up takes three parts: turn it on, shape how it talks, and connect at least one channel.

Before you start

  • Your salon is on the Accelerate or Ultimate plan. The Starter plan doesn't include the AI Receptionist or the inbox.
  • You're a Super Administrator or the Owner. Settings and integrations need these roles.
  • Your services, locations and team working hours are set up. The AI Receptionist books from the same availability as your booking website.
  1. 1

    Step 1 of 8

    Open the conversation settings

    Go to Settings and open Conversations. The AI Receptionist card is near the top of the page.

  2. 2

    Step 2 of 8

    Turn the AI Receptionist on

    Switch on Enable AI Receptionist. While it's off, the receptionist doesn't reply in any conversation.

  3. 3

    Step 3 of 8

    Give it a name and a personality

    • Name: the name the AI Receptionist uses for itself. It's also the label on its messages in your inbox.
    • Formality: Formal, Neutral or Casual.
    • Traits: pick up to 3, such as Warm or Concise.
    • Additional Details: up to 1,000 characters of extra guidance on how it should talk.
  4. 4

    Step 4 of 8

    Review the advanced options

    Click the arrow at the bottom of the card to show more options. Here you choose whether the AI Receptionist books in the chat, which messages it answers, and which follow-ups it sends. Each one is explained in AI Receptionist settings explained.

  5. 5

    Step 5 of 8

    Save

    Click Save at the bottom of the card.

    You will see:

    A Settings Updated message appears.

  6. 6

    Step 6 of 8

    Add your salon details

    In the Knowledge Base card, add facts the AI Receptionist can't find in your settings, like parking or your late policy. Then click Save. See Teach the AI Receptionist about your salon.

  7. 7

    Step 7 of 8

    Connect a channel

    Clients need a way to reach the AI Receptionist. You can use one channel or several:

  8. 8

    Step 8 of 8

    Send a test message

    Message your salon from your own phone or open live chat on your booking site. Then open Conversations in the sidebar.

    You will see:

    Your message and the AI Receptionist's reply appear in the inbox.

Replies written by the AI use credits from your plan. Check your balance before you go live. See Credits explained.

If something is off

The AI Receptionist doesn't reply

Check that Enable AI Receptionist is on and saved, and that you have credits left. In the conversation itself, make sure the receptionist isn't turned off and the status isn't Needs Attention. The inbox shows a note when a reply was skipped because of credits, limits or your reply settings.

The AI Receptionist turned itself off after a plan change

When a salon moves to a plan without the AI Receptionist, Softalon turns off both the receptionist and live chat. After you upgrade again, turn them back on in Settings › Conversations.

I can't find Conversations in Settings

Settings are only shown to Super Administrators and the Owner. Ask one of them to set up the AI Receptionist, or to change your role.

Common questions

No. You can turn it on first. It starts replying as soon as messages arrive on a connected channel or on live chat.

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Related guides

How the AI Receptionist worksWhat the AI Receptionist answers, how it books in chat, when it hands a conversation to your team, and when it uses credits.AI Receptionist settings explainedEvery setting on Settings › Conversations: the AI Receptionist's personality, booking in chat, reply rules, follow-ups, knowledge base, keywords and live chat.Teach the AI Receptionist about your salonUse the knowledge base to give the AI Receptionist facts about your salon, like parking, policies and products, so it can answer client questions.
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