Field notes · For contractors · · 4 minute read

The phone, answered: Helloforward for contractors and framers

Helloforward is an answering agent for your business line. It is built on AI, it talks like a person, and it does the office work: answers, books, texts back, leaves a note. Here it is on a contractor's phone, using an invented company called Ridgeline Builders.

A call comes in while the saw is running

Karen is planning a basement suite and wants someone to come look. Your phone rings under the tool belt, you do not pick up, and the line does. It asks whether she has drawings, books Dana for an estimate on Friday at 1, and texts her the time.

Home, while a call is on. The number, the clock, and the notes waiting under it.
Home, while a call is on. The number, the clock, and the notes waiting under it.
The transcript, a minute later. Drawings done, permit not yet applied for. Dana walks in knowing.
The transcript, a minute later. Drawings done, permit not yet applied for. Dana walks in knowing.

It tells the new lead from the lumber yard

It answers from what you told it once: what you build, where, how far out you are booking, who to put straight through. Then it fills in the columns you asked for.

  • “It’s the yard. Your order’s short two lifts of 2x6, on the truck Thursday.”

    Taken word for word, in your notes before the truck leaves.

  • “Est-ce que vous prenez des constructions neuves cette année?”

    Answered in French: additions and basements until spring; put him on the spring list with a February callback.

  • “Confirming the framing inspection at 118 Maple, Wednesday 8 to 12.”

    Confirmed, noted, and on the calendar with Ravi on site from 8.

The call log on a desk. Name, number, the job, a summary. Search finds an address, a supplier, or anything said.
The call log on a desk. Name, number, the job, a summary. Search finds an address, a supplier, or anything said.

Texts, handled the same way

A text to your line gets the same care. Bookings get a confirmation, questions get answers, and when you want to step in you type in the same thread.

Every conversation on the line.
Every conversation on the line.
Karen asked how long the visit takes. About an hour, and a written estimate within the week.
Karen asked how long the visit takes. About an hour, and a written estimate within the week.

Ring your own line, and it works for you

The line knows your number. Call it from the truck and it becomes your assistant: who called this afternoon, add rebar to the Maple list, put me through to the inspector. Texting your line does the same.

Marc, calling his own line. The yard's message read back, and rebar added to the list.
Marc, calling his own line. The yard's message read back, and rebar added to the list.
The note it made from a call. Where it came from, who it is about, one tap to close it.
The note it made from a call. Where it came from, who it is about, one tap to close it.

An assistant between the calls

Every business gets an assistant of its own. Ask it in plain words: confirm tomorrow's clients, what did the yard say again, add that to the Maple block. It reads the calendar and the call log, so it already knows.

Tomorrow confirmed, the yard's message pinned to the job.
Tomorrow confirmed, the yard's message pinned to the job.

The crew

Add your site lead, your estimator, your office person if you have one. Callers can be booked with the right one, each has their own calendar lane and assistant, and everyone sees the same notes. Ten dollars a month per person. Bookings sync with Google Calendar if you use it.

The week, by person. Marc's walls-up day in orange, Dana's estimates in blue, the inspection in Ravi's lane.
The week, by person. Marc's walls-up day in orange, Dana's estimates in blue, the inspection in Ravi's lane.
The team. Who the agent can book for, who signs in, who has an assistant.
The team. Who the agent can book for, who signs in, who has an assistant.

Setting it up

I

Forward your line

Keep the number on the truck door. Forward the calls you do not answer, so you still ring first. Or take a new local number.

II

Describe the business

What you build, where, how far out you are booking, who to put straight through. A few minutes, once.

III

Call it yourself

Ring your line, ask for an estimate, see the note land. Fix anything from the app.

Forwarding codes for every Canadian carrier are in this note. Ridgeline Builders and everyone in these screens are invented; the screens are the real product.

The next call is taken care of.

Set up in minutes. First month free, no card needed.

Start your free month

Or hear it answer first. It runs a demo plumbing company; yours would answer for your business.

(236) 205-5757 (239) 366-4669

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