Forward mode in one sentence
A homeowner calls our tracked number, we ring your phone within seconds, and you handle the conversation. You pay per connected call (30+ seconds). Best when you can answer fast and want to qualify in your own voice.
AI agent mode in one sentence
A homeowner calls our tracked number, an AI assistant trained on your services and business hours qualifies them and books an appointment on your calendar. You pay only when an appointment is actually booked. Best when you can't answer reliably or have set service offerings with predictable scheduling.
The decision matrix
Pick forward mode when
- You're a one-truck shop and most calls need a real conversation to scope
- Your services are highly variable (each job needs human triage)
- You can answer 70%+ of inbound calls within 30 seconds during business hours
- You like building rapport on the call — your close rate depends on it
Pick AI agent mode when
- You're running 2+ trucks and missing calls is a known problem
- Your services and pricing are well-defined enough to be qualified by a script
- You want after-hours coverage without paying a 24/7 answering service
- You'd rather receive a clean booked appointment than a cold call mid-job
The economics
Forward mode bills per connected call. AI agent mode bills per booked appointment. The numbers cut differently:
- Forward: $15 per connected call (default base; ZIP overrides apply)
- AI agent: $25 per booked appointment
Forward mode wins on raw cost-per-call but pays for un-booked conversations too. AI agent costs more per acquisition but every dollar is tied to a confirmed appointment. Run the math against your close rate: if you close 1 in 3 forward calls, your true acquisition cost is $45. If AI books 1 in 1 (already qualified), your acquisition cost is $25.
Hybrid is allowed
You can run forward mode during business hours and AI agent mode for after-hours and weekends. Many CallerSync contractors do exactly this — they get the rapport advantage when they're available and the booking safety net when they aren't.
Setting up AI agent mode well
- Define services precisely (don't leave the AI guessing on scope)
- Set business hours that match what you'll actually honor
- Set realistic appointment slots (2-hour windows beat 30-minute promises)
- Test it yourself — call your own number, run through a booking, listen back to the transcript
Switching modes
You can flip between forward and AI agent mode in your dashboard at any time. The change takes effect on the next inbound call. There is no contract, no per-mode setup fee — just a different billing line per completed event.