Setup
Forward a VoIP business line to an AI receptionist
Configure forwarding on the user, main number, queue, extension, or auto receptionist that actually owns the inbound call. Put the external Nevermiss destination before voicemail, preserve caller ID when the provider allows it, and test from an outside number. Provider, plan, role, and route type can all change the available controls.
Find the object that owns the call
A VoIP account can route the public number through a company greeting, auto receptionist, call queue, ring group, user, or extension. Editing one employee’s forwarding does nothing when the main number reaches a queue first. Trace the inbound route in the admin portal and change the object that currently sends the call to voicemail.
Decide whether Ava should answer every call, only calls the team misses, or only calls outside a schedule. Write down the existing path before editing it so the business can roll back without reconstructing the configuration from memory.
RingCentral
For a user extension in the current RingCentral app, open Settings, Phone, Call handling, then Edit. Choose work or after-hours behavior. Under missed calls, forward to an external number and enter the Nevermiss destination. RingCentral supports simultaneous and sequential ringing, so check the order and duration rather than assuming the external number is first.
A company route or queue is not the same as a user extension and may require administrator controls elsewhere. Confirm which entity owns the public number, then place the external destination before RingCentral voicemail if the goal is for Ava to answer the miss.
Nextiva
Nextiva documents Always, Selective, Busy, Unanswered, and Unreachable forwarding modes. For unanswered calls, an administrator can open Users, select the user, open Forwarding, enable Call Forward When Unanswered, enter the external number, and choose the number of rings.
Interfaces vary by Nextiva product generation and account role. Prefer the current portal control over a remembered star code, then check that the selected ring count leaves enough time for the team without allowing Nextiva voicemail to answer first.
Grasshopper
Grasshopper applies call forwarding through extensions. In Settings, open Call Forwarding Settings and Extensions, then edit or create the extension that receives the call. Configure its destination, schedule, and unanswered behavior.
Account business hours, extension hours, the forwarding number’s hours, and Grasshopper voicemail can interact. Align those schedules and call from outside the account during both open and closed periods. If voicemail wins the race, review the extension order and timing.
Zoom Phone
Zoom Phone Call Handling can add an external number and set behavior for business, closed, break, and holiday hours, with simultaneous or sequential ringing and busy or unanswered actions. External forwarding requires a direct number and may be restricted by an administrator.
Zoom normally uses a “press 1” confirmation for external numbers. Its documentation says that prompt cannot be disabled for call queues. An automated destination may not complete that confirmation, so a queue-to-AI route must be tested end to end and may require a different route design.
Run a complete acceptance test
Use a phone outside the VoIP account. Test an answered call, an unanswered call, a busy path if supported, a closed-hours call, and any queue or menu option customers use. Listen for duplicate greetings, long silence, press-key prompts, and premature voicemail.
Confirm the original caller number reaches Ava, the right business greeting plays, the call is stored in the dashboard, and the enabled alert reaches the owner. Finally, disable the rule once and confirm the rollback works before treating the route as production-ready.
Primary sources
Try the actual conversation
Hear Ava before you build yours
Talk in your browser, interrupt, change direction, and see how the call feels. Eligible new accounts can then start a one-time seven-day trial.
Talk to AvaFrequently asked questions
Why does changing my user forwarding not affect the main number?
The main number may terminate at an auto receptionist, queue, ring group, or different extension first. Edit the object that actually owns the inbound route.
Should Nevermiss come before or after provider voicemail?
Before voicemail if Ava is meant to answer the missed call. Otherwise the provider will record a message and the external destination will never ring.
Can Zoom Phone forward a call queue to an AI receptionist?
Zoom can route to external numbers, but its external-number confirmation prompt cannot be disabled for call queues. Test the exact route; an automated destination may not satisfy the press-1 step.
Will the original caller ID survive forwarding?
It depends on the provider and route. Confirm with a real outside call that the receptionist receives usable caller identification before relying on callback confirmation.