Setting Up Multi-Language Support End-to-End

Running an AI receptionist that handles multiple languages well requires more than just adding a second language. Here's a complete setup checklist and guidance for getting it right.

Step 1: Decide which languages to support

Think carefully about which languages your customer base actually uses. There's no value in adding a language you don't need — more languages adds complexity to testing and maintenance.

Good candidates:

  • Languages you know customers already speak (based on actual calls, walk-ins, or your community demographics).
  • Languages spoken by a significant portion of your neighbourhood or customer base.
  • Languages your staff can also read in case a booking transcript is in that language.

Step 2: Configure your primary language

Your primary language should be the dominant language for your business. It's the language of the opening greeting — every caller hears it first.

Go to AI Receptionists → [Your AI] → Voice & Languages and select the primary language.

Step 3: Add additional languages and configure voices

For each additional language:

  1. Click to add the language.
  2. Select a voice that sounds natural for that language. Don't use the same voice across multiple languages if there's a language-specific option.
  3. Optionally set a per-language greeting.
  4. Save.

Step 4: Enable language detection

With additional languages configured, turn on Language Detection in the Voice & Languages settings. This allows the AI to detect and respond in a caller's language after the initial greeting.

Step 5: Write per-language greetings

Don't just translate your English greeting word-for-word. A well-adapted greeting in another language sounds much more natural. If you're not fluent, get a native speaker to review it.

Step 6: Update your knowledge base

Review your knowledge base articles. If a caller asks a question in Cantonese but your knowledge base is entirely in English, the AI may still respond in Cantonese but with information drawn from your English content. This usually works, but verify by testing.

Step 7: Test every language

Call your AI and respond to the greeting in each configured language. Confirm:

  • The AI detects the language and switches.
  • The AI's voice sounds natural.
  • Booking flows work in the language (asking for a date, time, and name).

⚠️ Important: Publish after completing your language configuration. Language settings, like all AI configuration, require a publish to go live.