Keeping a support team staffed every hour of the day can burn through your profits faster than ads ever will.
You have worked hard to scale your brand, but now your team is answering simple phone calls all day.
You know that missing even one customer inquiry means losing a sale to a competitor who answers faster.
This guide shows you how to automate your entire phone support system so you never miss a call or overpay for staff again.
First, we will look at how AI agents handle complex Shopify orders.
Then, we will compare the best tools to help you pick the right one for your store.
Editor’s note: Want to hear some sample calls made for your Shopify store?
- Just paste your store URL
- Get sample calls in under 20 seconds (no email required)
- Listen to demo calls for my store
What is Ringly.io?
Ringly.io is a software company from Rotterdam, Netherlands, started in 2024 by Maurizio Isendoorn and Ruben Boonzaaijer. Their goal is to make 24/7 phone support easy and affordable for ecommerce businesses.
They specialize in automating phone support for online stores, particularly those on Shopify.
The idea is to let their platform take care of most common customer questions, freeing up store owners to work on growing their business instead of getting stuck on support. More than 2,100 Shopify stores are already using their AI phone agent.
How an AI phone agent works
The heart of Ringly.io's service is Seth, an AI phone support agent. Seth is designed to be the first point of contact for customers when they call, providing answers without hold times.
Here’s a quick look at what Seth can do:
- Answers every call, 24/7. Seth connects directly with your Shopify store to look up order information in real-time, answer "Where is my order?" questions, and handle return or exchange requests.
- Has human-like conversations. The system uses speech-to-text to understand what callers are saying, a language model to determine the best response, and natural-sounding text-to-speech to talk back.
- Recognizes your customers. If a customer calls from a number saved in your Shopify store, Seth automatically identifies them and can pull up their recent orders without needing an order number.
This setup offers several benefits, such as requiring fewer human agents, improving customer satisfaction with instant answers, and lowering support costs.
Across more than 2,100 stores, Seth has an average resolution rate of 73%, meaning it handles most calls on its own.
Key features of an ecommerce phone integration
Beyond just answering calls, a modern phone integration should give you tools to stay in control and see what's happening.
These features help you understand your customers and make your service even better over time.
Advanced analytics and insights
A good platform will give you a full history of all calls, complete with recordings and transcripts.
The analytics dashboard in Ringly.io lets you track things like call volume, how long calls typically last, and customer satisfaction scores (CSAT).
The system can also spot knowledge gaps, pointing out what new info you should add to help the AI perform better.
Multilingual support and voice customization
If you sell to customers around the world, being able to speak their language is a must.
Seth can chat in around 40 languages, making it a flexible choice for international brands. You can also tweak the AI's voice and tone to make sure it matches your brand's personality.
Easy phone number management
The platform lets you grab a new local or toll-free number right away or connect the business number you already use.
This is all powered by trusted partners like Twilio, so you know it's reliable and follows local rules.
Comparing phone support solutions
When you're looking into a phone integration, it's helpful to know what your options are. Ringly.io is a specialized tool for ecommerce, which makes it different from more general-purpose services.
AI phone agents vs. traditional answering services
Traditional services like AnswerConnect use human agents who follow a script.
This approach provides a human voice and is centered on taking messages for your team to address later. AI-powered services like Ringly.io's Seth integrate with live Shopify data to provide immediate answers and handle requests autonomously.
Specialized vs. generic AI voice agents
Platforms like Smith.ai and Brilo.ai offer AI call features for various industries, including law firms and healthcare. They can provide ecommerce integrations, which may require configuration to set up.
Ringly.io is built specifically for ecommerce and features a native "3-minute" setup for Shopify, which can be useful for store owners.
Unique Ringly.io features for Shopify
A few key things make Ringly.io stand out. It’s not just about having an AI, but having one that is designed for ecommerce.
Deep Shopify integration
A key feature is Seth's ability to access your store's product, order, and customer data in real-time. This deep context allows for relevant, accurate conversations that solve customer problems on the first try.
Speed and simplicity of setup
The three-minute setup is a major plus. Merchants can install the Shopify app, connect their store, and have Seth ready to go almost instantly, all without needing developers or touching a line of code.
Brand safety with smart escalation
A common worry with AI is that it might say the wrong thing. Seth is trained to know what it doesn't know. Instead of guessing, it will simply say it doesn't have the answer and offer to transfer the call to a human on your team.
You can even set rules to escalate calls automatically if a caller sounds frustrated.
Ringly.io pricing plans
Ringly.io has a straightforward pricing model with a unique guarantee, so you can be sure it's delivering value before you pay. This makes it an option for businesses of all sizes.
Ringly.io pricing tiers
- Start Plan: $99/month for 250 call minutes. Overage is billed at $0.36/minute. This is a good fit for smaller stores just starting with AI support.
- Grow Plan: $349/month for 1,000 call minutes. Overage is billed at $0.19/minute. This plan includes deeper analytics and a self-learning AI.
- Scale Plan: $1,099+/month for over 3,000 minutes. It comes with custom setups, a private Slack channel, and custom integrations for high-volume stores.
The platform also has a 14-day free trial so you can test everything out. There are optional add-ons too, like a dedicated Slack channel for $299/month or a custom integration starting at $500.
Integrating phone support into your workflow
A good tool should slide right into your existing processes without causing a fuss. Ringly.io is built to do exactly that, acting as a natural part of your current operations.
The native Shopify app is the main piece, providing a ton of functionality right out of the box. For stores with more complex needs, Ringly.io can connect with tools like Zapier and Make.com.
This lets you integrate with over 7,000+ other tools and trigger actions in your CRM or helpdesk, making your phone integration a core part of how you work.
Getting started with 24/7 phone support
Setting up a solid 24/7 phone integration for your ecommerce store might seem like a big project, but it doesn't have to be.
Tools built specifically for ecommerce, like Ringly.io, take away the complexity and high costs that usually come with 24/7 support.
By using an AI that plugs directly into your store's data, you can give your customers a better experience, free up your team, and grow your business more effectively.
If you're ready to automate your phone support and see what an AI agent can do for your store, you can get started without any risk.
Start your free 14-day trial of Ringly.io today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main benefit of 24/7 phone support for a Shopify store?
The biggest benefit is offering instant, round-the-clock support without hiring a large team. An AI-powered system like Ringly.io handles common questions about orders and returns automatically, which frees you up to focus on growing your business.
How quickly can I set up an AI phone integration?
The setup can be fast. For platforms designed specifically for Shopify, like Ringly.io, the integration can take just a few minutes. You install the app, connect your store, and it's ready to go.
Can an AI phone agent handle calls in different languages?
Yes, many modern solutions can. For instance, Ringly.io supports about 40 languages, making it a flexible option for international sales.
What happens if an AI phone agent cannot answer a question?
A well-designed system won't guess. Systems like Ringly.io are trained to recognize when they don't know an answer. Instead of providing incorrect information, they will offer to transfer the call to a human team member.
What store information can an AI phone integration access?
A direct integration connects to your store's data. It can access real-time information about products, orders, and customers to provide accurate answers to questions like "Where is my order?" or to process return requests.
