What’s the difference between voice AI platforms?

Don’t all voice AI providers do the same thing? 

On the surface, yes. They all let people talk to an AI system and get spoken responses back. But the way they’re built and the problems they solve can be very different. Some platforms are designed for handling phone calls, others focus on smart speakers, and some are built purely for integration with CRMs and business workflows. 

What are the main types of providers? 

● Telephony-focused platforms: These connect directly to phone lines and handle inbound or outbound calls. They’re great for businesses that rely heavily on call volume, like real estate or trades. 

● Assistant platforms: Think Alexa or Google Assistant. These work well for consumer use cases but less so for enterprise-level workflows. 

● Custom stacks: Agencies like Talk AI or developers build these using orchestration layers, AI models, and telephony providers. They’re flexible but require more technical skill. 

Why does platform choice matter? 

Because the wrong choice can create headaches. If your business needs deep CRM integration, a platform that can’t connect easily will cause delays. If you need super low latency, a heavy consumer-grade assistant might not keep up. Matching platform to need saves money and frustration. 

What should you check before choosing? 

● Voice quality: Does it sound human or robotic? 

● Latency: Does it reply within a second? 

● Integration options: Can it talk to your existing tools?

● Analytics: Does it give you data on calls, conversions, and performance? 

So which platform is “best”? 

There isn’t one. The best is the one that matches your goals and scale. A trade business doesn’t need the same setup as a call centre. Start by mapping your needs, then pick a platform that can deliver without overcomplicating things.