What should I ask an AI voice agent vendor?
Ask every AI voice agent vendor about languages, latency, total cost per connected minute, integrations, compliance with TRAI rules, data ownership, support and exit terms, and insist on a live test with your own script. Written answers matter more than demo polish. A vendor who dodges pricing or compliance questions has already told you something.
Questions grouped by topic
Quality of the calls
- —Which languages are live today, and can I hear a call in mine? Does the agent switch to English when the caller does?
- —What is the typical gap between the caller finishing and the agent replying, measured how?
- —Can I listen to unedited recordings from real calls, not only a polished demo?
Money
- —What is the total cost per connected minute, including telephony, transcripts and number rental?
- —Is there a setup fee, minimum commitment or expiry on prepaid balance?
- —Are unanswered calls billed?
Integrations and control
- —Does it connect to my lead sources, CRM, calendar and spreadsheet, and can you show it working?
- —Can I edit the script and knowledge myself without raising a ticket?
- —Can the agent transfer a call to my team?
Compliance and data
- —Is the calling line DLT-registered? How does the platform handle DND screening and calling windows?
- —Who owns recordings, transcripts and lead data, and can I export them?
- —Where is data stored and who inside your company can access it?
Reliability and support
- —Is there an uptime commitment in writing?
- —What happens when a call fails or the agent says something wrong?
- —Who do I contact, how fast do they answer, and is support in my language?
How to use the answers
Put the same list in front of each shortlisted vendor and record the answers in one table. Scoring side by side exposes gaps that a sales call smooths over. Anything vague should be requested again in writing.
Outpero's answers, as a reference
Outpero publishes this site, so its answers are offered as a reference point rather than a recommendation. It has seven live languages with code-switching, 0.8 to 1.3 seconds on average end-to-end latency, no setup fee, ₹5 or ₹6.8 per connected minute from prepaid credits that never expire, and unanswered calls are not billed. It offers a 99.9% uptime SLA and a DLT-registered calling line. Recording, transcripts and webhook delivery are part of every account.
The agent can transfer calls to your team and can book into a calendar, update a spreadsheet, call your API and send a WhatsApp message when those options are switched on. Prices exclude 18% GST.
Want to hear an AI voice agent handle this on a real call?
Follow-up questions
Which single question reveals the most?
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Ask for the total cost per connected minute at your expected volume, in writing, with every extra listed. Vendors who are transparent answer in a line; vendors who are not tend to reply with a demo invitation. Then ask to hear unedited recordings in your language.