Changelog
Follow up on the latest improvements and updates.
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The LinkedIn reconnection migration, originally scheduled for September 9, 2025, has been
postponed until further notice
. This upgrade was set to bring exciting new features to Social Marketing, including Hashtag Support, @Mentions and Carousel Posts.We’ve made progress in identifying the root cause of a technical issue discovered during rollout and have determined a new migration path. However, this updated approach may cause scheduled posts to be moved to Drafts. This would require manual reassignment and rescheduling, something we are actively working to avoid.
To ensure the best possible experience, our development team is investing more time to explore, test, and validate a solution that minimizes disruption. As a result,
the migration has been on hold until a better approach is confirmed
. We will announce a new migration date once we have greater clarity and confidence in the implementation plan.What this means for you:
- No action is required at this time. Your LinkedIn connections remain intact, and posts will continue publishing as usual.
- Stay tuned for further updates as we continue working to deliver a better approach.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
new
Social Marketing
Coming Soon
Notice: LinkedIn Upgrade Requiring Re-Connection Postponed
The LinkedIn API upgrade requiring reconnection of Linkedin accounts in Social Marketing, originally scheduled for
September 9, 2025
, has been postponed
. We’ve delayed the migration after noticing an issue so that everything keeps running smoothly.What this means for you:
- Your LinkedIn connection is not affected.
- Posts will continue to publish as usual through the legacy integration.
- There are no known issues at this time.
We are actively investigating the root cause and will announce a new migration date once it is determined. Once the upgrade has taken place and you've re-connected client accounts, you'll be able to create richer, more engaging posts on LinkedIn with several new features, including:
- Hashtag Support: Improve content discovery and reach new audiences by using hashtags in your posts.
- @Mentions: Tag specific profiles or companies to engage with and get noticed by relevant accounts.
- Carousel Posts: Tell a more complete story and showcase multiple images in a single post.
We appreciate your patience and understanding, and we’ll continue to provide updates as they become available.
new
Conversations
AI
Now Available
Now Available: AI Voice Receptionists Transfer Live Calls
Ensure every call gets to the right person, every time with Vendasta's AI Voice Receptionist. Always available to answer calls to answer customers' questions or help them book appointments, AI Voice Receptionists can now transfer live calls when appropriate.
Never Put a Customer On Hold Again
Navigating complex phone menus or being put on hold while an employee figures out who to transfer a call to can be frustrating for clients. With live call transfer, AI Voice Receptionists can instantly route calls to the right contact, ensuring a seamless and professional experience.
Provide the Human Touch as Needed
Simplify customer acquisition and engagement for SMBs by ensuring that their customers are directed to the correct person or department. This helps businesses deliver tailored customer experiences without tying their team up with endless lead qualification.
How it works
The AI Voice Receptionist can transfer a call to one or multiple numbers based on specific conditions that you set. You can find this new feature by navigating - in Partner Center or Business App - to
AI > AI Workforce > Voice Receptionist > Configure > Capabilities > Add a capability >Transfer Call.
With this new capability, you can set up the AI Voice Receptionist to:
- Route by Department/Function:Send callers directly to specific department if they mention a certain reason for calling, such as billing.
- Route by Employee Name:Connect callers directly to a specific employee, which is great for businesses that rely on strong client-staff relationships.
- Route by Location:Connect callers to the correct office based on a mentioned location. Perfect for franchises and multi-location businesses!
- Route by Urgency:Escalate critical issues to emergency support, ensuring a fast response.
- Route by Schedule/Time:Set conditions for the receptionist to transfer calls to different numbers based on the time of day or business hours.
- Route by VIP/Account:Configure the receptionist to recognize key clients and route their calls directly to their account manager, providing a personalized touch that builds loyalty.
- Route by Language:Connect callers who ask to converse in a specific language, such as Spanish, directly to a Spanish-speaking agent to making the business more inclusive and customer-friendly.
FAQs
How many numbers can the AI be instructed to forward calls to?
There is no limit to the number of phone numbers you can set up for call transfers.
Can I set the call forwarding to only work during certain days or times?
Yes, you can use the Criteria description to specify conditions for when the AI should transfer calls, including the day or time. The AI is aware of the current date and time and will act accordingly.
Will a transferred call be recorded and transcribed?
No, the recording ends as soon as the call is transferred, and our system does not record or transcribe the transferred portion of the call.
What if the transferred call is not answered? Will the AI Voice Receptionist jump back on?
No, calls are transferred permanently. The caller would need to hang up and dial again to speak with the AI Voice Receptionist.
new
Social Marketing
Business App
Coming Soon
September 9th 2025: Re-Connect Linkedin Accounts in Social Marketing to Access New Posting Features
On September 9, 2025, Social Marketing is getting a major upgrade to the new LinkedIn API. This is an essential change that ensures a secure, compliant, and reliable connection between our platform and LinkedIn. It also unlocks powerful new publishing capabilities you can start using right away!
What's Changing?
This update allows you to create richer, more engaging posts on LinkedIn, including:
- Hashtag Support: Improve content discovery and reach new audiences by using hashtags in your posts.
- @Mentions: Tag specific profiles or companies to engage with and get noticed by relevant accounts.
- Carousel Posts: Tell a more complete story and showcase multiple images in a single post.
What You Need to Do
To ensure your scheduled posts continue to publish without interruption, the following action must be taken on all Social Marketing accounts that post to Linkedin.
After 8 AM CST on September 9th:
- Launch Social Marketing from Business App.
- In Social Marketing, go to Settings > Connect Accounts > Linkedin (click kebab) > Edit connection.
- Follow the prompts.
We highly recommend you do this as soon as possible
after
the upgrade is completed at 8 AM CST on September 9th. Accounts will be unable to publish to LinkedIn until the reconnection is complete.Why Is Reconnection Required?
LinkedIn's security policies and OAuth 2.0 standards require explicit user consent for new permissions. The new API uses different permissions that were not part of the original authorization. Users must go through the login and authorization process again to grant the new permissions to ensure a secure and compliant connection.
new
Business App
Conversations
AI
Final Reminder: Migrate to Conversations AI | Premium by September 1 to Keep Voice Functionality
AI Voice features are leaving Inbox Pro on September 1
With the release of Conversations AI, Vendasta’s next-generation multichannel messaging product, we introduced powerful new AI voice capabilities through the AI Voice Receptionist.
As previously announced, Inbox Pro is being retired. After September 1, 2025, Inbox Pro will no longer support connectivity to the AI Voice Receptionist.
To retain access to AI Voice features, all Inbox Pro accounts using the AI Voice Receptionist must migrate to Conversations AI Premium by September 1, 2025.
Quick Overview: Conversations AI
Conversations AI replaces Inbox Pro and is now available in three editions:
Standard – $29/month USD
- AI-powered webchat + WhatsApp
- Best for international businesses
Pro – $39/month USD
- Everything in Standard, plus SMS and missed-call text-back
- Perfect for SMBs needing chat and SMS coverage
Premium – $79/month USD
- Everything in Pro, plus full AI Voice Receptionist functionality
- Includes 300 AI voice minutes per month (overages ~$0.10 per minute)
- Bonus: Unlimited calling until January 2026
Only Premium includes the AI Voice Receptionist, which can answer calls 24/7, capture leads, and book appointments using natural, brand-trained AI voice.
Transitioning from Inbox Pro
Switching is quick and seamless:
Step 1
: Follow the normal workflow to order Conversations AI (Premium edition for AI voice capabilities). If not found in your Products list when adding an item, ensure you’ve “Started Selling” it from the Vendasta Marketplace (view Conversations AI in the Marketplace).Step 2
: Deactivate Inbox Pro for your clients by heading to Partner Center > Accounts > Manage Accounts.
Open each account that currently has Inbox Pro active, click the kebab menu next to Inbox Pro, and click “Cancel Product.” 
Step 3
: Re-connect SMS and phone channels to the AI Chat Receptionist and AI Voice Receptionist by re-checking the SMS and Phone boxes, respectively.Business App > AI > AI Workforce > AI Chat Receptionist > Configure > Channels > Respond to SMS
Business App > AI > AI Workforce > AI Voice Receptionist > Configure > Channels > Answers phone calls
NOTE:
All existing configurations and numbers are retained. Conversation history and numbers remain preserved.What You Need to Do
By September 1
: Upgrade all Inbox Pro clients using voice to Conversations AI Premium. Reassure clients that all conversation history, knowledge, and capability settings will transfer seamlessly!Immediately
: Begin ordering Conversations AI for new accounts, as Inbox Pro is closed to new activations. Do not wait to migrate. Transition now to ensure uninterrupted AI Voice Receptionist service.
new
Marketplace
Reputation Management
Automations
Business App
Snapshot Report
Conversations
Partner Center
CRM
AI
APIs & Integrations
Now Available
Vendasta Connect Recap: From First Call to Five Stars with Conversations AI
Big updates for Conversations AI and AI Receptionists were shared at today's Vendasta Connect event, along with success stories and what's to come for partners and SMBs using Vendasta's customer acquisition and engagement platform to attract, convert, and retain more customers.
Now Available: Help SMBs capture every lead, engage every customer with Conversations AI
Last month, we released Conversations AI. Recent improvements to Conversations AI and the AI Chat and Voice Receptionists powered by this must-have tool include:
- More AI-powered communication: AI Chat Receptionists can respond to messages sent via Facebook and Instagram. These channels join web chat, SMS, and WhatsApp.
- Better caller comprehension: AI Voice Receptionists can converse with leads and customers better thanks to new AI models and performance tunes that improve their ability to understand what callers are saying.
- Extended call lengths: AI Voice Receptionists can converse with leads and customers for longer - up to 10 minutes per call - to ensure that callers' needs are addressed or information needed for follow up is collected before the conversation ends.
- More knowledge: AI Voice and Chat Receptionists can get knowledge from content shared from a wider range of file formats. Upload PDFs, CSVs, and more to your knowledge base to provide AI Receptionists with extra context.
- Expanded capabilities: AI Voice and Chat Receptionists can do more with Custom Capabilities, from looking up inventory in real time to pulling dynamic pricing from third party platforms. Connect external APIs to tailor - and extend - an AI Receptionist's scope of work to each business.
- Work in Automations: AI Voice and Chat Receptionists can be called directly in automated workflows to respond or take action using their particular knowledge and skills. Have them summarize call transcripts, send SMS messages, and more.
- Snapshot Report engagement: AI Chat Receptionists can help SMBs decipher their Snapshot Report results, and encourage them to book a demo. Learn more
- Form follow up: AI Chat Receptionists can engage leads coming in from form submissions, just like those coming in through web chat. Set them up to automatically send personalized messages via SMS based on the content submitted through the form.
- Appointment booking: AI Chat Receptionists can book customers in for appointments. Whether they are prospects booking an initial consultation or customers scheduling their next haircut, the AI Receptionist can assess availability, present options, book the event, and follow up with both the customer and the business to ensure all parties are looked after. AI Voice Receptionists will soon be able to book appointments too!
Top tip: Conversations AI centralizes customer communication across a wide range of channels, and Vendasta's AI Voice and Chat Receptionists work together to provide a great experience for new leads and long time customers alike. They share, retain, and leverage conversation history with each customer, making them great at picking up conversations where they left off, even across channels.
Vendasta's AI Receptionists in the Real World
Conversations AI powers AI Receptionists that are making a big impact for agencies and their SMB clients.
- Next Level Management and Consulting doubles revenue in only 4 months with Vendasta’s AI Workforce- Read now
- How Vendasta’s AI Receptionist helped Elite Web Professionals capture 700+ qualified leads in 4 months for one client- Read now
Setup for Success
So you're selling Conversations AI to your SMB clients, but don't have time to custom configure their AI Receptionists? We've got you covered.
AI Receptionist Setup
is available for $199 USD. This one-time fee delivers incredible value, including:- Custom configuration of AI receptionist (chat, voice, automations)
- Business goals and brand tone intake
- Integration with calendars and lead capture tools
- 30-day performance check-in and optimization
Recommended for:
Time-strapped partners and service-based SMBs such as home services, salons, real estate professionals, and legal consultants. Also great for:
Partners new to implementing Vendasta's AI Receptionist. Let the experts configure for you to:- Ensure high performance from day 1
- Learn the full extent of what AI Receptionists can do for you and your clients
- Prepare your team to manage subsequent implementations
INTRO OFFER: Get AI Receptionist Setup for $149
Until August 31st, AI Receptionist Setup is available for
just $149
. Again, this is a great opportunity to learn best practices, from creating custom capabilities to configuring automations. Visit the AI Receptionist Setup product page in Marketplace for full details.
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Introducing Vendasta AI: Your In-platform Assistant for all things Vendasta
This assistant in Partner Center is here to help you! Vendasta AI's knowledge base is trained on Vendasta's support documentation and can see what is visible on your page too so you can get the best contextual answer. It can answer your questions, or help connect you with Vendasta Support if needed.
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Re-watch Vendasta Connect
Missed today's event, or want to re-watch your favorite segments? Watch it here! It's chock-full of presentations and panels (listed below) exploring how AI is transforming the way businesses engage, serve, and win customers at every stage, and why businesses that adapt will grow faster than ever.
- The Silent Threat: Why Local Businesses Are Losing Millions Without AI
- Conversations Are the New Clicks: The New Reality of the Customer Journey
- AI Workforce in Action: From First Call to Five Stars
- Real Agencies, Real Results with Vendasta’s AI Workforce
Next, check out the interactive workshops held after the event:
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Coming Soon: Expand Your AI Workforce to Transform the Customer Journey
Vendasta's AI Receptionists are ready to help you deliver big results today, and there's even more to look forward to tomorrow. The following additions are coming soon, so stay tuned!
- New employee - AI Sales Assistant:AI Sales Assistants will record meetings and log them to the CRM to eliminate hours of post-meeting note processing. It will summarize the call, identify action items, and score sales efficacy
- New employee - AI Reputation Specialist:AI Reputation Specialists will request and respond to reviews, and analyze customer sentiment.
- Insights on-demand:Talk with your AI employees about the data they're collecting and conversations they're having to easily get insights and easily make smart, informed strategic decisions
- Custom capabilities, simplified:Customize without complicating AI Receptionist configuration with templates for common custom capabilities, such as getting inventory from Shopify and WooCommerce stores.
- Custom AI employees:Create custom AI employees to serve your agency and your clients' businesses.
- AI appointment booking by phone:AI Voice Receptionists will join AI Chat Receptionists in being able to book appointments for callers immediately while on the line.
- Even better AI phone conversations:AI Voice Receptionists will continue to improve with even more voice and model options.
new
Local SEO
Social Marketing
Automations
Multi-location
Business App
Partner Center
CRM
AI
Now Available
Product Updates: 2025-08-07
The latest updates at Vendasta include calling AI employees in Automations, better AI image generation, and more scheduling features.
Business App
- [Business App: Automations] Use AI Employees in Automations directly by adding the new step "Call an AI Employee." Unlike the step "Add an AI prompt," "Call an AI Employee" leverages the training and context of a business' AI employee to provide a quick, personalized response to customer inquiries via SMS or email, freeing up staff to focus on more complex tasks.
- [Business App: Automations] Use AI Employees in Automations to automatically respond to form submissions and other inquiries with a new template: "Form submission - AI Chat Receptionist automatically replies with a custom message." To get started, go to Business App > Automations > Create automationand select the new template, "Form submission - AI Chat Receptionist automatically replies with a custom message."
- [Business App: Campaigns Pro] Include business details as dynamic content in email campaigns. Especially valuable to multi-location businesses, dynamic variables automatically populate business details, making it easy to create and distribute email templates across all locations.
- [Business App: Conversations AI] Improve multilingual AI Voice Receptionist performance with new voice model "OpenAI GPT-4o Realtime (June 2025 Preview)." All accounts with OpenAI as their selected voice model for their AI Voice Receptionist have already been upgraded to this latest model. It offers improved understanding of short, one-word answers and performs better with lower-quality phone calls. Performing excellently in many languages, this upgrade helps your AI Voice Receptionist sound more natural, and suitable for a wider range of businesses and use cases. Note: for AI Voice Receptionists expected to converse mainly in English or Spanish, we still recommend using Deepgram Aura-2. Voice models can be updated in Business App > AI Workforce > AI Voice Receptionist > Configure > Speech > [select Voice Family].
- [Business App: CRM] Connect your Microsoft Outlook calendar in Business App > CRM > My Meetings. Perfect for enterprise users in Microsoft ecosystems, this integration ensures accurate syncing of availability, bookings, and cancellations with Outlook.
- [Business App: CRM] Set Microsoft Teams as your native video conferencing provider in Business App > CRM > My Meetings.This integration automatically generates Microsoft Teams links for video meetings, creating a seamless experience for Outlook users.
- [Business App: CRM] Schedule meetings that require multiple team members with ease using "Multi-Host Event Types." This powerful new scheduling option only shows time slots when all selected hosts are available, eliminating the need for manual coordination. It automatically checks the availability of up to five hosts, reducing scheduling inefficiencies for high-touch, multi-participant meetings, and improving adoption among cross-functional teams. To create a new multi-host event, go to Business App > CRM > My Meetings > Create new team event typeand select the "Multi host" option.
- [Business App: CRM] Expand and collapse CRM objects to view only the information you need, saving you from endless scrolling. The system remembers your preference, making it easier to find the right information every time.
- [Business App: CRM] View import history easily with the new bulk import summary page in the CRM. You can now see a list of historical imports, eliminating missed notifications or errors and giving you a clear record of all your data imports.
Partner Center
- [Partner Center: Automations] Use AI Employees in Automations directly by adding the new step "Call an AI Employee." Unlike the step "Add an AI prompt," "Call an AI Employee" leverages the training and context of a business' AI employee to provide a quick, personalized response to customer inquiries viaSMS, freeing up staff to focus on more complex tasks.
- [Partner Center: Conversations AI] Improve multilingual AI Voice Receptionist performance with new voice model "OpenAI GPT-4o Realtime (June 2025 Preview)." For all partner accounts with OpenAI as their selected voice model for their AI Voice Receptionist, we've already upgraded you to this latest model. It offers improved understanding of short, one-word answers and performs better with lower-quality phone calls. Performing excellently in many languages, this upgrade helps your AI Voice Receptionist sound more natural, and suitable for a wider range of businesses and use cases. Note: for AI Voice Receptionists expected to converse mainly in English or Spanish, we still recommend using Deepgram Aura-2. Voice models can be updated in Business App > AI Workforce > AI Voice Receptionist > Configure > Speech > [select Voice Family].
- [Partner Center: CRM] Connect your Microsoft Outlook calendar in Partner Center > CRM > My Meetings. Perfect for enterprise users in Microsoft ecosystems, this integration ensures accurate syncing of availability, bookings, and cancellations with Outlook.
- [Partner Center: CRM] Set Microsoft Teams as your native video conferencing provider in Partner Center > CRM > My Meetings.. This integration automatically generates Microsoft Teams links for video meetings, creating a seamless experience for Outlook users.
Products
- [Products: Local SEO] View Bing Places in the marketing funnel on the home screen and in the Executive Report. For both single- and multi-location business apps, Bing Places and Google Business Profile are now nested under a new "All Listings" dropdown, which also includes Keyword Tracking and Google and Bing Analytics, making it easier to monitor and report on a business' online presence.
- [Products: Social Marketing] Get better images for social posts with the new gpt-image-1 Model in Social Marketing AI. This new model provides sharper, higher-fidelity visuals with a stronger contextual understanding, delivering images that better reflect the prompt. It also offers new orientation options (Square, Landscape, Portrait, and Auto). This update significantly elevates the user experience, allowing for the creation of more impactful, brand-ready visuals faster and more reliably.
- [Products: Social Marketing] Connect LinkedIn in the multi-location Business App to manage brand consistency across multiple locations at scale.
- [Products: Social Marketing] Schedule posts in bulk in the multi-location Business App to efficiently manage social media calendars and streamline content management for all locations.
new
Local SEO
Multi-location
Now Available
Now Available: Power Up Local SEO with Apple Business Connect Integration for Verified Listings Management
We’re excited to launch our
Integration with
Apple Business Connect
on July 31, 2025, a trusted connection that keeps business information accurate and up to date across Apple Maps, Siri, Spotlight
, and other Apple services.Built into
Local SEO
, this secure and scalable integration uses Apple’s official API and OAuth to safeguard user privacy, support granular permissions, and enable reliable listing management across locations, all from one platform.This helps ensure data accuracy by syncing directly from verified sources and minimizing discrepancies across Apple apps. With accurate and trusted data, businesses can also benefit from consistent branding across Apple Maps, Siri, Wallet and other Apple apps.
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What Is the Integration with Apple Business Connect?
This integration ensures your business is accurately represented across Apple Maps, Siri, Spotlight, and other Apple Apps. With a secure integration via Apple Business Connect, Local SEO partners can manage listings, assets, and updates on behalf of their clients using OAuth-based delegated access. This trusted connection accelerates approval times, enhances discoverability, and eliminates the need to share login credentials—helping businesses establish a verified and secure presence on Apple platforms more efficiently.
Key capabilities include:
- Real-time sync of core business info (name, address, hours, contact info)
- Photo and logo updates
- Secure OAuth login (no credentials shared)
After your company or organization is verified by Apple, you can also take advantage of the following features with Business Connect:
- Configure location information: You can precisely locate the entrance to each of your locations.
- Customize Place Cards: Your Place Card is an extension of a physical location and appears in many Apple apps, from Maps to Siri to Calendar, Messages, Spotlight searches, and more. Add your logo, cover photo, photos of your business, and custom action links to help your business stand out and engage customers.
- Create Showcases: A Showcase is a module on the Place Card that allows you to highlight new items, deals or sales, or other promotional content and include a call to action for a customer to select.
- Set up Branded Mail: You can configure your logo in emails you send to customers, helping them easily identify your brand.
- Add your logo to Tap to Pay on iPhone: Display your logo and company name on your iPhone during payments and on digital receipts In Wallet.
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Who Is It For?
This integration is designed for:
- Channel Partnersoffering local listing solutions to SMBs
- Multi-location brandsneeding trusted, scalable control over Apple Maps listings
- SMBswith connected GBP accounts and a physical storefront
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Access and Pricing
To use the Apple Business Connect integration, businesses must:
- Have one of the following Vendasta products active:
- Local SEO Pro
- Local SEO Standard with Listing Sync Pro
- Listing Sync Pro Powered by Yext
- Have a claimed and verified a free Apple Business Connect account
There is
no additional cost
required for the Apple Business Connect integration. It is included with the subscriptions listed above.More information:
👉 Connect and Authenticate Your Apple Business Listing via Apple Business Connect OAuth with Local SEO
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FAQs
How does Apple Business Connect help online or service area businesses?
Online, service area businesses, or even those that operate fully from home can build trust and brand recognition with Apple customers using the Mail app or accepting payments with Tap to Pay on iPhone. All businesses can customize the logo and business name to stand out on these surfaces.What if I don’t have an Apple Business Connect account?
You’ll need to set one up first. Visit Apple Business Connect to create a free account or log in with your Apple ID and claim your business. If you don’t have an Apple ID, you can create one here. Once verified, you’ll be able to connect your listing through the integration. Is data syncing automatic?
Yes. Any updates you make to your business information in Local SEO, like hours, address, or contact info, will automatically sync with your Apple Maps once connected.Can I manage photos and posts too?
Yes. The integration allows you to upload and update photos and logos. Showcases must still be managed directly through Apple Business Connect.Does this support multiple locations?
Yes. If you manage multiple storefronts, you can connect and manage each location individually through the platform using the integration with Apple Business Connect.new
Business App
Conversations
Marketing Services
AI
Now Available
Now Available: Vendasta Conversations AI with Voice Receptionist
Introducing Conversations AI, the multi-channel messaging tool powering your AI Receptionist for 24/7 customer communication via Voice, Chat, and SMS.
Conversations AI: Here to help you capture and convert every lead
Conversations AI
is Vendasta’s next-generation multichannel messaging product—now offering AI voice communication
. Replacing Inbox Pro, Conversations AI empowers local businesses to handle chats, texts, and
phone calls with powerful, automated AI Receptionists. Conversations AI is available in three editions:
Standard – $29/month USD
- AI-powered webchat + WhatsApp
- Best for international businesses
Pro – $39/month USD
- Everything in Standard, plus SMS and missed-call text-back
- Perfect for SMBs that want AI coverage over chat and SMS
Premium – $79/month USD
- Everything in Pro, plus full AI Voice Receptionist functionality
- Includes 300 minutes of AI voice usage/month (overages ~$0.10/minute. Unlimited calling as a bonus until January 2026.)
- Designed for businesses with high call volume, and those without a front-desk
With the release of Conversations AI, Vendasta is redefining how SMBs engage with leads and customers. This AI-first solution makes it easier for businesses to capture leads, manage inquiries, and scale without needing extra staff.
Visit the Conversations AI product page in Marketplace for full details and enablement resources. To learn more about setting up Conversations AI for new clients who haven't been using Inbox Pro, check out this support article.
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AI Voice Communication with Conversations AI Premium
Can't get to the phone? Don't sweat it. The
Premium edition
of Conversations AI provides access to Vendasta's AI Voice Receptionist. Fully trained on your client's brand and using natural-sounding voice technology, the AI Voice Receptionist can:- Answer calls 24/7
- Capture leads
- Book appointments
Note: With the introduction of Conversations AI, voice AI features will soon be removed from Inbox Pro.
All Inbox Pro accounts using the AI Voice Receptionist must transition to Conversations AI Premium by August 14th to retain voice functionality.
See "Transitioning Clients from Inbox Pro to Conversations AI" later in this article for more information.
Haven't tried the AI Voice Receptionist yet? Learn how to set it up.
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New White-Glove Service: AI Receptionist Setup
To support this transition and accelerate onboarding, Vendasta is launching a new professional service:
AI Receptionist Setup – $199 USD
This one-time fee includes:
- Custom configuration of AI receptionist (chat, voice, automations)
- Business goals and brand tone intake
- Integration with calendars and lead capture tools
- 30-day performance check-in and optimization
Recommended for:
Time-strapped partners and service-based SMBs such as home services, salons, real estate professionals, and legal consultants. Also great for:
Partners new to implementing Vendasta's AI Receptionist. Let the experts configure for you to:- Ensure high performance from day 1
- Learn the full extent of what AI Receptionists can do for you and your clients
- Prepare your team to manage subsequent implementations
INTRO OFFER: Get AI Receptionist Setup for $149
For a short period of time, AI Receptionist Setup is available for just $149. Again, this is a great opportunity to learn best practices, from creating custom capabilities to configuring automations.
Visit the AI Receptionist Setup product page in Marketplace for full details.
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More for Conversations AI
All editions of Conversations AI (Standard, Pro, Premium) benefit from powerful new features that enhance AI employee capabilities:
New Features Available July 16th:
- Expand AI Receptionist with Custom Capabilities API Connections: Have clients that need their AI Receptionist to check live inventory on Shopify? Call the Zillow API to reference real estate listings? Or even check a weather forecast to make travel recommendations?
For power users, the new Custom Capability editor allows an AI Employee to call third-party APIs from outside systems. This unlocks powerful, niche use cases, allowing you to create an AI that can check live inventory on Shopify, call the Zillow API to help create a home cleaning estimate, or even check a weather forecast to make travel recommendations. Learn more
- Upload more file formats to the AI Knowledge Base: Add to your AI Receptionist's knowledge by uploading files you already have. The AI can analyze and retrieve information from PDF, DOCX, TXT, Excel (XLS, XLSX), CSV, PowerPoint (PPTX), and even image files (JPG, PNG). This is perfect for reusing existing materials like menus, price lists, and promotional flyers. Learn more
- Keep AI Knowledge Fresh Automatically: Ensure your AI is always working with the most up-to-date information from a client's website by setting website knowledge to automatically refresh on a monthly cadence. Update this setting by opening a website knowledge entry, clicking "Refresh" and then " Enable automatic refresh." Learn more
- Build Trust in AI with Autonomy Levels: Provide clients with greater clarity on what each AI Employee can do with Autonomy Levels. A badge on each AI Employee shows a Level 1-4 rating to help you and your clients understand its capabilities at a glance.
Coming Later this Year:
- Forward calls from AI Voice Receptionist to to live staff
- Build custom AI employees and chat with them in-app
- Access live data, such as reviews, when chatting with AI employees
- Route web chats to specific AI employees
- Trigger AI employee actions via automation workflows
- Choose which LLM will power your AI receptionist
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What Happens to Inbox Pro?
- Starting today: Inbox Pro and AI-Assisted Web Chat are available for existing accounts only(no new activations). Instead, start ordering Conversations AI for new accounts!
- By August 14th: All SMBs using voice AI features will be required toupgrade to Conversations AI | Premium
The “Inbox” tab in both Business App and Partner Center will also be renamed
Conversations
.Transitioning Clients from Inbox Pro to Conversations AI
Switching from Inbox Pro to Conversations AI is easy. Simply activate Conversations AI, and then de-activate Inbox Pro. No resets or re-configurations needed.*
- All Inbox settings will be retained. The only difference is that the tab will now be called "Conversations."
- If switching to Conversations AI Standard or Conversations AI Pro, AI Chat Receptionist configurations will be preserved.
- If switching to Conversations AI Premium, AI Chat Receptionist and AI Voice Receptionist configurations will be preserved.
*To retain
all
settings, we recommend activating Conversations AI before
de-activating Inbox Pro. If de-activating Inbox Pro first, all configurations will be retained, but you will need to re-check the communication channels on AI Receptionists. For example, you'll need to re-check "SMS" and "AI web chat" to re-enable those channels on an AI Chat Receptionist, but numbers will remain registered, conversation history will be preserved, etc. AI Voice Receptionist in Partner Center
The only change in Partner Center is that "Inbox" is now called "Conversations." No changes to settings or access have been made, so partners on current subscription models can continue to use their AI Voice Receptionist, same as before.
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Also New: Respond Instantly with the New 'Business App' for Mobile
When the AI Receptionist captures a new lead, responding quickly is critical. Give your clients access to their customer communications on the go with ‘Business App’ a grey-label app now available in the iOS App Store and Google Play Store.
Complementing Conversations AI, the key value is simple: get push notifications for leads and messages on the go, so your clients can respond instantly from wherever they are. Any SMB client from any Partner can download and install the app to access their communications.
The mobile app includes tabs for the features SMBs use most:
- Home
- Inbox (now Conversations)
- Executive Report
- CRM
- AI workforce
- Reputation Management
- My Products (coming later this year)
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In Case You Missed It: A Simpler Way to Place Orders
As of July 8, 2025, a new, streamlined order management experience is available in Partner Center. This update unifies the entire ordering process into a single workflow, giving you more control and flexibility.
Old Process: Involved disjointed steps like selecting products, completing separate order forms, and filling out additional fulfillment forms.
New Workflow: Combines all steps into a single, unified flow where you can fill out all forms, set product start and end dates, and submit orders for customer approval and payment in one fluid step.
Key features include the ability to set activation dates, choose how you get paid via Vendasta Payments, preview all forms, customize the admin approval process, and have your work auto-saved as you go. All Order Settings can now be found in their own card under Partner Center → Administration. Learn more
Today, Vendasta releases a new, streamlined order management experience in Partner Center. These updates will give you
more control and flexibility
when ordering and activating products for your SMB clients.If you’re already using the
Sales Orders
workflow, good news — it becomes the standard workflow for all orders
on July 8, 2025
.
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🚀 What's Changing?
Old process:
Previously, ordering involved several disjointed steps:
- Selecting products and packages
- Completing a separate order form (if required)
- Confirming contract length, pricing, and terms
- Filling out additional fulfillment forms
New workflow:
We’ve combined all steps into a single, unified flow, making it easier to:
- Fill out all forms in one place
- Set product start and end dates
- Submit orders to customers for approval and payment
- … all in one fluid step!
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Overview of the New Ordering Workflow
📅 Set Activation & Deactivation Dates
Control when each product starts and ends — right from the order interface.
💳 Choose How You Want to Get Paid
If you're using
Vendasta Payments
, you can:- Automatically charge customers when there's a payment method on file
- Or, send orders for customer approval to collect payment
- Either way, orders are invoiced, receipts sent, and products activated — automatically.
👀 Preview Order & Fulfillment Forms
Review all forms associated with ordering and fulfilling the products on an order before submitting it for customer approval or payment.
🧾 Customize the Approval Process
Need admin approval before finalizing an order? No problem.
- Enable admin approvals for added control
- Or turn them off to move faster
Note:
If you haven’t previously used admin approvals, they’ve now been turned off by default.
💾 Auto-save as You Go
Step away anytime — orders now
auto-save
as drafts. Never lose your work if you get interrupted.
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⚙️ Order settings control
Order Settings are now surfaced in their own Commerce card under Partner Center → Administration. Use these settings to:
- Adjust Salesperson workflows and access to features
- Configure the Admin approval workflow
- Set Default Content (ability to set form fills on each order independent of products)
- Create Terms Of Service that appears on an order sent for approval
- Configure emails to associated contacts with sending orders for approval
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→