A new wave of voice AI is making it easier for small businesses to stay responsive — and one Scottish startup is putting UK SMEs at the centre of that transformation.

Missed calls are a quiet but costly issue for small businesses. Whether it's a solo solicitor in court, a stylist mid-appointment, or a tradesperson up a ladder, the inability to answer a ringing phone often means a missed lead, a frustrated client, or a lost booking.

For many, it’s the hidden cost of growth.

“Small business owners aren't ignoring their phones because they don't care — they're missing calls because they're busy doing the job,” says Antony Slack, founder of scotsphere AI, a Scottish tech company developing conversational voice assistants for SMEs. “But customers don’t wait. If you don’t answer, they move on.”

It’s a problem Slack and his team are solving with a new kind of voice-first automation — one that feels less like an answering service and more like an extension of the business itself.

From Voicemail to Voice Agent

At the core of scotsphere AI is a voice assistant built to understand, respond to, and resolve customer queries — over the phone, in real time.

But unlike traditional IVR or chatbot systems, scotsphere’s agents are designed to be adaptive and contextual. They can:

• Answer product questions

• Book appointments

• Route urgent calls

• Log enquiries directly to calendars, CRMs, or booking platforms

What makes the system distinct, Slack says, is its agentic AI foundation — technology that not only understands what’s being said, but also takes appropriate action based on business rules and integrations.

“We’re not trying to replace a person with a script,” he says. “We’re giving business owners back the time they’re losing to missed calls and admin, with something that acts like a team member — not just a switchboard.”

Meeting UK Businesses Where They Are

While similar services like Goodcall have found traction in the US, scotsphere AI is designed from the ground up with UK service businesses in mind.

“We understand how different the customer dynamic is in the UK,” Slack explains. “There’s a greater emphasis on relationships, tone, and clarity. You can’t have an AI that feels robotic or overly formal — it has to feel natural, trustworthy, and local.”

That’s why the platform is being developed in close collaboration with early adopters across legal, wellness, and trades sectors. Through an Early Access Programme, scotsphere is refining its voice models, workflows, and integration depth by working with real businesses in real-time.

Technology Without the Overhead

Ease of use is another priority. Rather than requiring complex setup or specialist knowledge, scotsphere AI is designed to work “out of the box” — while still offering deeper customisation for those who need it.

It connects with common tools like Google Calendar, Microsoft 365, Clio, Fresha, and others. Businesses can define which types of calls should be booked, redirected, or logged for follow-up.

And unlike call centres or outsourced receptionists, scotsphere offers round-the-clock coverage without ongoing staff costs.

A Voice That Builds Trust

Still, Slack is careful not to overpromise.

“AI should be helpful, not hype,” he says. “Our goal isn’t to replace people — it’s to help small teams do more, without compromising the quality of their customer experience.”

As the platform expands, the focus will remain on service businesses that rely heavily on inbound calls — the kind of organisations where missed calls often mean missed revenue.

In that respect, voice AI isn’t a futuristic add-on. It’s a timely response to a real-world problem.

scotsphere AI is currently inviting businesses to join its Early Access Programme. More information is available at www.scotsphere.ai.