It costs $5,000 to $15,000 a month to staff a single 24/7 phone line with human agents, yet most of those expensive hours are spent repeating the same tracking numbers and return policies.
You have built a real brand with a real team, but you are still losing thousands of dollars to repetitive tasks that burn out your best people.
You know your customers want to hear a voice when things go wrong, but scaling that human touch across every timezone is a logistical nightmare.
It gets worse.
This guide will go over how you can use an AI call center for Shopify for phone support.
First, we will break down the essential features of AI voice agents. Then, we will compare the top tools specifically built for Shopify brands.
Editor’s note: Want to hear some sample support calls made for your Shopify store?
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What is an AI call center for Shopify?
Modern AI call centers for Shopify use conversational AI to understand natural language, moving beyond traditional automated phone menus.
A key feature is a deep integration with Shopify.
This connection allows the AI to access real-time information, such as order status, product details, and shipping updates, to provide customers with accurate answers. This diagram illustrates how the process works.
For instance, solutions like Ringly.io can access order details and provide instant updates.
This direct data access enables them to handle store-specific inquiries beyond reciting general FAQs from a knowledge base.
Key features of an AI call center for Shopify
AI phone tools for e-commerce vary in their capabilities. If you’re considering adding one to your Shopify store, here are the core features to look for.
Deep Shopify integration
Direct connection to your Shopify backend is essential for an AI call center to be effective.
It enables the system to handle common inquiries like "Where is my order?" or "How do I start a return?"
Without this integration, an AI's ability to resolve specific issues is limited, as it cannot access live order information.
24/7 autonomous call resolution
A primary goal of an AI agent is to handle calls from start to finish without human intervention.
It should be able to fully resolve the common and repetitive questions that can occupy your phone lines.
A system's effectiveness can often be measured by its resolution rate.
For example, Ringly.io's AI phone agent, Seth, reportedly resolves 73% of calls autonomously across the stores it's deployed in. This allows human agents to focus on more complex issues.
Multilingual support and voice customization
If you sell internationally, an AI that can communicate in multiple languages is beneficial.
Some platforms offer extensive language support, with options like Ringly.io supporting 40 languages.
It’s also important that the AI's voice aligns with your brand.
The ability to customize its voice and tone helps ensure the customer experience feels consistent with your store.
Actionable analytics
A functional AI call center should provide data to help improve business operations.
Look for a dashboard that offers more than simple call logs, including features like call transcripts, sentiment analysis, and reports on common customer questions.
Platforms like Ringly.io provide a dashboard where you can track metrics like call volume and resolution rates.
This information is valuable as it helps you identify knowledge gaps, address recurring product issues, or improve your shipping process.
Evaluating AI call center apps for Shopify
The Shopify App Store has several options that fall into different categories. Here is a breakdown of what's available to help you find the right fit.
Generalist solutions: AI helpdesks with voice features
Platforms like Gorgias are all-in-one helpdesks.
They consolidate customer conversations from email, chat, and social media, and their AI is designed to help automate support inquiries across those channels.
Their focus is primarily on assisting human agents rather than providing fully autonomous phone support.
While Gorgias has a Voice add-on, its AI is more oriented toward suggesting replies and handling text-based interactions. It serves as an assistant for a support team, not an independent agent managing a voice call.
Pricing (Gorgias): Plans are based on ticket volume.
The Basic plan starts at $50/month for 300 tickets, with additional costs for add-ons like Voice and SMS.
Connection-focused tools: Click-to-call widgets
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Apps like superU AI add a simple "click-to-call" button to your website.
Their goal is to make it easy for mobile visitors to initiate a phone call and for the merchant to capture leads.
These tools primarily function as a connection layer.
The AI may handle basic FAQs, but it typically does not have the deep Shopify integration needed to resolve order-specific issues. Its main purpose is to route calls.
Pricing (superU AI): The Shopify widget is free to install. The platform operates on a usage-based model, starting at $99/month plus $0.06 per minute.
Dedicated AI phone agents: VINSI AI
VINSI AI offers a dedicated phone number and is designed to handle customer questions about order status and FAQs 24/7.
Its Shopify app is a newer addition to the app store, and its pricing is minute-based, which can become costly with high call volumes.
The broader platform appears to be aimed at enterprise clients, with plans starting at $499/month, suggesting the Shopify app may be a lighter version.
Pricing (VINSI AI Shopify App):
- Bronze: $39/month for 100 minutes
- Silver: $79/month for 250 minutes
- Gold: $99/month for 400 minutes
Specialized solutions: Ringly.io
Description: Ringly.io is a solution built specifically for Shopify phone automation. Its AI agent, Seth, is designed to handle common e-commerce call scenarios.
Features:
- High Resolution Rate: Seth reportedly resolves ~73% of calls without needing a human, based on real-world performance.
- Deep Shopify Actions: It can check order status and also handle returns and exchanges directly through its Shopify integration.
- Fast Setup: The platform can be set up in under three minutes without coding.
- Performance Guarantee: A notable feature is its performance guarantee. Billing begins after the AI resolves at least 60% of calls over a trial period.
Pricing (Ringly.io): Once the performance guarantee is met, the plan starts at $349/month for 1,000 minutes.
Comparison of AI call center solutions for Shopify
How to implement an AI call center for Shopify
Getting started with an AI call center can be a straightforward process. Here are a few steps to ensure a smooth launch.
Start with a clear goal
First, identify your biggest phone support challenge.
Are you receiving too many "where is my order" calls? Do you need to offer after-hours support? Knowing your main goal will help you configure the AI to address the right problems first.
Prepare your knowledge base
An AI is only as effective as the information it can access. Ensure your return policy, shipping details, and FAQs are up-to-date and clearly written.
The better your data, the more calls the AI can handle autonomously.
Solutions like Ringly.io allow you to upload documents or can automatically learn from your store's data after you install the Shopify app.
Define clear escalation paths
AI is meant to augment, not replace, a support team. A key part of the setup is deciding when a call should be transferred to a human agent.
This creates a hybrid system that provides efficiency for simple questions and a human touch for complex ones.
For example, Ringly.io lets you set rules to automatically transfer a call if a customer's sentiment is negative, if they ask a question the AI doesn't know, or if they request to speak with a person.
Key takeaways
A specialized AI call center for Shopify is a functional tool for scaling your store.
It helps reduce support costs, offer 24/7 service, and provide a better customer experience without overloading your team.
The most suitable solutions are often those built specifically for e-commerce, with deep Shopify integrations and a demonstrated ability to resolve customer issues independently.
By automating repetitive calls, you free up your team to focus on building customer relationships and solving complex problems.
Final thoughts
An AI call center can be a valuable tool for a Shopify store, helping manage customer inquiries efficiently.
When choosing a solution, consider factors like Shopify integration depth, call resolution capabilities, and pricing models.
Specialized tools built for e-commerce often provide the most relevant features for online retailers.
For those interested in exploring a dedicated AI phone agent, Ringly.io offers a trial period.
Start your risk-free trial and see the results for yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main benefit of using an AI call center for Shopify app?
The biggest benefit is automating repetitive support calls (like "where's my order?") 24/7. This frees up your team, cuts costs, and ensures customers get instant answers, even outside of business hours.
How quickly can I set up an AI call center for Shopify solution?
Setup times vary, but specialized solutions like Ringly.io can be up and running in just a few minutes. You just install the app, connect your store, and it's ready to go.
Can an AI call center for Shopify handle returns and order tracking?
Yes, a capable one can. An AI call center for Shopify with deep integration, like Ringly.io, can access order data in real-time to provide shipping updates and even initiate the return process based on your store's policies.
Is an AI call center for Shopify expensive for a small store?
Not necessarily. While some enterprise solutions are pricey, others are built for growing stores. For example, Ringly.io has a performance guarantee where you pay nothing until the AI resolves at least 60% of your calls, making it risk-free to try.
What happens if the AI call center for Shopify can't answer a customer's question?
It should escalate the call to a human agent. A well-designed AI call center for Shopify has clear rules for when to transfer a call, such as when a customer asks to speak to a person or if the AI doesn't know the answer.
Does an AI call center for Shopify support multiple languages?
Yes, many platforms offer multilingual support. Ringly.io, for instance, can communicate in over 40 languages, which is a huge plus for stores with an international customer base.
