Service: Missed call text back
Missed a call? They get a text in seconds.
Example ยท Tuesday 2:05 pm
Running-
Call not answered
You were with a customer
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Text sent in seconds
"Sorry we missed you. How can we help?"
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Reply lands in inbox
Assigned to you, history attached
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Job booked by text
Contact and job created in the CRM
Missed call text back
Why it matters
When a call goes to voicemail, many people simply hang up and try someone else. A text back keeps the door open. It shows the caller you noticed, and most people would rather send a quick text than wait on hold or leave a message.
It is often the first thing we set up because it is fast to launch, it works with your existing number, and it pays for itself as soon as it saves one job. You can add an AI assistant later to reply to those texts and book on your behalf.
What you get
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Instant reply
A text goes out within seconds of an unanswered call, day or night.
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Smart timing
Different messages for business hours, after hours and public holidays.
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One shared inbox
Replies land in your CRM inbox and phone app, not scattered across mobiles.
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Optional AI replies
An AI assistant can answer the text conversation, qualify and book.
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Team alerts
The right person gets notified, with the caller's history in front of them.
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NZ SMS rules built in
Clear sender identity and opt-out handling in line with the UEMA.
How it works
From first questionnaire to live, in 4 steps.
You approve every script, message and rule before it goes live.
- 01
Check your phone setup
We confirm how your mobile or landline can forward unanswered calls and pick the best number setup.
- 02
Write your messages
Short, friendly texts in your voice, with versions for open hours and after hours.
- 03
Connect inbox and alerts
Replies flow into the CRM inbox and the mobile app, and your team gets notified.
- 04
Test and launch
We test from different networks, then switch it on and watch the first week closely.
How does missed call text back work?
Your calls route through a business number in the CRM, or your existing number forwards unanswered calls to it. When a call isn't answered, the system detects it and sends an SMS from your business number, for example: "Hi, it's Kauri Electrical. Sorry we missed your call. How can we help? Reply here and we'll get back to you shortly."
When the customer replies, the conversation appears in your inbox against their contact record. From there you can reply yourself, assign it to a team member, or let an AI assistant continue the conversation and offer booking times.
Do I need a new phone number?
Not necessarily. Many businesses keep their existing number and set it to forward unanswered calls. Others use a new business number for advertising and keep their mobile private. We look at what you have and recommend the simplest option. Forwarding options depend on your provider and plan, so we test this during setup.
Does it work with One NZ, Spark and 2degrees?
Conditional call forwarding (when busy or not answered) is a standard feature on major NZ networks, though details vary by plan and some business phone systems handle it differently. Text messages in New Zealand are sent through a local NZ SMS gateway connected to your CRM, billed per message. We help you pick a provider and set up your sender name and opt-out handling.
What are the rules for business texts in New Zealand?
Replying to someone who has just called you is generally treated as a response to their enquiry. Any marketing texts you send later need consent under the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act 2007, must identify your business and must include a working way to opt out. We build that in from day one. Read our guide to NZ business SMS rules.
What should the text say?
Keep it short, friendly and specific: your business name, an apology for missing them and an easy question. We write a few versions with you and test which gets the most replies.
Will it text people I don't want to text?
You can exclude numbers, such as suppliers, family or staff, and limit text backs to one per caller within a set period so nobody gets spammed.
Does it work on landlines?
The text is sent to the caller's number. If they called from a landline, the SMS cannot be delivered, so we usually pair it with a short voicemail greeting or an AI receptionist for those calls.
How quickly can it be live?
A standalone setup can usually be live within one to two weeks, including testing across networks.
What does it cost to run?
There is a one-off setup, the CRM software subscription and per-message SMS costs from the NZ gateway. We give you a fixed quote in NZD after a free process audit.
Related guides and services
- Guide What is missed call text back, and does it work for NZ businesses? Missed call text back sends an automatic SMS when you can't answer. How it works in New Zealand, what to say, the rules to follow and when it pays off. Read more
- Guide NZ business SMS rules: consent, opt-outs and what you can send What NZ businesses need to know before texting customers: the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act 2007, consent types, unsubscribe rules and practical examples. Read more
- Guide AI receptionist vs answering service: which suits your NZ business? An honest comparison of AI receptionists and human answering services for NZ businesses: cost, booking, quality, after-hours cover and when to use each. Read more
- Service AI receptionist Answers the calls you can't, books the job, flags the urgent ones. Read more
- Service Workflow automation Quotes, reminders, invoices and handovers that run themselves. Read more
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