Zoom has announced that its Zoom Virtual Agent (ZVA) Receptionist is now available as a standalone offering.
This allows organizations to integrate an AI-powered front desk into their existing phone systems without the requirement of migrating to Zoom Phone.
The decision to offer ZVA Receptionist as a standalone product addresses a common friction point in customer service; internal research suggests that 71% of consumers find calling a business more stressful than the issue they are trying to resolve, and 50% would switch to a competitor after a single poor experience.
Chris Moss, general manager of Zoom Phone, said:
Chris Moss, general manager, Zoom Phone
“Businesses shouldn’t have to replace their phone system to benefit from AI. Every inbound call is an opportunity to serve a customer or nurture a prospect. With the standalone Zoom Virtual Agent Receptionist offering, organizations can quickly add an AI-powered front desk to their existing systems, helping them answer more calls, respond faster, and stay available around the clock.”
Originally introduced as a feature within the Zoom Phone ecosystem, the unbundled ZVA Receptionist allows businesses to maintain their current technology investments while adopting AI-driven automation. According to Zoom, the solution enables organizations to:
Answer and greet every caller using natural, conversational AI available in more than 10 languages.
Resolve common customer needs by answering frequently asked business questions, scheduling appointments, and providing support outside of standard business hours.
Connect customers to the right person through intelligent call routing and a seamless handoff process when human intervention is required.
Utilize built-in tools such as live transcription to ensure accuracy and better record-keeping for customer interactions.
The solution is designed to support a variety of sectors, including retail, healthcare, and legal practices, where capturing every inbound opportunity is critical to revenue and customer retention.
Pricing and Availability
The standalone Zoom Virtual Agent Receptionist is now available. Pricing begins at $29.99 USD per month for 100 minutes, or $24.99 USD per month with an annual commitment. Zoom is also offering a free trial program for both new and existing customers to test the integration within their specific telephony environments.
By decoupling the Virtual Agent from Zoom Phone, the company is effectively removing the “rip and replace” barrier that often prevents mid-market and small businesses from adopting sophisticated AI tools.
In an industry where interoperability is becoming a primary demand, providing a standalone AI layer allows Zoom to enter accounts that are locked into long-term contracts with legacy telephony providers. This reflects a broader trend in the CX market: AI is no longer being sold just as a feature of a suite, but as a flexible, utility-based service that can be layered over existing infrastructure to drive immediate ROI.
