Migrate from Traditional IVR to AI Voice Agents

Replacing your traditional IVR with an AI voice agent can dramatically improve customer experience while reducing costs. This guide covers the complete migration process.

Why Replace Your IVR?

Understanding the Differences

Traditional IVR Structure

Caller → Menu 1 → Menu 2 → Menu 3 → Agent/Action
         ↓          ↓          ↓
      DTMF 1-9   DTMF 1-9   DTMF 1-9

Limitations:

• Fixed menu options
• Linear navigation
• No natural language
• Pre-recorded only

AI Voice Agent Structure

Caller → AI understands intent → Takes action/responds
         ↓
      Natural conversation
      Any question, any order

Advantages:

• Open-ended conversation
• Intent-based routing
• Dynamic responses
• Real-time adaptation

Migration Planning

Phase 1: Document Your Current IVR

Create a complete map of your existing system:

Main Menu:
├── 1: Account Balance → API call → Read balance
├── 2: Recent Transactions → API call → Read last 5
├── 3: Bill Payment → Transfer to agent
├── 4: Speak to Agent → Queue → Agent
├── 5: Repeat Menu → Replay
└── *: Exit → Goodbye

Phase 2: Identify Automation Opportunities

For each menu option, determine:

Phase 3: Design AI Conversations

Convert menu trees to natural conversations:

Old IVR:

"Press 1 for account balance"
*User presses 1*
"Your balance is ₹5,432"

New AI Agent:

AI: "Hi! How can I help you today?"
User: "What's my balance?"
AI: "Let me check that for you. Your current balance is ₹5,432. Is there anything else?"

Step-by-Step Migration

Step 1: Create Your AI Agent

1. Sign up at voice-agent.edesy.in
2. Create new agent
3. Configure basic settings

Step 2: Write Your System Prompt

Convert IVR logic to natural language instructions:

You are an AI assistant for ABC Bank's customer service line.

CAPABILITIES:
You can help customers with:
- Checking account balance
- Recent transaction history (last 5 transactions)
- Bill payment status
- Branch locations and timings
- Card blocking (lost/stolen)
- Transferring to human agent

AUTHENTICATION:
Before providing account information, verify customer identity:
1. Ask for registered mobile number
2. Send OTP for verification
3. Only proceed after OTP confirmation

ESCALATION:
Transfer to human agent if:
- Customer explicitly requests
- Issue is complex (disputes, fraud)
- Customer is frustrated
- You cannot resolve after 2 attempts

LANGUAGE:
Speak in the customer's language. Support Hindi, English, and regional languages.

Step 3: Implement Function Calling

Replace IVR backend calls with function definitions:

For Account Balance:

{
  "name": "get_account_balance",
  "description": "Get customer's current account balance",
  "parameters": {
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "customer_id": {
        "type": "string",
        "description": "Customer ID from authentication"
      }
    },
    "required": ["customer_id"]
  }
}

For Transactions:

{
  "name": "get_recent_transactions",
  "description": "Get customer's recent transactions",
  "parameters": {
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "customer_id": {
        "type": "string"
      },
      "count": {
        "type": "integer",
        "default": 5
      }
    }
  }
}

Step 4: Handle DTMF (If Needed)

Some use cases still benefit from DTMF input:

DTMF HANDLING:
If customer needs to enter numbers (PIN, account number), say:
"Please enter your [X] using your phone keypad"
Then capture DTMF input.

Edesy supports DTMF capture. See DTMF Documentation.

Step 5: Configure Call Transfer

Map IVR transfers to AI escalation:

Transfer Configuration:

{
  "name": "transfer_to_agent",
  "description": "Transfer call to human agent",
  "parameters": {
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "department": {
        "type": "string",
        "enum": ["general", "technical", "billing", "sales"]
      },
      "reason": {
        "type": "string",
        "description": "Summary of customer issue for agent"
      }
    }
  }
}

Step 6: Set Up Telephony

Option A: Keep Existing Phone Numbers

Port your IVR numbers to Edesy:

1. Contact our team with number details
2. We coordinate with your carrier
3. Typical porting: 5-10 business days

Option B: Parallel Setup

Run both systems during transition:

1. Get new Edesy numbers
2. Test thoroughly
3. Port old numbers when ready

Option C: SIP Integration

Connect via SIP if your PBX supports it:

1. Configure SIP trunk to Edesy
2. Route calls via your existing infrastructure
3. Gradual migration possible

Step 7: Test Thoroughly

Functional Testing:

• All IVR options work via conversation
• Functions return correct data
• Transfers connect properly
• DTMF input works
• After-hours behavior correct

User Testing:

• Test with real users
• Gather feedback
• Identify edge cases
• Refine prompts

Load Testing:

• Test concurrent calls
• Verify performance under load
• Check queue behavior

Handling Complex IVR Logic

Multi-Level Menus

Old IVR:

Main → Accounts → Savings → Balance
                         → Mini Statement
                → Current → Balance
                         → Checkbook Request

AI Approach:

The AI handles any path naturally:

User: "I want to check my savings account balance"
AI: [Authenticates] "Your savings account balance is ₹45,000"

User: "I need a new checkbook for current account"
AI: [Authenticates] "I'll request a checkbook for your current account.
     It will be delivered in 5-7 days. Anything else?"

Conditional Logic

Old IVR:

IF business_hours THEN route_to_agent
ELSE play_message("Call back during business hours")

AI Approach:

BUSINESS HOURS:
Our business hours are Monday-Saturday, 9 AM to 6 PM.
During business hours, you can transfer calls to agents.
Outside business hours, collect callback requests or handle
what you can independently.

Authentication Flows

Old IVR:

Enter account number → Enter PIN → Verified

AI Approach:

AUTHENTICATION:
For account-specific requests:
1. Ask for registered mobile number
2. Trigger OTP via function call
3. Ask customer to speak or enter OTP
4. Verify via function call
5. Proceed if verified, retry once if failed, then transfer

Common Migration Challenges

"Customers are used to pressing buttons"

Some customers will still press buttons. Handle gracefully:

If you detect DTMF input without prompting, say:
"I heard you press [X]. I'm an AI assistant and can help you
directly. Just tell me what you need - like 'check my balance'
or 'speak to an agent'."

"We need exact IVR behavior"

You can configure AI to mimic IVR if needed:

If customer says only a number or presses DTMF:
1 = Account balance
2 = Recent transactions
3 = Bill payment
0 = Transfer to agent

Respond based on the number, but also offer:
"I can also help with other questions. Just ask!"

"Our backend systems are old"

AI agents can integrate with any system:

• REST APIs (modern)
• SOAP/XML (legacy)
• Database queries (via middleware)
• File-based (via processing)

We help design integration architecture.

"Compliance requirements"

AI agents support compliance needs:

• Call recording with consent
• PCI-DSS compliant payment handling
• HIPAA configurations available
• Audit logging

Cost Comparison

Traditional IVR Costs

AI Voice Agent Costs

Example Calculation:

• 10,000 calls/month
• Average 3 minutes/call
• Edesy cost: ₹1,80,000/month
• But 70% automation means fewer agent calls
• Net savings: Often 40-60%

Go-Live Checklist

• All IVR functions mapped to AI
• Backend integrations tested
• Phone numbers configured/ported
• Escalation paths verified
• Team trained on new system
• Monitoring dashboards set up
• Rollback plan documented
• Customer communication ready

Success Metrics

Track these post-migration:

Need Help?

Migrating from IVR can be complex. Our team offers:

• Free assessment: We'll review your IVR and provide migration plan
• Implementation support: Hands-on help with configuration
• Integration assistance: Help connecting to your backends

Contact us:

• Email: [email protected]
• Schedule call: Book Migration Consultation