How do I set up Hold The Fort?
You sign up, find your own Hold The Fort number in the app, then set your phone to divert calls you don't answer, calls when you're busy and calls when you can't be reached. Ask someone to ring your usual number to test it. Each message then waits for you in your app.
What does Hold The Fort do?
Hold The Fort by Capstone is an AI that answers your phone when you can't.
When it picks up, it says:
"Hello, you're through to [your business]. I'm [assistant's name], an AI assistant, and calls are recorded so we can help you properly. How can I help?"
It's an AI assistant, not a person, and it says so at the start of every call. If a caller sincerely asks, it tells them it isn't a person.
It takes a message with:
- the caller's name
- the best number to ring them back on
- what it's about
- when suits them for a call back
- how urgent it is
It takes job requests. If a caller asks for a time, it's noted as requested. You decide what goes in your diary.
What do I need to get started?
- The phone number you want us to cover. You keep it.
- Your phone, so you can set up a divert.
- A phone or computer to read your messages in the app.
Step 1: sign up
Sign up on our website. You pay from day one, with a 14-day money-back guarantee. You can cancel any time, with no lock-in. There's no free trial for now.
Step 3: divert your calls to us
You keep your number. You set your phone to send us the calls you don't answer, calls that come in when you're busy, and calls when your phone can't be reached.
How you do it depends on your network. Pick yours:
Good to know before you start:
- While the divert is on, your network's voicemail won't take those calls. We will.
- Some networks charge for diverted calls or for the divert feature. Each network page says what that network publishes.
Step 4: make a test call
Ask a friend or colleague to ring your usual number from their phone and let it ring out. You should hear us answer.
Ringing your Hold The Fort number yourself shows the line answers, but it doesn't tell you your divert is on. The test call guide has the full steps.
Step 5: read your first message
Each message waits for you in your app.
What doesn't it do yet?
- It doesn't send you a text, an email or an alert when a message comes in. The message waits in your app.
- It doesn't put urgent calls through to your mobile yet. It takes the message and notes how urgent it is.
- It answers phone calls only. Not WhatsApp or email.
How do I get help?
Email sales@capstonesoftware.co.uk and someone from the Capstone team will get back to you. On Starter, Pro and Complete there's no paid support tier, and help is included. Lite is the set-it-up-yourself plan, with no set-up call, and help on Lite is an optional paid extra.
Still stuck? Ask the Hold The Fort assistant.