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PermanenceAI24/7 AI Phone Receptionist

Guide · Setting up your agent

Write your agent’s instructions (system prompt)

Structure the instructions that set your agent’s role, tone and rules.

What the instructions are for

The instructions ("System prompt", in the "Brain & prompt" section) are the agent’s brain: who it is, what it knows, how it speaks and what it must never do. There are three ways to edit them: the writing assistant ("AI Prompt Editor"), the visual editor ("Flow Builder") or editing the text directly.

Start from a template

  1. In the agent’s instructions section, click "Templates".
  2. Pick the template closest to your use (reception, appointment booking, support, qualification…).
  3. Adapt it to your business.

The 5 building blocks of good instructions

  • Role and identity: "You are the receptionist for X, a practice specialising in…"
  • Style: tone, level of formality, short sentences, no jargon.
  • Key information: services, opening hours, prices, address.
  • Rules: what to check, when to transfer, what never to promise.
  • Scripts: how to handle common situations (booking, complaint, emergency).

Language of the instructions

You can write the instructions in any language you like: the language the agent speaks is set separately, in "Voice & speech".

Common mistakes

  • Too vague: "Be helpful" is not enough.
  • Too rigid: scripting every line makes the conversation sound artificial.
  • Too long: detailed information belongs in the knowledge base.
  • Missing situations: say what to do with emergencies, angry callers or off-topic questions.

Tip

Your instructions will evolve: read call transcripts regularly and add any cases the agent handled badly.

Need help? In your account, the help assistant (bubble at the bottom right) answers in your language. You can also email contact@permanenceia.com.

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