Setting Up Your AI Phone Number

When you create a Maple AI voice agent, the system assigns a dedicated phone number that handles incoming calls for your restaurant. This number powers your AI agent's ability to answer calls, take orders, handle FAQs, and manage reservations. This guide walks you through selecting and configuring your AI phone number during onboarding.

Prerequisites

Before setting up your AI phone number, make sure you have:

• A Maple account with your restaurant location profile already created

• Your restaurant's local area code (e.g., 713 for Houston, 512 for Austin, 781 for Boston)

• Access to the Maple portal at your onboarding link

Step-by-Step: Assigning Your AI Phone Number

1. Start Creating Your Maple Agent

From your Maple portal dashboard, click Create your first Maple agent, then click Get Started. This initiates the agent creation process, which includes generating a dedicated AI phone number.

2. Review the Suggested Phone Number

The system will automatically suggest a phone number with a default area code. Before confirming, check whether the displayed area code (the first three digits) matches your restaurant's location.

• If the area code is correct, proceed to Step 4.

• If the area code is not correct for your location, continue to Step 3.

3. Search for a Different Area Code (Optional)

If the suggested area code doesn't match your location:

1. Click Search for other numbers at the bottom of the phone number selection screen.

2. Type in your preferred area code (e.g., 512, 305, 213).

3. The system will display a list of available phone numbers with that area code.

4. Select any number from the results.

Tip: If your preferred area code shows no available numbers, try a nearby or alternative area code for your region. For example, if 305 is unavailable, try other area codes that serve your area. The system has limited inventory for certain area codes.

Tip: If you're not satisfied with the numbers shown, you can re-enter your area code to generate a fresh list of options.

4. Assign the Phone Number

Once you've selected your preferred number, click Assign Phone Number to confirm. The number is now linked to your AI voice agent.

5. Continue with Agent Configuration

After assigning the phone number, you'll be prompted to:

• Customize your greeting message — A default greeting is pre-populated, but you can edit it now or later.

• Enter a handoff number — This is the phone number where calls transfer when a customer asks to speak with a person. Typically, this is your store's direct line or a secondary line staffed by your team.

Understanding Your AI Phone Number

Here are a few important things to know about how your AI phone number works:

• It's an internal number. Your AI phone number is used for call routing behind the scenes. When you set up call forwarding from your main business line, calls are routed to this number where the AI answers.

• Customers don't see it. In most configurations, your customers continue calling your main business number. The AI number is not displayed publicly.

• Area code is a preference, not a requirement. Since customers won't see the AI number, the area code is purely for your own organizational preference. That said, most merchants prefer selecting a locally relevant area code.

• You can always find it in the portal. There's no need to write down your AI phone number — it's always accessible in the Maple portal under the Voice Agent tab. Click on your AI phone number there to view or adjust settings.

Phone Configuration Options

Maple supports flexible phone setups depending on your needs:

Note: If you choose the call forwarding option, you'll need to configure forwarding through your phone carrier (e.g., Spectrum, AT&T) separately. This can be completed later if you don't have access during initial setup.

Troubleshooting

"Fail to save phone number" error

If you see this error when trying to assign a number, the selected number may already be in use or temporarily unavailable. Try selecting a different number from the available options. If the issue persists, navigate back to your onboarding page via your direct link and look for the blue rocket icon labeled Finishing onboarding in progress to return to the assignment page.

AI number rings but doesn't connect to the AI

If calling your AI number routes to a regular phone line instead of the AI agent, check the Ring staff first setting in your Voice Agent configuration:

1. Go to the Voice Agent tab in your dashboard.

2. Click on your AI phone number.

3. Turn off the Ring staff first setting so the AI picks up calls immediately.

Preferred area code unavailable

If no numbers are available for your desired area code, try nearby area codes that serve your region. Since this number is internal and not customer-facing, an adjacent area code will not affect the customer experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pick a specific number? No. Any available number will work. The specific digits don't matter since call forwarding handles routing from your main business number.

Can I change my AI phone number later? The area code and number are set during agent creation. Contact Maple support if you need to change your assigned number after setup.

Can I test my AI agent by calling the number? Yes! You can call your AI phone number directly to hear the greeting and test the experience before going live.

Can I skip phone number setup and come back later? Yes. Both the handoff number and call forwarding configuration can be completed later in the Maple portal when you have the necessary information.