AI Chat & Voice Agents

Smarter conversations. Happier customers.
Running a business means juggling a million things at once, between answering the same customer questions for the hundredth time and trying to catch leads outside business hours, it's enough to drive anyone crazy. That's where our AI agents come in – they handle customer conversations 24/7, so you can focus on what actually grows your business. Trusted by kiwi businesses across New Zealand, our AI agents deliver real results with genuine cost savings, happier customers, and leads that don't slip through the cracks.
A screenshot of a chatbot conversation between Sidebar and an external user - made by Sidebar.

AI chat agents that are working all day, everyday

Think of AI chat agents as your most reliable team member – one who never calls in sick, doesn't need smoko breaks, and handles customer queries with the patience of a saint. These clever systems live on your website, social media, and anywhere your customers hang out online.

Why you need them
Your customers expect instant answers, whether it's 3pm on a Tuesday or 2am on Sunday. A chat agent means no more lost leads because someone couldn't wait until Monday morning for a response. They qualify prospects, book appointments, and handle routine questions so your team can tackle the complex stuff.

What they do for you
Beyond just answering "What are your opening hours?" for the thousandth time, they're gathering customer data, identifying sales opportunities, and even processing orders. It's like having a digital receptionist who actually remembers every conversation and learns from each interaction.
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Voice agents with natural conversations

Voice agents take things up a notch. Instead of typing, customers can have a proper chat – just like calling your business, except this system never puts anyone on hold or transfers them to five different departments.

The difference
While chat is great for quick questions, voice agents handle complex conversations with the nuance of human speech. They understand Kiwi accents, pick up on tone, and can handle interruptions naturally.

How it helps
Perfect for booking services, handling complaints, or walking customers through processes. They're especially brilliant for industries where a personal touch matters – because sometimes people just want to talk it through rather than type it out.
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A flow diagram showing a voice agent talking to an end user and collecting information - made by Sidebar.

Real-world use cases for AI agents

AI agents aren't one-size-fits-all solutions. Different industries have unique challenges, and we've tailored our agents to tackle the specific pain points that keep Kiwi business owners up at night.
Real estate
Property inquiries, appointment scheduling, market information, and lead qualification. Capture potential buyers and sellers even when you're showing properties or out of the office.
Healthcare
Appointment bookings, prescription reminders, basic health information, and emergency routing. Provide 24/7 patient support while maintaining professional medical standards.
Construction
Quote requests, project inquiries, scheduling, and progress updates. Capture more leads and keep clients informed without interrupting your actual work.
Hospitality
Booking assistance, local recommendations, check-in procedures, and guest services. Deliver exceptional customer experiences while managing high inquiry volumes efficiently.
Professional services
Initial consultations, service information, appointment scheduling, and client onboarding. Qualify prospects and streamline your sales process automatically.
Retail & ecommerce
Contact suppliers for pricing updates, coordinate delivery schedules, and manage seasonal workforce recruitment. Keeps operations running smoothly.
Finance
Account inquiries, service information, appointment bookings, and compliance-friendly interactions. Provide professional service while maintaining strict regulatory requirements.
Education
Course information, enrolment assistance, student support, and administrative queries. Support students and manage inquiries efficiently across multiple programs.

Why our AI agents are different

Not all AI agents are created equal. While some companies offer basic chatbots that frustrate customers with robotic responses, our agents are built to actually solve problems and grow your business. Here's what sets our Christchurch-built solutions apart from the rest.

Always on, never off

While your competitors miss calls after 5pm, your AI agents are closing deals and booking appointments around the clock.

Lightning-fast responses

Customers get instant responses, not "I'll get back to you" promises that turn into radio silence.

Massive cost savings

One AI agent handles the workload of multiple staff members, without sick leave, holidays, or wage increases.

Lead generation machine

They don't just answer questions – they identify opportunities and capture leads that would otherwise walk away.

Scaling? No problem

Busy period? No worries. Your AI agents handle thousands of conversations simultaneously without breaking a sweat.

Private & secure

Your customer data stays safe with enterprise-grade security and full compliance with New Zealand privacy laws and regulations.

Our proven AI agent process

We've developed AI agents for hundreds of New Zealand businesses, from small local operations to large enterprises. Our process ensures your agent understands your business perfectly and delivers results from day one.
Discovery
We start with a proper chat about your business goals, current pain points, and where AI agents can make the biggest difference.
Development
Our team creates your intelligent agent, training it on your specific products, services, and customer interaction style.
Integration & testing
Seamless setup across your existing systems, with thorough testing to ensure everything works perfectly.
Launch & fine-tuning
Your agent goes live with full monitoring and support. We track performance and make adjustments to maximise results.

Why choose Sidebar?

Trusted expertise built right here in New Zealand. We create custom solutions tailored to your business needs, with all development done locally by our Christchurch team. From consultation to ongoing support, we're your dedicated AI & web partner.

Local experts

Christchurch-based specialists serving all of New Zealand. We understand Kiwi business culture and with years of proven experience and no overseas outsourcing, our team is the local expertise you can trust.

Custom-built solutions

Every project we build is specifically for your business, no templates or generic software. Bespoke automation, voice agents, and intelligent systems designed to match your exact workflows and requirements.

Complete partnership

Your dedicated partner from consultation to ongoing support. All development stays in New Zealand with full transparency. We build, deploy, support, maintain, and expand your solutions as your business grows.

Answers to your AI agent questions!

Got questions about how AI agents could work for your business? You're not alone. These are the most common concerns we hear from Kiwi business owners, along with straight-up answers that cut through the tech jargon.
  • How quickly can you set up AI agents for my business?

    Most projects go live within 2-4 weeks, depending on complexity. Simple chat agents can be ready even faster, while comprehensive voice systems with custom integrations take a bit longer. We'll give you a realistic timeline during our initial consultation and keep you updated throughout the process.
  • Will AI agents replace my existing staff?

    Not at all! Think of AI agents as your team's superpower, handling routine tasks so your people can focus on complex problems and building relationships. Most businesses find they can redeploy staff to higher-value activities rather than reducing headcount. Your customers still get human support when they need it.
  • How do customers feel about talking to AI agents?

    When done right, most customers prefer AI agents for simple queries because they get instant answers. Our agents are transparent about being AI and seamlessly hand over to humans for complex issues. We've found customer satisfaction actually improves because wait times disappear and responses are consistently helpful.
  • What happens if the AI agent doesn't understand a customer?

    Our agents are trained to recognise when they're out of their depth and smoothly transfer to human staff. They also learn from these interactions, becoming smarter over time. We monitor conversations and regularly update the system based on real customer interactions and feedback.
  • Can AI agents integrate with our existing business systems?

    Absolutely! Whether you're using MYOB, Xero, Salesforce, or any other business software, we can integrate AI agents with your existing systems. This means automatic data updates, seamless customer records, and no double handling of information across platforms.
  • How much do AI agents cost compared to hiring more staff?

    The economics are compelling – AI agents typically cost less than one part-time employee but work 24/7 without breaks, sick days, or holidays. Most businesses see ROI within 3-6 months through increased leads, reduced staff costs, and improved customer satisfaction. We'll provide a detailed cost-benefit analysis for your specific situation.
  • What kind of ongoing maintenance do AI agents require?

    Minimal day-to-day maintenance, but regular optimisation is key to maximum performance. We provide monthly performance reports and quarterly strategy sessions to refine responses and add new capabilities. Think of it like updating your website – essential for staying current but not time-consuming.

See what others are saying:

I'm very impressed with Sidebar, their service is consistently excellent whenever I need help. My site experienced zero downtime and loads much quicker than previously, which has helped drastically with user experience. Their customer service is fantastic, responses are quick and are genuinely helpful resolving any questions I have. I wholeheartedly recommend them for anything website related!
Rebecca
GeekHQ
My site was painfully slow, and my hosting provider was useless. Sidebar offered dedicated hosting for barely more than I was paying for shared hosting, and migrated me across. The speed improvements impressed me – way beyond what I expected. And Lane's a genuinely nice guy who's super responsive, and always generous with his time and advice. I'd absolutely recommend them.
Lisa
Copy By Kudo
Working with Sidebar on our custom dashboard was a great experience. They integrated all our existing applications and created a central hub that changed how we operate across our group of companies. Their team was very collaborative, skilled at solving problems, and full of fresh ideas that really improved our vision. We couldn't be happier with the results!
Mitchell
Optimus Group
The biggest challenge you helped us solve was ensuring our website remained functional, up to date, and aligned with our goals - something we didn't have the in-house expertise to manage effectively. What you delivered that exceeded our expectations was your ongoing support. That kind of follow-through is rare and really appreciated. We would absolutely recommend you and your company to anyone needing a website, support with an existing one.
Louise
SAM Property
I moved my webhosting late 2024 and after 6 months something wasn't working right. I meet Lane at Sidebar and then he worked his magic!! I say that because in the 6 weeks or so since Sidebar has been hosting my website, business has taken off - Literally. Like turbo charged. Lane says he only did what should have been done. But he knows what needs to be done and completed the change over without fuss. Thank you!!
Rob
BuildQual NZ
We recently worked with Lane for our new website build. From the moment he came in for the initial meeting, I knew he was the right man for the job. He is extremely knowledgeable, professional and efficient. The website is now complete and looks amazing. If anyone I know is ever needed a website build or update, I will have no hesitation in recommending Lane & Sidebar to complete this job. One of the best in the business.
Sean
Collinson Forex

Ready to stop missing opportunities while you sleep?

Your competitors are already losing leads to smarter businesses. Don't let another potential customer slip away because they called after hours or got tired of waiting for a response. Our AI agents are ready to transform your customer service today!
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