AI receptionist for mechanics and workshops in NZ (2027)
WOF and service bookings, quote questions and “is my car ready?”, for workshops in New Zealand.
What callers ask a workshop
Most calls are one of a handful of questions. An AI receptionist handles these well because the answers come from facts you’ve written down once:
| The caller says | What Ora does |
|---|---|
| “Can I book a WOF for Friday?” | Books it into a free slot in your calendar |
| “How much is a service on a Corolla?” | Gives your approved service prices or takes the details for a quote |
| “Is my car ready?” | Takes the name and rego and creates a task for you to call back |
| “Do you do Euro cars?” | Answers from what you’ve listed |
| “Are you an AI?” | Yes, and it says so up front |
What to give it before the first call
- Services and prices you’re happy to quote, such as WOFs and standard services, with GST the way you show it.
- Makes you work on, and what you send elsewhere.
- Booking rules: drop-off times, how many WOFs per hour, loan car or not.
- What to collect: name, number, rego, make and model, and what’s wrong.
Ora only states facts you’ve approved. When a caller asks something that isn’t covered, it says it isn’t sure and takes the details for you, instead of guessing.
Booking the job
Set up WOF and service slots in Google Calendar and Ora books into them. It won’t double-book a slot that’s already taken.
Calls in other languages
Ora speaks 22 languages, including te reo Māori, Mandarin, Korean and Hindi, so a customer who’s more comfortable in another language can still book. See calls in other languages.
What it costs in 2027
| Ora plan | Price (plus GST) | Call minutes a month |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | NZ$149 a month | 100 |
| Growth | NZ$349 a month | 400 |
| Team | NZ$790 a month | 1,000, up to 3 businesses or branches |
There are no extra-minute charges: you get an email at 80% and 100% of your minutes, and answering carries on for 20% more. You connect your own phone number through Twilio. Prices are as at 3 November 2026; we’ll recheck them in January 2027. Full detail on the pricing page.
Will customers mind?
Some will want a person, and that’s fine: Ora says it’s an AI on every call and takes a message for you. Most callers care more that someone picked up and their job got booked. Read why an AI caller should say it’s an AI, and compare Ora with voicemail or other AI receptionists in NZ.
Short on time? Read Bjorn’s short version on LinkedIn.
Questions
Can an AI receptionist book WOFs?
Yes. Ora books WOFs and services into free slots in your Google Calendar and sends you the details.
Can it tell customers if their car is ready?
It doesn’t see your job system, so it takes the name and rego and creates a task for you to call back.
How much does Ora cost for a workshop?
NZ$149, NZ$349 or NZ$790 a month plus GST, with no extra-minute charges. Setup and practice calls are free.
Try Ora on your own business.
Free to set up and practise calls in your browser, no card. Or ring Veronica, our own Ora, on 09 873 4723.