Comparison
Telleo vs IVR menus and pre-recorded calls
An IVR asks callers to press keys. A voice broadcast plays the same recording to everyone. Both are useful, and both are mostly one-way. Telleo holds a spoken conversation, captures the answer and acts on it. Here is how they compare and where each one fits.
The short answer
If the message is the same for everyone and needs no reply, such as an alert or simple call routing, an IVR or recorded broadcast is the simpler tool. If you need something back, like interest, a preferred time or a booking, Telleo fits better because it understands spoken replies and turns them into CRM actions. On inbound, an IVR menu option on a Telleo number can hand the caller to a Telleo agent.
Side by side
| Telleo | IVR menus and pre-recorded voice broadcasts | |
|---|---|---|
| How the caller responds | Speaks normally in Hindi, English or Hinglish. Can interrupt, and a short "haan" or "okay" while the agent talks does not derail it. | Presses keys on a fixed menu. A broadcast plays a recording and usually expects no reply. |
| Personalisation | Uses the lead's name and the fields captured on their form. | Usually one recording or menu for everyone. |
| Questions off the menu | Answers within the brief you give it, and can transfer the call to a person mid-call. | Only the options on the menu. Anything else goes to a queue or a callback. |
| What gets captured | Outcome from your own list, a short summary, a 1 to 10 lead rating, the caller's answers, any callback request, and any agreed meeting time as an exact date and time. | Key presses and whether the call was answered. |
| What happens next | Assign to a rep, retry, stop, book the meeting, or send WhatsApp or email, automatically. | Depends on your setup. Often a report or a list for someone to work through. |
| Call length and cost | Billed per minute of call, from ₹3.49/min on the annual plan (excluding GST). A conversation lasts longer than a recording. | Calls are short because the message is fixed. Pricing varies by provider. |
| Setup | No-code builder: opening line, script, questions to ask and outcome list. A script can be drafted from a plain-language brief. | Record prompts and map each key press to an action or queue. |
| Changing the message | Edit the script and the next call uses it. Voice preview plays the exact voice that will go out. | Re-record the audio and update the menu tree. |
| Answering machines | Detects answering machines. A call where nobody really spoke is marked Incomplete, never Not interested. | Handling varies by system. |
| Best for | Qualification, reminders that need a reply, re-engagement of leads who have consented, and bookings. | Alerts, announcements and routing inbound callers to the right team. |
Choose Telleo if…
- You need an answer back, not just a message delivered.
- You want each reply to update the lead and trigger the next step on its own.
- Your callers are more comfortable speaking Hindi or Hinglish than using a keypad.
- You want interested people passed to a person, with the context already written down.
Choose IVR menus and pre-recorded voice broadcasts if…
- The message is the same for everyone and needs no reply, like an alert or announcement.
- You only need to route inbound callers to the right department.
- You want the shortest possible calls at very high volume.
- Your process requires a fixed, pre-approved recording word for word.
One-way vs two-way
An IVR menu and a voice broadcast are built to deliver a message or sort a caller into a queue. The caller's side is a key press, or nothing at all.
Telleo is built for calls where you need the other person's answer. It asks the questions you set, understands spoken replies, and saves only what was actually said. A meeting only counts if a specific day and time were agreed.
When a recording is enough
Not every call needs a conversation. A payment-due alert, a holiday closure notice or a simple "press 1 for admissions" menu works well as a recording, and the calls stay short.
Use Telleo where a reply changes what you do next: whether a lead is interested, when to call back, whether a parent will attend, or which slot suits the customer.
Using both together
On inbound, an IVR menu option can hand the caller to a Telleo AI agent. Set up the IVR on your Telleo number for routing, and point the options where someone needs to talk at the agent.
After every AI call, outcome rules decide what happens: assign to a rep, retry with a gap, stop, book the meeting, or send the WhatsApp message or email the caller agreed to.
Cost, honestly
A recorded message is short, so each call uses less time. A conversation takes longer, and Telleo bills per minute of call, rounded up. Judge the two on cost per useful result, such as a qualified lead or a confirmed booking, rather than cost per dial.
Questions
Can Telleo take inbound calls?+
Yes. An IVR menu option can hand the caller to a Telleo AI agent, which then holds the conversation and saves the outcome like any other call.
Does the caller need to press any keys?+
No. The caller just talks. They can interrupt the agent, and a short "haan" or "okay" while it is speaking does not derail it.
Is an AI call more expensive than a voice broadcast?+
Per call, usually yes, because a conversation lasts longer than a recording and Telleo bills per minute of call. It pays off when you need a reply or an action. For a pure announcement, a broadcast is the simpler tool.
What happens if an answering machine picks up?+
Telleo detects answering machines. A call where nobody really spoke is marked Incomplete, never Not interested, so the lead is not written off by mistake.
Can I control when calls go out?+
Yes. Campaigns can run inside time windows you choose, and a daily call cap (500 by default) limits volume. We register DLT with you.
Other comparisons
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