Trade account customer. Knows what they want. IBIOS will process it on the call.
The IBIOS Receptionist is coming soon and is not live yet — this scenario shows how it will work. A trade customer who is left on hold and gives up is a repeat order going to whoever answers first. IBIOS will pick up immediately, confirm stock, apply the right trade price, and reserve the order before they even try your competitor’s number.
What happens when a trade customer is kept waiting on a busy morning?
Mike is a plumber with a trade account. He rings Monday morning. He needs two 1700mm p-shaped shower baths for jobs this week. He has used your account before, he knows your pricing, and he just needs confirmation of stock and a reservation.
Your staff member is with a showroom customer. Mike is left on hold, standing in a customer’s kitchen, phone to his ear, when he should be working. He gives up. He calls his other supplier, who answers straight away and reserves the baths. He sends a WhatsApp to his mate recommending that supplier.
Your stock sat in the warehouse. The trade margin went to your competitor. And Mike, who has ordered from you regularly, is now slightly more likely to call them first next time. Not because of price. Because of a long hold.
How will the AI receptionist take a trade repeat order by phone (coming soon)?
A step-by-step walkthrough of how IBIOS will process a trade order without staff involvement.
Trade customer calls Monday morning
Mike is a plumber with a regular trade account. He needs two 1700mm p-shaped shower baths for jobs this week. Staff are busy with a showroom customer. The AI will answer his call immediately — no hold time.
Trade account identified instantly
The AI will recognise Mike’s number, confirm his trade account, and greet him by name. No account number needed, no spelling his name. The AI will know who he is.
Stock check and trade price confirmed
Mike says he needs two p-shaped shower baths, 1700mm, for Thursday collection. The AI will check live stock and confirm the price with his trade discount applied.
Reservation created for Thursday
The AI will create a stock reservation for two units, collection Thursday. Mike doesn’t need to call back to confirm. The order is in the system before his next job.
Confirmation SMS sent immediately
Mike will receive an SMS confirming the reservation, the product, quantity, price, and collection date. One short call. Order secured. Competitor never got the call.
The expected outcome
Once the AI Receptionist launches, the aim is that the trade order is reserved and confirmed by SMS on a single call, with no queue, and before the customer thinks of ringing anyone else.
Trade account loyalty is built on reliability and speed. The supplier that answers first and confirms stock quickly often gets the order. IBIOS aims to give trade customers that experience when they call, regardless of how busy the showroom floor is.
Questions about trade account ordering
Does IBIOS handle trade account customers differently from retail customers?
Yes. Trade account customers are identified in IBIOS. Once the AI Receptionist launches (coming soon), they will be routed through a trade-specific call flow. The AI will skip the introductory qualification questions and move directly to confirming what they need, checking stock, and reserving the order. Trade callers will not be asked for details already on file.
Can the AI apply the correct trade discount during a call?
Coming soon. Trade account records in IBIOS store the applicable discount percentage for each account. Once the AI Receptionist launches, when the AI confirms a product and quantity, the trade price will be calculated automatically from the current list price minus the account discount. The AI will confirm this price with the caller before logging the reservation.
How does IBIOS handle stock reservations made by phone?
Once the AI Receptionist launches (coming soon), when the AI confirms availability and the trade customer agrees to proceed, IBIOS will create a stock reservation linked to the customer’s account. The units will be held for the agreed collection or delivery date. Staff can see the reservation in the order dashboard and process the invoice from the same record.
Can a trade customer update or cancel a reservation by calling?
Coming soon. Once the AI Receptionist launches, if a trade customer calls to change or cancel an existing reservation, the AI will identify their account, retrieve the open reservation, and log the change. If the change requires staff confirmation (e.g. a significant quantity increase), the AI will flag it for callback. Simple cancellations will be processed immediately with a confirmation SMS sent to the customer.
Does IBIOS track repeat trade orders for each account?
Yes. Every trade order is linked to the account record. IBIOS shows the full order history per trade customer, including products ordered, quantities, dates, and values. This makes it easy to spot which trade accounts are most active, identify patterns, and manage stock levels based on known repeat demand.
Related features
Coming soon: never let a trade customer hold while your showroom is busy.
The IBIOS Receptionist (coming soon) will process trade orders during the call. Early access by waiting list.