An autoattendant is a virtual receptionist that's used by companies to answer phone calls and route them appropriately. However, there are many other names for an autoattendant that you may come across. These include automated receptionist, virtual assistant, telephone routing system, interactive voice response system (IVR), call director, and digital receptionist. No matter what term is used, the function of the system is the same: to provide an efficient and professional way for businesses to manage their incoming calls. By using an autoattendant, companies can reduce the need for human receptionists and ensure that calls are always answered promptly and directed to the correct department or employee.