> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.routiq.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quickstart

> Connect your PMS, forward your clinic line, take your first AI-handled call. About 5 minutes.

<Info>
  **Why this matters.** Most clinics that sign up for an AI receptionist
  give up during onboarding because it takes three days. Routiq's setup
  is built so you can be live on the same call you book the demo on.
</Info>

## Before you start

You'll need:

* **Admin access** to your practice management system (Cliniko, Nookal, or PracSuite)
* **Your clinic phone number** — the one that already gets patient calls
* **5 minutes**

You will *not* need: a developer, a webhook URL, a credit card on the trial, or any change to your existing phone number. Robyn gets her own number; you forward to it.

## Setup

<Steps>
  <Step title="Sign up">
    Go to [app.routiq.ai/signup](https://app.routiq.ai/signup). Enter your email, clinic name, timezone, and which PMS you use.

    You'll land on the onboarding flow.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect your PMS">
    The setup form asks for an API key from your PMS. Walkthroughs:

    * **Cliniko users:** [Generate a Cliniko API key](/integrations/cliniko)
    * **Nookal users:** [Generate a Nookal API key](/integrations/nookal)
    * **PracSuite users:** [Generate a PracSuite account key](/integrations/pracsuite)

    Paste the key into Routiq and click **Connect**. Routiq verifies the connection and starts syncing your patients, appointments, practitioners, and locations. Initial sync takes 1–20 minutes depending on database size.

    <Tip>
      You can move to the next step while the sync runs in the background.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Provision your AI number">
    Routiq provisions a phone number for Robyn. The form asks for:

    * Country / region (for compliance with local provisioning rules)
    * Business name and address
    * In some jurisdictions, supporting documentation (utility bill, government ID)

    Most numbers are live within minutes. UK and US numbers can take up to a few hours due to carrier checks.

    Once your number is provisioned, you'll see it in the dashboard with a "test call" button — call it from your mobile to hear Robyn pick up.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Forward your clinic line to Robyn">
    Time for Robyn to start handling real calls. You forward your existing clinic number to her new AI number.

    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="Mobile / VoIP">
        In your phone provider's settings, find **Call Forwarding** or **Divert Calls**. Set the destination to your Routiq AI number. You can choose: forward 24/7, forward outside hours only, or forward only when you don't answer in N seconds.
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Landline">
        Dial **`*21*`** followed by your Routiq AI number, then `#` to activate. To deactivate later, dial **`#21#`**.
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="PBX / business phone system">
        Log into your PBX admin panel and configure call forwarding (or SIP routing) to your Routiq AI number. If you're not sure how, the BookedSolid-style instruction tabs in [Calls Channel](/channels/calls) cover the common providers.
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add your knowledge base">
    Robyn answers patient questions from a knowledge base you control. Three sources, mix and match:

    * **Your website URL** — Routiq crawls and indexes the public pages
    * **PDFs** — service descriptions, procedure info, FAQs you've already written
    * **Text notes** — directions, parking, public-holiday hours, anything specific

    See [Knowledge Base](/features/knowledge-base) for the deep walkthrough.

    <Tip>
      Don't aim for "complete" on day one. Robyn flags anything she couldn't answer as a *knowledge gap* in the dashboard — fill the most-asked ones first, ignore the long tail.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Customise escalation">
    Decide how Robyn hands off when she should. Options:

    * **Call transfer** — Robyn forwards the live call to a clinic line
    * **Email notification** — Robyn captures the patient's question and emails your team for callback
    * **Hybrid** — call transfer in business hours, email out of hours
    * **Per-practitioner routing** — "I want to see Dr Lin" emails Dr Lin

    See [Human Escalations](/features/human-escalations) for setup.
  </Step>

  <Step title="(Optional) Turn on outbound features">
    Once inbound is working, switch on the outbound work that recovers revenue:

    * [Appointment reminders](/outbound/appointment-reminders)
    * [Two-way confirmations](/outbound/appointment-confirmations)
    * [Patient follow-ups](/outbound/patient-follow-ups) (post-visit recall)
    * [Waiting list callbacks](/outbound/waiting-lists)
    * [Lapsed-patient reactivation](/outbound/lapsed-patient-reactivation) — Routiq's wedge feature
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Check>
  When you've got steps 1–6 done, Robyn is live. Step 7 is optional but
  this is where most clinics see their biggest revenue lift.
</Check>

## Common first-day questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="What if I want to test before forwarding my real number?">
    Skip step 4. Call Robyn's AI number directly — it works the same as a forwarded call. When you're satisfied, set the forward.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I monitor what Robyn is doing?">
    Every conversation appears in the dashboard with a transcript and (for calls) a recording. You can filter by channel, time range, escalation status, and outcome (booked / didn't book / escalated).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I un-forward instantly if something goes wrong?">
    Yes. Mobile/VoIP: toggle off in your provider's settings. Landline: dial `#21#`. The change takes effect immediately.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What does Robyn cost while she's running?">
    Inbound is included in your plan. Outbound (reminders, recalls, etc.) is metered — see the cost breakdown at the bottom of the **Outbound** page in the dashboard before you switch each instance on.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Next

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="How Robyn Works" icon="brain" href="/getting-started/how-robyn-works">
    The positioning, the boundaries, what Robyn decides vs. escalates.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Connect a channel" icon="phone" href="/channels/calls">
    Calls, SMS, email, WhatsApp, website widget — full setup per channel.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>