The internet has a lot of information. But when you need specific, up-to-date answers—current pricing, real availability, actual terms—you still have to pick up the phone.
Websites show outdated pricing. Online forms get slow responses. Chat widgets lead to "someone will call you back." For professionals making business decisions, the most reliable way to get accurate information is still a direct conversation.
The problem is that research calls are time-intensive. Each call involves navigating a phone menu, waiting on hold, explaining your needs, asking questions, and taking notes. Multiply that by five vendors, and you've lost half a day.
That's time you could spend on the work that actually requires your expertise.
Why research still requires phone calls
Despite the rise of online tools, many business-critical details are only available by phone. Custom pricing depends on your volume, location, and timeline. Availability changes daily. Contract terms vary by client. And the person who can give you the real answer is often only reachable by calling.
This is especially true for:
- B2B vendor pricing (often "contact us" on websites)
- Insurance plan specifics (deductibles, coverage, enrollment)
- Service provider availability (contractors, consultants, specialists)
- Reference checks and credential verification
- Local business information (hours, policies, inventory)
Types of research AI can handle
KallyAI handles research that requires phone calls and follow-up emails. Here are the most common use cases:
Vendor and supplier research
- Calling multiple suppliers for pricing quotes
- Comparing lead times, minimums, and terms
- Checking inventory and availability
- Asking about volume discounts and payment options
Service provider research
- Comparing pricing from accountants, lawyers, or consultants
- Checking availability and consultation fees
- Asking about specializations and experience
- Verifying credentials and references
Market and competitive research
- Calling competitors to understand their pricing and offerings
- Checking market rates for services
- Gathering information on industry standards
- Verifying claims made on websites
Due diligence and verification
- Confirming business information (hours, location, licensing)
- Verifying references provided by vendors
- Checking insurance and certification status
- Validating claims from proposals or pitches
Insurance and benefits research
- Comparing coverage options across providers
- Verifying what's covered under your plan
- Getting pre-authorization information
- Understanding deductibles, copays, and limits
Stop spending afternoons on research calls
KallyAI calls the vendors, collects the answers, and delivers a structured comparison. You review results instead of navigating phone menus.
Try KallyAI for $1How AI research works: Step by step
- Define your research brief. Tell KallyAI what you need to know. Be specific about the questions to ask and the vendors to call.
Example: "Call these 5 office furniture vendors and ask about: (1) pricing for 20 standing desks, (2) bulk discount for 20+ units, (3) delivery timeline to 123 Main St, (4) warranty terms, (5) return policy." - Review the plan. KallyAI shows you exactly what will happen: which numbers will be called, what questions will be asked, and what follow-up emails will be sent if needed.
- Approve and go. One tap. KallyAI handles the calls while you do other work.
- Get structured results. For each vendor, you receive: full call transcript, summary of answers to your specific questions, any documents or follow-ups the vendor promised, and a compiled comparison across all vendors.
Real scenarios: AI research in action
Scenario 1: Office relocation research
A COO needs to compare moving companies for a 50-person office relocation.
Task: "Call these 4 commercial movers and ask about: pricing for 50-person office move within the city, available dates in April, insurance coverage, packing services, and IT equipment handling."
Result: Four calls completed in one afternoon. Side-by-side comparison delivered with pricing, availability, and service details. COO makes a decision in 20 minutes instead of spending 3 hours on the phone.
Scenario 2: Software vendor evaluation
A startup founder evaluating CRM platforms needs to understand pricing beyond what's on the website.
Task: "Call Salesforce, HubSpot, and Pipedrive sales teams. Ask about: startup pricing for a 10-person team, annual vs monthly billing, onboarding support included, and data migration assistance."
Result: Three calls completed. Clear comparison of actual pricing (not "contact us" pricing), onboarding details, and migration support. Founder avoids three 30-minute sales pitches.
Scenario 3: Insurance plan comparison
A small business owner comparing health insurance for their team.
Task: "Call Blue Cross, Aetna, and United Healthcare. Ask about: group plans for 15 employees, monthly premiums, deductible options, dental and vision add-ons, and enrollment deadlines."
Result: Three calls completed with detailed plan breakdowns. Owner can compare apples-to-apples instead of deciphering different plan documents.
What AI research delivers
Every research task produces:
| Deliverable | What it includes |
|---|---|
| Call transcripts | Word-for-word record of each conversation |
| Answer summaries | Your specific questions mapped to each vendor's answers |
| Comparison overview | Side-by-side view of key data points |
| Follow-up tracking | Notes on any promised callbacks, emails, or documents |
| Action items | Clear next steps based on what was learned |
You get proof of every interaction. No more "I think they said..." or "what was the price they quoted?"
When to use AI vs. research yourself
Use AI for:
- First-round research to gather baseline data
- High-volume calls (5+ vendors for the same questions)
- Standard information gathering (pricing, availability, terms)
- Calls where you're collecting, not negotiating
- Research you keep putting off because the calls take too long
Do it yourself for:
- Final-round negotiations with your top 2–3 options
- Complex technical discussions requiring back-and-forth
- Relationship-building calls with key partners
- Situations requiring judgment about what to ask next
- Sensitive information that requires your direct involvement
The best approach: let AI do the wide research, then you do the deep follow-up with your shortlisted options.
Time and cost comparison
| Manual research | AI-powered research | |
|---|---|---|
| Time for 5 vendor calls | 2–4 hours | 5 minutes (setup) + review |
| Hold time absorbed | By you | By AI |
| Note-taking | Manual, often incomplete | Full transcripts, automatic |
| Comparison | You build the spreadsheet | AI compiles it |
| Follow-ups tracked | In your head or notebook | AI tracks and executes |
| Callbacks | You wait by the phone | AI handles them |
| Cost at $150/hr exec time | $300–600 per project | Starting at $9/month |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of questions can AI ask during research calls?
Any factual question: pricing, availability, timelines, terms, policies, specifications, requirements. AI handles information gathering well. It's not suited for negotiation or persuasion.
Can AI call businesses that use complex phone menus?
Yes. KallyAI navigates phone menus, waits on hold, and reaches the right department. That's often the most time-consuming part of research calls.
What if a vendor wants to email information instead of giving it over the phone?
KallyAI can handle email follow-ups as part of the same task. If a vendor says "I'll email you the pricing sheet," the AI tracks that and includes it in your results.
How many vendors can AI call in one research project?
There's no fixed limit. Common research tasks involve 3–10 calls. Each call is a separate task, but you can submit them all at once.
Is AI research accurate?
Every call produces a full transcript, so you can verify exactly what was said. AI reports what it hears—it doesn't interpret or assume. The transcripts are your source of truth.
Start researching smarter
Stop spending your afternoons on research calls. KallyAI calls the vendors, collects the answers, and delivers a comparison. Try it for $1 with 100 credits.
Try KallyAI for $1