Zephaux for Locksmiths — AI Phone Dispatch for Locksmith Services
Locksmiths run on the phone. A missed call at 2 AM is a lockout job that goes to the next shop on the list. This page explains how Zephaux is designed to handle locksmith-specific intake, pricing, service area, and dispatch — and what you can configure in the app today versus what requires a connected voice provider (which is planned).
Why locksmith phone intake is different
Locksmith calls tend to fall into two extremes. Emergency lockouts are urgent, often after hours, and the caller wants a fast answer and a tech on the way. Routine work — rekeys, lock changes, safe openings — is more consultative, with the caller shopping for price and availability. A single intake script does not fit both. Zephaux lets you configure separate service types, pricing approaches, and urgency rules so the AI agent handles each call appropriately.
For a full breakdown of what information every locksmith call should capture, see our Locksmith Phone Intake Checklist.
Locksmith use cases you can configure today
The following configurations are all editable in the Zephaux app right now. None of them require a voice provider — they prepare your account for when live call answering is available.
Emergency lockout routing
Lockouts are the highest-value, highest-urgency calls a locksmith receives. In Zephaux today you can define an emergency lockout service type with its own pricing rule (typically a flat emergency rate plus a possible trip fee), set it to override normal business-hours logic, and flag it for immediate owner or on-call technician escalation. The AI agent persona can be configured to prioritize urgency detection so a locked-out caller is not put through a lengthy intake script.
Automotive vs. residential vs. commercial
These three locksmith disciplines have different intake requirements and pricing structures. In the app you can create separate service entries for each:
- Automotive — requires vehicle make, model, and year to match technician skills and estimate key or lockout complexity.
- Residential — typically rekeys, lock changes, and lockouts at a home address; pricing is often more predictable.
- Commercial — may involve master key systems, access control, or high-security cylinders; often requires an on-site inspection before a firm quote.
By separating these service types, the AI agent can ask the right follow-up questions and apply the correct pricing rule for each. For more on how to structure this intake, see Locksmith Phone Intake Checklist.
Pricing for service types
Locksmith pricing is not one-size-fits-all. Zephaux supports three pricing approaches you can assign per service today:
- Fixed price — for predictable jobs like a standard residential rekey.
- Price range — for jobs with known variability, like a lock change where hardware cost depends on the lock chosen.
- Inspection-required — for complex jobs where a firm quote is not possible without seeing the lock, vehicle, or property. The AI agent would provide a starting price or trip fee and schedule an on-site assessment.
For a detailed guide to configuring these and when to use each, read Phone Quotes and Arrival Windows.
Service area by ZIP code
Locksmiths serve defined geographic zones, and drive time directly affects profitability. In the app today you can enter the specific ZIP codes or regions you cover. When the voice provider is connected, the design is for the AI agent to validate the caller's location against your service area before booking — and to refer callers outside your area politely rather than scheduling a job you cannot serve. You can also configure travel fees or boundary pricing to account for longer drives.
After-hours emergency handling
Most locksmiths offer some form of after-hours emergency service, but the pricing and routing are different from daytime work. In Zephaux today you can configure after-hours settings, an emergency service rate that differs from your standard pricing, and on-call technician availability. The design is for after-hours emergency calls to route directly to your on-call tech or to the AI agent using the emergency rate — without the caller navigating a menu. This routing depends on a connected voice provider, which is planned.
Call forwarding: how it is planned to work
Zephaux does not require you to give up your existing phone number. The plan is to use conditional call forwarding, set on your existing cell or business line through your carrier, so that calls forward to a future assigned Zephaux AI number under specific conditions:
- No-answer forwarding — if you do not pick up after a set number of rings, the call forwards to Zephaux.
- Busy forwarding — if you are on another call, the caller goes to Zephaux instead of voicemail.
- Always forwarding — all calls go straight to Zephaux, useful for after-hours or when you want full coverage.
The advantage of conditional forwarding is that you keep your published number, and you can turn forwarding off at any time through your carrier. This is different from number porting, which permanently transfers your number to another provider. For a full comparison, read Call Forwarding vs Number Porting.
Status: Voice provider connection is planned and not yet available. The assigned Zephaux number and carrier-specific forwarding instructions will be provided when the service is live. You can configure all other settings in the app today.
What you can do right now
For a locksmith evaluating Zephaux, the practical starting point is configuration. You can set up your service types, pricing rules, service area ZIP codes, technician skills, AI agent persona, and after-hours emergency settings — then test the dispatch logic in the Test Lab simulator. Before live call answering and booking can launch, the following must be completed: a voice provider connection with verified inbound routing, the server-side booking migration and capacity checks, a customer notification delivery provider (email or SMS), and an end-to-end test of the full call-to-booking flow. Carrier forwarding setup depends on your provider and will be guided when the service is ready.
For the full setup walkthrough, see How Zephaux Works. For guides on call forwarding, phone intake, and quoting, visit the Resources hub.
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