VS
Balto

Sonant vs Balto: Insurance AI Receptionist vs Real-Time Call Guidance

Sonant and Balto both leverage AI to improve phone conversations but serve different use cases. Sonant is an AI receptionist that handles calls autonomously with native AMS integration, plus Coaching Insights for agent performance. Balto provides real-time guidance to human agents during live calls. Compare autonomous AI handling vs. human agent assistance.

Why agencies prefer Sonant

43%
Productivity increased
From 70 tasks per day to 100 by cutting 25-30% of the workload that typically takes 8-12 minutes.
100%
Coverage
Never miss a call - 24/7 availability including after hours and weekends.
8+
Integrations
Native AMS connections including EZLynx, Applied Epic, and Hawksoft.
0
Missed Calls
Eliminate voicemail and ensure every customer reaches someone immediately.

AI Call Technology:

Quick Comparison

Sonant is an AI receptionist built exclusively for P&C insurance agencies with native AMS integrations (EZLynx, Applied Epic, Hawksoft, Momentum), insurance-specific terminology training, and enterprise-grade security (SOC2 Type 2, GDPR certified). The platform handles incoming phone calls 24/7 autonomously, plus offers Coaching Insights to analyze agent calls and improve performance.

Balto is a real-time AI call guidance platform founded in 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri. With $52M in funding and 170+ employees, Balto provides live prompts, compliance checklists, and coaching alerts to human agents during calls. The platform serves contact centers across insurance, healthcare, and financial services with SOC 2, HIPAA, and PCI compliance.

Choose Sonant if you need AI to handle calls autonomously AND want coaching insights to improve your human agents' performance.

Choose Balto if you have a contact center with human agents who need real-time prompts and guidance during calls.

Michelle O'ConnorMichelle O'Connor
We were getting disrupted constantly (...) My team couldn't focus on insurance consultations because they were always picking up the phone just to transfer calls to someone else.
Michelle O'Connor
President at O'Connor Insurance and Associates

AI Capabilities Autonomous Handling vs. Agent Assistance

24/7 AI Receptionist Coverage

Round-the-clock phone answering ensuring insurance agencies never miss calls during nights, weekends, or holidays.

White-Glove setup

Implementation in under 30 days with dedicated developers and insurance AI specialists.

Insurance specific

Pre-trained on P&C insurance terminology, policy types, and agency workflows. No custom training required.

Native AMS integrations

Direct sync with Momentum, Hawksoft, EZLynx, Applied Epic, and 8+ major AMS and BMS.

VS
Balto

Side-by-side Feature Comparison between Sonant and Balto

Features
Why It Matters
Balto
Industry Focus
Specialized training and workflows

P&C Insurance Agencies Only
Contact Centers (Insurance, Healthcare, Finance)
AMS Integrations
Native connections to insurance agency platforms
Leading AMS platforms: EZLynx, Applied Epic, Hawksoft, Momentum, QQCatalyst, AgencyZoom, Zywave, and more
CRM integrations (Salesforce); no native insurance AMS
Communication Channels
How customers reach you
Inbound and Outbound Phone Calls and Texting
Voice (assists human agents)
Primary Use Case
Best suited for
P&C agency phone automation
Real-time agent guidance and QA
Insurance Terminology
Understanding industry language
Pre-trained on P&C retail agency terms, policy types, workflows
Multi-industry (insurance is one vertical)
Implementation
Getting started, time to results
White-glove onboarding with insurance specialists (<30 days)
45 days to fully live
Conversation Quality
Natural interaction quality
Optimized for natural insurance phone conversations
Real-time prompts and guidance for humans
Security Certifications
Enterprise compliance
SOC2 Type 2, GDPR certified
SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI Compliant
Pricing Structure
Cost model
Custom pricing based on agency size
~$100+/user/month (custom quotes)
Customer Base
Who uses it
100+ P&C agencies and brokers across US & Canada
150+ contact centers, enterprise focus
24/7 Availability
Round-the-clock coverage
Yes
Yes (when agents are working)
Multilingual Support
Multiple languages
Yes, 10+ languages
Not specified
Call Transfer
Route to human agents
Yes, Intelligent routing to licensed agents
N/A - Assists human agents
Appointment Scheduling
Calendar integration
Yes, Syncs with agency calendars
N/A - Assists human agents
Quote Intake
Capture quote information
Yes, Automatically updates AMS
N/A - Assists human agents
Book a Demo

Sonant vs Balto: Different AI Approaches

Sonant: AI Receptionist + Coaching Insights

Sonant is an AI receptionist built exclusively for P&C insurance agencies and brokers. The platform handles incoming phone calls 24/7, managing quote requests, policy inquiries, appointment scheduling, and claims routing with insurance-specific training and native AMS integrations.

Sonant also offers Coaching Insights, which analyzes calls handled by your human agents to identify coaching opportunities, track performance metrics, and improve agent effectiveness over time.

Key Sonant Features:

  • AI receptionist for autonomous phone handling
  • Coaching Insights for agent performance analysis
  • Native AMS integrations (8+ platforms)
  • Insurance-specific training (P&C terminology)
  • 24/7 phone coverage
  • White-glove implementation (under 30 days)
  • Enterprise security (SOC2 Type 2, GDPR)
  • Proven 8X ROI within 30 days

Best For: P&C agencies wanting AI to handle calls AND improve human agent performance

Balto
Balto: Real-Time Agent Guidance

Balto is a real-time AI guidance platform founded in 2017 that pioneered the real-time guidance category for contact centers. The platform has delivered over 1 billion real-time recommendations and powered 400+ million calls.

Balto provides live assistance to human agents during calls—suggesting responses, displaying compliance checklists, and alerting supervisors to coaching moments as they happen.

Key Balto Features:

  • Real-time prompts during live calls
  • Compliance checklists and alerts
  • 100% automated QA scoring (not sampled)
  • Live coaching alerts for supervisors
  • Win Rate Analysis (A/B test phrases)
  • AI-powered call notetaker
  • 50+ integrations (Five9, Genesys, NICE, etc.)
  • SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI compliant

Best For: Contact centers with human agents needing real-time guidance during calls

Sonant vs Balto: Which AI Solution to Choose?

✅ Are an insurance agency or broker (not a carrier)

✅ Offer P&C insurance products (auto, home, commercial lines)

✅ Need AI to handle calls autonomously 24/7

✅ Use an AMS like EZLynx, Applied Epic, or Hawksoft

✅ Want both AI call handling AND coaching insights

✅ Need insurance-specific training and terminology

✅ Want turnkey implementation (under 30 days)

✅ Require SOC2 Type 2 and GDPR security certifications

  • AI handles calls autonomously + Coaching Insights
  • Purpose-built for P&C insurance agencies

Sonant: Best for P&C Insurance Agencies

✅ Have a contact center with human agents

✅ Need real-time prompts during live calls

✅ Want compliance monitoring as calls happen

✅ Need automated QA scoring for 100% of calls

✅ Want to A/B test agent language/phrases

✅ Use CCaaS like Five9, Genesys, or NICE

✅ Need supervisor alerts for coaching moments

  • 1 billion+ real-time recommendations delivered
  • Real-time guidance during live human calls

Balto: Best for Contact Center Guidance

The Bottom Line

Sonant is the best choice for P&C insurance agencies who want AI to handle calls autonomously AND want Coaching Insights to improve human agent performance—all with native AMS integration.

Balto is the best choice for contact centers with large human agent teams who need real-time guidance, compliance monitoring, and automated QA during live calls.

The key difference: Sonant's AI handles calls autonomously (replacing the need for some human calls) while also coaching agents. Balto assists human agents in real-time but doesn't handle calls itself.

Disclaimer: This comparison was created using publicly available information from Balto's website and public sources. We encourage you to visit balto.ai for the most current information.

Frequently Asked Questions

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How long does it take to implement AI for an insurance agency?

Sonant deploys in under 30 days with white-glove onboarding including workflow analysis, AMS integration setup, custom configuration, and staff training. Generic voice AI platforms require 2-6 months of development work. Traditional answering services need 1-2 weeks for operator training but lack automation capabilities.

Do I need technical expertise to use insurance AI software?

Sonant requires no technical expertise. The platform includes guided setup, pre-built insurance workflows, and dedicated support. DIY platforms like Retell require developer resources to build and maintain your voice AI system. Sonant handles all technical complexity while you focus on your agency operations.

What if I switch AMS platforms in the future?

Sonant's multi-platform support means you can switch AMS systems without losing AI functionality. The platform supports migrations and includes integration setup as part of standard service. Agencies locked into custom-built solutions face costly redevelopment when changing systems.

Can AI integrate with multiple insurance software systems?

Sonant supports 8+ AMS and BMS platforms simultaneously, making it ideal for agencies using multiple systems or considering a platform switch. The integrations include bi-directional data sync, automatic call logging, and real-time updates. Generic platforms typically require custom integration work for each system.

Which AI platforms integrate with EZLynx and Applied Epic?

Sonant offers native integrations with EZLynx, Applied Epic, Hawksoft, Momentum, QQCatalyst, AMS360, AgencyZoom, and Zywave. Most voice AI platforms don't provide pre-built insurance software integrations, requiring expensive custom development. Sonant automatically syncs call data, quote requests, and client information to your AMS in real-time.

Do AI receptionists understand insurance terminology?

Sonant is trained on thousands of P&C insurance conversations and understands complex terms like "additional insured," "named insured exclusion," "scheduled equipment," and "loss runs." The system recognizes policy types across auto, home, and commercial lines. Generic AI platforms misinterpret insurance-specific language without extensive custom training.

Can AI handle multilingual insurance calls?

Sonant supports 10+ languages including English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Mandarin with seamless language switching during conversations. This capability is essential for agencies serving diverse communities. Most voice AI platforms support only English or charge premium fees for additional languages.

How do AI receptionists route calls to human agents?

Sonant uses intelligent routing logic to determine when calls need human expertise versus AI handling. The system recognizes complex scenarios like detailed claims discussions, specific agent requests, or unusual policy questions and transfers seamlessly. Routing rules are customizable based on your agency's workflows and improve through machine learning.

What happens if the AI doesn't understand a customer?

Sonant asks natural clarifying questions and escalates to human agents for ambiguous situations. The platform maintains over 90% call handling accuracy for routine insurance inquiries. All conversations are transcribed and analyzed to continuously improve understanding and responses.

How much does AI software cost for insurance agencies?

Pricing varies by provider and features. Full-time receptionists cost $35,000-50,000 annually. Traditional answering services run $2,500-4,000 monthly. Enterprise-grade AI platforms like Sonant deliver 8X ROI through eliminated missed calls, staff time savings, and after-hours coverage. Contact Sonant for pricing tailored to your agency size and call volume.

What ROI can insurance agencies expect from AI automation?

P&C agencies using Sonant report 8X return on investment within 30 days. Quantified benefits include 50-58 hours saved monthly on administrative calls, zero missed after-hours opportunities, reduced staff burnout, and improved client satisfaction. O'Connor Insurance achieved 8X ROI with over 90% call handling accuracy in their first month.

Are there hidden costs with insurance AI platforms?

Sonant's pricing includes setup, AMS integrations, training, ongoing support, and platform updates with no surprise charges. Some platforms charge separately for integrations, per-call fees, language support, or premium features. Always review complete pricing including implementation, monthly fees, and additional services.

How does AI pricing compare to hiring insurance staff?

A full-time receptionist costs $35,000-50,000 annually plus benefits, vacation coverage, and training. AI platforms like Sonant work 24/7 without breaks, handle unlimited concurrent calls, and cost a fraction of human staff while delivering consistent performance. Most agencies recover their investment within the first month.

Can AI platforms comply with insurance regulations?

Sonant is designed for US and Canadian insurance compliance requirements. The system maintains proper call recordings, ensures data handling meets state regulatory standards, and doesn't provide unauthorized insurance advice. The platform is built for P&C insurance agency operations and continuously updated for regulatory compliance.

How is customer data protected with AI receptionists?

Sonant uses encrypted data transmission, SOC2-certified infrastructure, secure AMS integrations, and regular security audits. All client information is handled according to insurance industry best practices. The platform provides audit trails, access controls, and meets enterprise security requirements for agencies of all sizes.

Are AI platforms suitable for enterprise insurance brokers?

Yes, Sonant serves both independent agencies and enterprise brokers with SOC2 Type 2 certification, GDPR compliance, and enterprise-grade security. The platform scales to handle high call volumes, supports multiple office locations, and provides centralized management. Enterprise features include advanced reporting, custom integrations, and dedicated support.

Is AI software secure for insurance client data?

Sonant is SOC2 Type 2 and GDPR certified with enterprise-grade security specifically designed for sensitive insurance information. The platform uses encrypted data storage, secure API connections to AMS systems, and follows insurance industry compliance standards. Always verify that any AI platform meets proper security certifications before handling client data.