# Introduction to Agents

> Create agents that answer calls, help your customers, and record what happens in your business.

Sidemex Agents brings agent configuration, telephony, and results into one dashboard. Give each agent a clear task, provide approved business information, and test its responses before it starts serving customers.

## Choose an agent for your task

| Agent | When to use it | Start here |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **AI receptionist** | Answer incoming calls, explain your business, and handle reservations. | [Create your first agent](https://docs.sidemex.app/en/agents/quickstart/) |
| **Calling agent** | Call leads through a campaign, qualify interest, and record appointment requests. | [Outbound campaigns](https://docs.sidemex.app/en/agents/campaigns/) |
| **Ad planner** | Prepare proposals and creative assets with SDMX; the dashboard labels it as beta. | [SDMX and approvals](https://docs.sidemex.app/en/agents/sdmx/) |

## How a voice agent works

Each call combines **instructions**, **knowledge**, **voice**, and **allowed actions**. The agent listens, responds using your business information, and uses enabled actions to capture a lead, request an appointment, or check availability.

**Telephony** controls how calls reach or leave your agent and where to transfer them when a person needs help. Call history records the available status and results so you can review the interaction.

## From setup to operation

1. **Prepare:** choose the business and define the goal.
2. **Design:** configure behavior, voice, and actions.
3. **Connect:** set up a number and a fallback route.
4. **Test:** review a real conversation.
5. **Activate:** select a published version.
6. **Improve:** review calls, reservations, and results.

[Start setup →](https://docs.sidemex.app/en/agents/quickstart/) · [Explore the dashboard →](https://docs.sidemex.app/en/agents/dashboard/)

> **Availability in your account**
Voices, numbers, integrations, and features depend on your account access and plan. Check the dashboard status to see what you can activate.

## Three useful concepts

- **Draft:** configuration you can continue editing.
- **Published version:** a fixed configuration ready for operation.
- **Active version:** the version used by new calls.

Saving a change does not replace the active version. Read [Versions and activation](https://docs.sidemex.app/en/agents/versions/) before changing an agent that already serves customers.

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https://docs.sidemex.app/en/agents/introduction/