What Are Custom Variables in Voice AI Prompts?

Custom variables let you personalize Voice AI conversations by dynamically inserting parent and family details into your prompts. Instead of generic responses, your Voice AI can reference specific information about each caller, making interactions feel natural and contextual.

Think of it like this: instead of saying "Thank you for calling," your Voice AI can say "Hi Sarah, thanks for calling about Lucas's enrollment!"

Why Use Custom Variables?

Personalized Conversations
Your Voice AI can greet parents by name and reference their child's information, making calls feel more human and less automated.

Better Context
Pull in existing family details so your Voice AI can provide relevant responses without asking parents to repeat information you already have.

Improved Parent Experience
When your Voice AI knows who's calling and can reference their specific situation, parents feel heard and valued.

Easy Setup
Add custom variables using a simple tagging format—no technical expertise required.

How to Add Custom Variables to Your Voice AI Prompts

[SCREENSHOT: Voice AI settings navigation showing Agent Goals section]

  1. Open Agent Goals
    Click Settings in your Enrollio dashboard, then select Voice AI. Navigate to Agent Goals for the Voice AI agent you want to customize.
  2. Access Advanced Goals
    Within Agent Goals, click on Advanced Goals to access the prompt editor.
  3. Choose Your Variables
    Click the variable selector to see available options, or manually type variables using this format: {{contact.name}} for the parent's name.
  4. Insert Variables in Your Prompt
    Place variables where they make sense conversationally. For example: "Hi {{contact.first_name}}, I see you're interested in enrollment for {{contact.child_name}}."
  5. Save and Test
    Save your changes and run a test call to confirm variables populate correctly before going live.

[SCREENSHOT: Advanced Goals prompt editor showing example of custom variables being used in a Voice AI prompt]

Best Practices for Custom Variables

Use Variables Strategically
Only include variables that add value. A parent's name and child's name are useful; their street address in every sentence is not.

Test Before You Launch
Make test calls to verify that variables pull the right information. Nothing undermines trust faster than wrong details.

Keep It Natural
Don't overload prompts with too many variables. Your Voice AI should sound conversational, not like it's reading a database report.

Maintain Clean Data
Regularly update parent and family information in Enrollio. Outdated details (like using an old child's name) will confuse parents and hurt your credibility.

Pro Tip: Create different Voice AI prompts for different enrollment stages. A prompt for initial inquiries might focus on the parent's name and inquiry date, while a tour follow-up prompt can reference the specific program and tour date.

Common Variables You Can Use

Here are the most useful custom variables for childcare centers:

  • {{contact.first_name}} — Parent's first name
  • {{contact.name}} — Parent's full name
  • {{contact.phone}} — Parent's phone number
  • {{contact.email}} — Parent's email address
  • Additional custom fields you've created for child names, ages, program interests, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of custom variables can I use?
You can use system-defined variables like {{contact.name}} and {{contact.phone}}, plus any custom fields you've created in Enrollio for tracking family details.

Does this work for all Voice AI agents?
Yes, custom variable support is available for all Voice AI agents configured with Advanced Goals.

Can I create my own custom variables?
You can use any custom fields you've added to your parent records in Enrollio. The system-defined contact variables (name, phone, email) are built-in, and you can reference your custom fields using the same format.

How do I test if variables are working correctly?
After setting up your variables, make a test call using a known parent record. Listen to confirm the Voice AI pulls and speaks the correct information.

What happens if a variable is empty?
If a parent record doesn't have data for a specific variable, the Voice AI will skip that part or use a fallback phrase if you've configured one. This is why keeping your parent data complete is important.

Next Steps

Ready to personalize your Voice AI conversations? Navigate to Voice AI settings, open Agent Goals, and start adding custom variables to your prompts. Your parents will appreciate the personalized touch, and your enrollment team will benefit from more engaging, context-aware calls.