If you need to record sales calls and get them transcribed for compliance or training, you want it to just work—without headaches, legal risks, or awkward surprises. This guide is for sales managers, compliance folks, and anyone wrestling with Salesken’s call recording setup. I’ll walk you through what matters, what’s fluff, and how to avoid common mistakes.
Why Set Up Call Recording and Transcription (and What to Watch Out For)
Recording and transcribing sales calls isn’t just about covering yourself legally—though that’s a big part of it. It’s about building a real record you can use to coach your team, settle disputes, or prove you’re following the rules.
But let’s be honest: call recording gets tricky fast. You’ve got privacy laws, technical hiccups, and often salespeople who’d rather not be recorded. And not every tool does what it claims, or works the way you’d expect.
Salesken offers built-in call recording and transcription. It’s useful, but it’s not magic. Here’s how to get it working—the right way.
Step 1: Make Sure You’re Allowed to Record
Don’t skip this. Seriously. Every state (and country) handles call recording laws differently.
- One-party consent means only one person (that’s you or your team) has to know about the recording.
- Two-party (or all-party) consent means everyone on the call has to agree.
What to do: - Check your local laws. The U.S. is a patchwork; Europe’s different again. - If you’re calling across state or international borders, follow the strictest law that applies. - Don’t rely on “everyone else does it”—that won’t help if you get audited or sued.
Pro tip: Add a short, clear notification at the start of every call (“This call may be recorded for quality and training purposes”). Salesken can help automate this, but check the wording and make sure it’s enabled.
Step 2: Set Up Call Recording in Salesken
Assuming you’re covered legally, let’s get Salesken’s call recording turned on. Here’s what the process usually looks like:
- Log in as an Admin.
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Only admins can set up or change call recording settings. If you’re not an admin, talk to whoever manages Salesken at your company.
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Go to the Settings Menu.
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Look for “Call Settings” or “Telephony Integration.” The names shift slightly depending on your setup or if your Salesken account is customized.
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Find the Call Recording Option.
- There should be a toggle or dropdown for “Call Recording.”
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Decide if you want to record all calls, or only certain types (outbound, inbound, by team, etc.).
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Enable Recording.
- Flip the switch. Some versions let you set up automatic versus manual recording.
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If you want reps to choose when to record, leave it manual—but most folks just automate it.
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Set Up Notifications.
- Make sure the “call recording disclaimer” is turned on if you need it for legal reasons.
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Double-check the language and test it on a live call.
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Save and Test.
- Make a test call. Check if it records, and that the disclaimer plays if needed.
- Play back the recording. If it’s missing, choppy, or silent—that’s a red flag. Fix it before rolling out.
Things to watch for: - Third-party integrations: If you’re using Zoom, Teams, or another dialer inside Salesken, recording might not work unless you connect it properly. - Mobile app support: Some mobile calls can’t be recorded due to OS restrictions. Test both desktop and mobile if your team uses both. - Storage limits: If your plan has limits, old recordings might get deleted sooner than you’d like. Download anything critical.
Step 3: Enable and Configure Transcription
Recording is half the battle. Transcription is where you get searchable, reviewable content for compliance or training. Here’s what you need to know:
- Find the Transcription Settings.
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In most Salesken setups, transcription is bundled with call recording. You’ll see “Transcription” (sometimes under “AI Features” or “Conversation Intelligence”).
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Enable Transcription.
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Turn it on. Some accounts have this enabled by default, but check anyway.
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Choose the Language and Accuracy Settings.
- Pick the language(s) your team uses. If you work in a region with lots of accents or code-switching, test how well the transcription handles it.
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Higher accuracy settings might cost more or take longer to process.
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Set Up Access Controls.
- Decide who can see or search transcripts. For compliance, limit it to managers or compliance officers.
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Make sure sensitive data (credit cards, personal info) is redacted if needed. Some platforms claim to do this automatically, but don’t just trust the marketing—test it.
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Test with Real Calls.
- Run a few test calls with different accents, background noise, and scenarios.
- Review the transcripts. Are key terms misheard? Is anything missed? If it’s garbage, don’t expect it to magically improve in production.
What works: - Having searchable transcripts saves hours when you need to prove what was said. - Most reps get comfortable with it quickly, as long as you’re transparent.
What doesn’t: - Transcription accuracy drops fast with heavy accents, crosstalk, or lousy mics. - Don’t expect 100% accuracy—review anything important.
Step 4: Integrate with Your CRM or Compliance Tools (Optional, but Recommended)
Salesken can push call recordings and transcripts into your CRM (like Salesforce), or compliance archiving tools. This helps keep everything in one place—and is a lifesaver if you ever have to do an audit.
- Connect Your CRM in Salesken Settings.
- Look for “Integrations” or “Connected Apps.”
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Authenticate your CRM or compliance system.
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Map Data Fields.
- Decide how calls and transcripts get logged—attached to leads, deals, or contacts.
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Check if recordings are stored as links or actual files.
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Set Retention Policies.
- Decide how long recordings and transcripts are kept.
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Match your internal compliance policy (some industries require years, others less).
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Test Everything.
- Do a test call, see if it lands in the right spot in your CRM or archive.
- Make sure permissions are tight—compliance data isn’t something to leave open.
Ignore: Over-complicating this step with endless custom fields or integrations you’ll never use. Start simple; you can always expand.
Step 5: Train Your Team and Set Expectations
Tech is only half the battle. People need to know what’s happening and why.
- Tell your team what’s being recorded and transcribed. Don’t surprise them.
- Clarify what’s being reviewed. If it’s just for coaching or compliance, say so. If you’re measuring performance, be upfront.
- Give them access to their own recordings. Most salespeople want to get better (or at least know what’s being tracked).
Pro tip: Make call review part of regular coaching, not a “gotcha.” People buy in faster.
Step 6: Monitor, Maintain, and Adjust
Once you’re up and running, don’t just set it and forget it.
- Review random calls and transcripts monthly. Spot accuracy issues or compliance gaps.
- Update your disclaimer if laws change. (They do—often.)
- Audit storage and access. Make sure old calls are deleted on schedule and only the right folks can listen in.
If problems pop up—like missing recordings, or transcripts full of errors—fix them fast. The worst time to discover a broken system is during a compliance review.
What to Skip (and What Not to Worry About)
- Don’t chase AI “insights” if you just need basic recording/transcription. Fancy dashboards look cool but rarely matter for compliance.
- Skip manual tagging or note-taking unless your team is religious about it. Automation is your friend here.
- Don’t stress about absolute perfection. Aim for “good enough” recordings and transcripts, then improve as you go.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Tune as You Learn
Getting call recording and transcription set up in Salesken isn’t rocket science—but it’s not a “click once and walk away” job either. Focus on legal basics, clear communication with your team, and a system that actually works. Skip the shiny extras unless you need them. Iterate as you go, and you’ll avoid most of the pain points others run into.
If you keep it simple and stay honest about what’s working—and what isn’t—you’ll get the compliance and training benefits without drowning in complexity.