How Virtual Assistants Can Impact the Future of Business
It was during the early 1990s when a woman named Stacy Brice introduced the concept of virtual assistance. Her vision of a remote employee offering secretarial duties remained the same over the years. The only difference now is that it has become an accepted and respected profession.
Virtual assistants and other outsourced services have a total value of approximately $62 billion. This industry has the potential to grow significantly in the next few years, according to Statista.
As the world transitions quickly to digital, will virtual receptionists be part of its future? Let’s take a look at how their industry will continue to have an impact on businesses.
It Will Remain an Important First Point of Contact
Trust is becoming an increasingly important factor for businesses in the digital age. The cultivation of trust and reputation has become mandatory for any business regardless of size.
Having a positive first point of contact (POC) will still be as important tomorrow as yesterday. Virtual assistants and virtual answering services have been specializing in this field since their industry’s inception.
Whether to answer a customer inquiry about a service or address their complaints and problems, virtual receptionists will be there in some shape or form. They will remain an essential first POC.
Hosting interviews, training someone new, or advertising a new position can be time-consuming and expensive, especially for startups. As more processes are included in running a business, the need for virtual assistants will grow, along with their role to maintain corporate efficiency.
It Will Be Powered By Remote Workers
The pandemic has prompted many companies and workers to adapt by working remotely. However, the concept of remote work is not new. Before the pandemic, at least 70% of professionals already work remotely once a week, and 53% work remotely half of the week. We can expect this trend to continue.
Companies will have to adopt the practice of employing workers virtually from overseas. This means businesses will attract the best talent for their operations and be more open to outsourcing administrative tasks to BPO companies.
As a result, virtual assistance businesses will have to meet this growing demand from various fields by recruiting remote employees of their own or partnering up with freelancers online.
AI Will Eventually Be Integrated
Artificial intelligence is inevitable. In some ways, it’s already here. The rise of AI-powered personal assistants can already be experienced through Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri.
Companies and brands also utilize them as the first POC through innovative chatbots and similar customer-facing processes.
AI promises to increase productivity and efficiency by automating repetitive or redundant tasks. These AI solutions can be used to streamline operations and free up resources.
These same promises and solutions are what virtual assistants initially offer. However, artificial intelligence has not come to replace humans. Eighty-six percent of consumers still prefer people over AI-based technology like bots. AI will be integrated into the various processes used by virtual assistants. They’ll work in tandem to offer far more efficient and productive solutions.
Due to rapid globalization and evolving technology, businesses will have more affordable options to grow. Virtual receptionists, assistants, and answering services will expand to meet industry demand.
As a business, you need to adapt to changes in your market or industry. Investing in virtual assistant services is one of the innovative ways to expand and thrive.