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What is a Virtual Receptionist?
Virtual receptionists streamline communication with customers and help enhance customer support systems. In this article, we’ll explore what a virtual receptionist is and how they help businesses.
A virtual receptionist can be customized with predefined protocols or custom instructions in various languages. The key difference between virtual receptionists and in-house receptionists is that they work remotely from a call center, provider’s office, or at home.
How Does a Virtual Receptionist Work?
Most virtual receptionists offer advanced capabilities like bilingual support, and they’re HIPAA compliant. They can be customized to answer calls, troubleshoot, or transfer calls to other departments.
Virtual receptionists can also be programmed to take messages or prompt voicemails, freeing up on-site teams to focus on other important work.
What Do Virtual Receptionists Do?
A virtual receptionist can do more than just answer calls. Here are other tasks they can help with:
How Much Does a Virtual Receptionist Cost?
If you consider monthly payments, you’ll be allowed a prepaid package with a set limit of minutes. With this, there will be monthly minimums on how many minutes you can use.
You can also go for tiered pricing, where you pay only for the services you want. If you only want automated call directing, choose a low-tier package. For advanced services like live agents answering FAQs, choose a higher-tier package.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Virtual Receptionists
Let’s look at some pros and cons of virtual receptionists:
Pros
- Save on hiring,?equipment, supplies, and office space
- They offer tailored responses and handle inquiries professionally
- Virtual receptionists work around the clock
- Cater to different languages
- Virtual receptionists are prompt, improving customer support
Cons
- They lack the personal touch of an on-site receptionist
- They follow scripts, so they can’t solve unique queries
- They’re not fully versed in the operation of a company
Bottom Line
By outsourcing customer support services, companies can save time, money, and staff resources and attract loyal customers, and as far as options go, companies are certainly spoiled for choice.
FAQs
Are virtual receptionists worth it?
What is the difference between a virtual receptionist and a live receptionist?
References
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (CDC)
- Robocalls (Federal Trade Commission)
