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Dec 09, 2019 2020-04-08 7:40Robust Theme
Human Virtual Assistants Vs. Technology Virtual Assistants: What's Best For Your business
Humans Vs. Machines
Virtual assistants are mostly in demand by entrepreneurs and online businesses that need help but don't want to spend the money on office space for staff. In our age of technology, the VA role can be filled by a human or a machine. The age-old argument of which performs better, the human or the machine, becomes more prevalent as technology advances. When it comes to virtual assistance, the answer to this long-time debate lies within the needs of your organization.
The Options
The personal assistant has come a long way as our world becomes more virtual and a remote existence becomes the norm. You have two viable options to choose from.
1) Human Virtual Assistant:
An independent contractor who provides administrative services to clients while operating outside of the client’s office. A virtual assistant typically operates from a home office and completes administrative duties such as scheduling, planning, etc.
2) Intelligent Virtual Assistant:
Also known as an Intelligent Personal Assistant is an artificial intelligence system that emulates human interaction to perform particular tasks such as customer service. Examples include chatbots (answering questions from your website with automated answers) or programs like Asana (a project management tool).
The Pros and Cons
Human Virtual Assistant
Pros: Humans bring an element that is, well…human. If COVID has taught us anything it’s the value of human connection. To have a human manage your questions, comments and daily life can be just what our continually changing businesses need. With a human assistant, your entire staff does not need to be tech-savvy. The assistant can manage all project management software needed within your organization and also be the onsite expert for those who need additional help using these tools.
Cons: Human assistances can’t answer questions 24/7. The convenience of receiving information at lightning speed without having to talk to a human is a huge benefit for our fast-paced world.
Intelligent Virtual Assistant
Pros: The intelligence behind the technology is powerful. These systems can fulfill critical customer service elements such as learning, reasoning, and understanding. This allows intelligent virtual assistants to solve problems effectively without having to speak to a live person. Assistance is typically available 24/7. Productivity and convenience are a must for a successful intelligent virtual assistant. This technology also expands the way we communicate with the customer including voice, text, and much more.
Cons: It lacks the human-to-human feel. Although the capabilities are significantly increasing, machines cannot solve every problem. Many times, the machine or application needs assistance from the human to complete its task.
Difference in Costs
When considering whether to hire a VA or buy project management software (PM) or customer relationship management software (CRM), a company should consider the costs. CRM or PM software has initial costs, such as purchase and training expenses and operating costs for maintenance. Meanwhile, VA costs vary from $6.97 to $59.86 per hour, based on their experience and if you’re finding someone here in the states or overseas.
We believe there will be a continued role for both humans and machines. The capabilities of the devices are increasing, which enables them to take on more of the workload. However, machines alone cannot solve every problem. That's why project management software and customer relationship management software are more useful and efficient for big companies with large staff. Meanwhile, a VA is better for a small or mid-sized business.
