Are Traditional Receptionists Being Replaced by Virtual Receptionists?

With so many businesses now operating online, it’s no surprise that some are ditching their traditional receptionists in favor of virtual receptionists. In fact, virtual receptionist services are on the rise, with more companies opting for this type of service than ever before.

If you are also caught in between the decision of whether to hire an in-house receptionist or a virtual receptionist for your growing business, this article will discuss the pros and cons of both options so you can make the best decision for your business.

Traditional Receptionists vs. Live Virtual Receptionists:  Which is Best for Your Business?

There are many factors to consider when deciding whether to hire a traditional receptionist or a live virtual receptionist service for your business. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

Cost Difference

Hiring a full-time, in-house receptionist can be costly, especially for small businesses. You not only have to pay for their salary, but you also have to provide benefits, vacation days, and sick days.

On the other hand, hiring a live virtual receptionist service is often much more affordable, since you only pay for the services you use and not the salary and benefits of a full-time employee.

On average, the cost of hiring an answering service is only $249 to $449 per month, compared to the $3,000 to $3,500 per month cost of hiring a full-time in-house receptionist.

Availability

Another key factor why many business owners are choosing to outsource their phone answering services to a live answering service is the guarantee of having someone to answer their business calls 24/7. This is especially important for companies that operate on a global scale or have customers in different time zones.

With an in-house receptionist, your customer support is only limited during regular business hours. This means that if a potential customer calls your business at night, on weekends, or during holidays, nobody will be there to answer your phone. When you let your business phone number go unanswered, you’re essentially missing out on sales and opportunities.

Job Scope

Probably the biggest advantage of hiring traditional receptionists is that they can perform physical tasks around the office. They can run simple errands like getting coffee, greeting visitors, answering phones, and sorting mails. Some people also argue that a full-time receptionist provides a personal touch to businesses. 

On the other hand, a virtual receptionist, from the name itself, can only provide support virtually. They are very similar to a virtual assistant in the sense that they can do a wide range of administrative tasks, but are more focused on answering phone calls, doing call transfers, and scheduling appointments.

Bilingual Support

A bilingual phone answering service like AnswerHero can be a game-changer for businesses that want to expand their customer base and tap into new markets. In contrast, most in-house receptionists can only speak one language, limiting your business’ ability to communicate with non-English speaking customers.

At AnswerHero, all of our agents can answer your calls in both English and Spanish, which makes it easier for you to connect with your Hispanic customers. You can rest assured that your bilingual callers will be able to communicate their concerns effectively, without any language barriers.

Why More Businesses Are Making the Switch to Live Answering Services with Virtual Receptionists

There’s no denying that traditional receptionists have their own set of advantages, but more and more businesses are starting to see the benefits of hiring virtual receptionists instead.

With a live answering service, there will always be someone to cover a work shift, even during odd hours and holidays. That means no missed calls, no missed leads, and no frustrated customers who will turn to your competition when your business isn’t available.

Hiring virtual receptionists will also save your business a lot of money. Instead of paying a full-time salary, you will be paying a low monthly plan for the virtual office that works for you. At AnswerHero, our most popular plan costs only $249 per month, and that already includes a long list of features and services.