{"id":17132,"date":"2021-03-03T08:30:58","date_gmt":"2021-03-03T08:30:58","guid":{"rendered":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/?p=17132"},"modified":"2023-01-16T16:54:44","modified_gmt":"2023-01-16T16:54:44","slug":"the-rise-of-the-virtual-receptionist-in-the-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/the-rise-of-the-virtual-receptionist-in-the-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"The Rise of the Virtual Receptionist in the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"

Receptionist services are the front line of most sizeable business; fielding calls from clients, partners, suppliers, and customers is all in a day\u2019s work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In recent years there\u2019s been a noticeable shift towards having an automated virtual receptionist on the \u2018front desk\u2019. According to <\/span>Gartner<\/span><\/a>, the percentage of digital workers using some type of virtual receptionist is expected to hit 25% in 2021, up from less than 2% in 2019. It\u2019s not just the usage that\u2019s increasing \u2013 the level of sophistication built into these services is growing too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With first-hand experience in this pioneering technology, we\u2019re excited that more and more companies in the UK are realising the potential that comes with the best virtual receptionist systems for small and large businesses. But before we get into those benefits, let\u2019s look at a more fundamental question.<\/span><\/p>\n

How does a virtual receptionist work?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Having a virtual receptionist can offer a number of simple, yet incredibly useful functions to help almost any business run more smoothly. So, what sort of things might you expect from a virtual receptionist service? <\/span><\/p>\n

Put simply, they provide an automated answering service. In addition to fielding incoming calls to your business and taking messages, your virtual receptionist system would typically offer functionality such as placing any orders being made, scheduling appointments, collecting leads, and making live transfers. Some are even able to answer frequently asked questions, like your company\u2019s opening hours and location.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a business that\u2019s installing a virtual receptionist, there\u2019s usually a bit of customisation involved. Sometimes your provider will handle everything for you, but you should be able to specify your preferences. For example; what hours will your virtual receptionist work \u2013 around the clock, during regular office hours, or just over lunchtime? Other features could include your automated phone receptionist software putting specific, known callers straight through to a particular team or member of staff.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For the caller, on the other hand, a virtual receptionist service is presented as a simple voice menu \u2013 similar to those used by most call centres, helping guide customers to the right department. You\u2019ll probably have to request to be put through to a member of the team in order to speak to a human. However, with tasks like scheduling appointments, making a purchase, and leaving a message, it\u2019ll likely just be a case of navigating a menu using the numbers<\/a> and symbols on your keypad, or your voice.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t