Tag: Management

Today, we’re tackling a topic often clouded by misconceptions: How virtual assistants can improve your business’s customer service! We’ll discuss what customer service is, detail tasks that a VA can do, and dispel common myths along the way.

First, let’s all agree on what customer service is. It is the support and assistance a business provides to customers before, during, and after they purchase a product or service. activities aimed at addressing customer needs, resolving issues, and ensuring satisfaction. This includes answering inquiries, handling complaints, processing orders, providing guidance, and offering solutions to problems. Exceptional customer service is essential for building strong relationships with customers, fostering loyalty, and driving repeat business. It plays a crucial role in shaping the overall reputation and success of a business.

How can a virtual assistant help with customer service? They can answer inbound messages, such as calls, emails, online messages, and social media messages. They can answer client questions in this communication, schedule appointments, and accept payment, They can also complete outbound contact pre-emptively: status updates, check-ins, and reaching out to get client details. They can also post updates for a client in an online system if the company uses something like that. Another example of customer service is event outreach: they can reach out to customers, past and present, inviting them to an invite, or reminding those who’ve RSVP’d to attend!

Let’s dive into some common questions about hiring a virtual assistant for customer service! First, a question I get is: Do virtual assistants have accents that might impede effective customer communication? At Workergenix, many of our virtual assistants come from The Philippines, where English education starts as early as first grade. This means that there are many great potential VAs out there with little to no accent. Moreover, we’ve implemented a rigorous in-house English training program to address accents and help VAs sound more natural. So, while they may not be native to the US, their communication skills are top-notch.

Now, onto another misconception: Will using virtual assistants result in a decline in service quality? Contrary to popular belief, outsourcing customer service to virtual assistants often enhances service quality. With the affordability of virtual assistants, businesses can offer more comprehensive customer service, demonstrating a commitment to their clients’ needs. Many of our clients had no dedicated customer service employee prior to working with us, as the cost of hiring someone locally was prohibitive. Now, they’re able to have a highly-skilled, college-educated person dedicated to customer service. Isn’t that better than the business owner or another employee trying to do it in their free time?

Moving on, let’s address another concern: Are virtual assistants capable of handling complex customer inquiries? Absolutely. Our VAs have the experience and training to handle a wide range of customer issues efficiently, ensuring your customers receive the support they need. We recruit and hire for each opening, so we are searching for someone who’s skill set is a perfect fit for the client’s needs. Also, we only hire those with at least a bachelor’s degree. Moreover, our VAs have access to a wealth of resources and tools to assist them in resolving complex issues promptly. At Workergenix we have several corporate accounts our VAs can use, including a pro ChatGPT account. We’ve found that’s a great resource for helping problem-solve complete situations, and for crafting customer responses that are polite and well-written. Another resource they have is the Workergenix community. VAs can speak with each other, ask about problems they’re facing, and see if another VA has dealt with this in the past and has a solution. Our clients get the benefit of an entire community of VAs and the sum of their experiences!

Lastly, there’s a misconception that virtual assistants lack the personal touch of in-house customer service representatives. However, our VAs are trained to provide personalized and empathetic support to every customer, ensuring a positive experience with your brand. There is no reason for the customer to think that the VA is NOT an in-house customer service rep. We have had numerous situations where customers interact with the VA as if they are right in town, the customer doesn’t know the VA is elsewhere! Additionally, with advancements in technology, virtual assistants can now engage with customers through various channels, including phone, email, chat, and social media, providing a seamless and personalized experience across all touchpoints.

In conclusion, virtual assistants can be your ultimate customer service solution, offering expertise, affordability, and efficiency, while shattering common misconceptions along the way.