The Virtual Assistant Revolution is Coming. Here’s What Businesses Should Know

A decade ago, the idea of using an AI-powered virtual assistant seemed like a far-off, sci-fi dream. Though Apple‘s Siri was operational back in 2010, Google was capable of processing voice-based search queries even further back ”though neither service was very effective or satisfying to use. Today, more than 47.3 million adults in the United States are using a smart speaker, which by default puts them in touch with an assistant for tasks like playing music, setting alarms and reminders, getting updates, and shopping or comparing prices.

But these assistants are just the beginning. Over the past few years, we’ve already seen an impressive leap forward, not just in the abilities of available virtual assistants (Cortana, for example, is as accurate at deciphering human speech as another human), but also in the diversity of assistants available. The coming years are going to show us even more growth, and businesses need to be prepared for that explosion.

The Virtual Assistant Revolution

The virtual assistant revolution has a handful of root causes. The demand for AI-powered automation and assistance is growing, especially in the business sector, because it saves time and money. Access to foundational technologies, like speech recognition, is growing, enabling more innovation. And on top of that, startups are incentivized to explore new niches in which virtual assistants could be applied ”therefore avoiding competition and allowing advanced technology to be used in new ways.

This last point should be the most fascinating to business owners. While assistants like Siri, Cortana, and Alexa have become commonplace and easily recognizable, they’re designed for the general population, often home-based users, and have limited functionality. They’re very good at recognizing human speech and accomplishing a handful of tasks, but they can’t be used to simplify most niche roles within organizations.

In the near future, niche-focused virtual assistants will be there to serve those specific roles. Take, for example, Niccolo, an AI-powered B2B sales tool named after Niccolo Machiavelli, an Italian diplomat known for his ability to persuade and his still-relevant advice on politics and power. Niccolo is designed to analyze emails and other forms of written communication from clients, then come up with clever suggestions for how to close the sale ”or at least keep the conversation going.

In this sense, assistants will become less like secretaries or note-takers and more like advisors. High-skill positions will have access to more automation, saving them time, and more real-time data analytics, improving their decision-making abilities without compromising the distinctly human approach to these positions. In the case of Niccolo, this means clients won’t be stuck dealing with impersonal chatbots, but instead, your existing salespeople could be empowered with data-based recommendations from an AI engine. Think of it as a way to hybridize the best of both human- and AI-powered thinking.

How Business Owners Should Prepare

Knowing this, what steps should business owners be taking now, to prepare their enterprise for this eventual explosion in AI-powered assistant capabilities?

• Get ahead of the curve. While some virtual assistants will emerge somewhat untested, it’s a good idea to try and become an early adopter of these technologies. All assistants have the power to make your employees’ lives easier, enable them to achieve more success or both. Gartner predicts that 25 percent of workers will be using virtual assistants on a daily basis by 2021; if you’re among this 25 percent, you’ll have a distinct advantage over your competitors.
• Start preparing your employees. Depending on the makeup of your workforce and the nature of your business, one of your biggest obstacles to virtual assistant adoption is going to be your employees. Some employees will be reluctant to transition to a system that forces them to rely on an AI-powered or automated solution, instead trusting their own instincts. They may also simply not want to partake in the training necessary to learn the new tech. Refuting common misconceptions and preparing for a gradual transition can help here.
• Practice competitive research. Good virtual assistants take years to develop. Now’s the time to start researching what groundbreaking new assistants are on the horizon (and what competitors exist for the solution you have in mind). Details may be limited at this point, but subscribing to the right newsletters and social media feeds can keep you in tune with the latest developments as they roll out.

In a decade, the range and capabilities of virtual assistants available today will seem minuscule or even archaic in comparison to the tools available contemporarily. For businesses, this development isn’t a mere novelty; it’s an incredible opportunity to get a leg up on your competition. Business owners attuned to these changes, and willing to stay ahead of the curve have the potential to benefit enormously.