AI Assistant or Hire a Secretary?
An honest analysis for businesses looking to improve their availability.
Hiring a secretary or receptionist in Germany costs €2,500-4,000 gross per month plus ancillary costs – that's €35,000-55,000 per year. An AI phone assistant like Vokaro costs €99 per month. For pure phone tasks (call answering, appointment booking, FAQ), the AI assistant is the more economical solution. A human secretary makes sense when you need office organization, mail handling, visitor reception, or complex assistant tasks in addition to phone work.
What is Secretary / Receptionist?
A secretary or receptionist is a full-time or part-time employee who handles office organization, visitor reception, mail, and administrative tasks in addition to phone work. Personnel costs are the biggest cost factor.
Detailed Comparison
Choose Vokaro if...
- Phone work would be the main reason for the position
- You don't need physical presence in the office
- 24/7 availability is more important than office organization
- Budget is limited or you're just starting out
- You already have employees who just need relief
Hire a secretary if...
- You regularly have visitor traffic (customers, suppliers)
- Office organization is an important part of the position
- You need someone who can be a 'jack of all trades'
- Personal contact and human presence are important
- Complex assistant tasks come up (travel planning, minutes)
Key Differences
€40,000+ savings per year
The difference between personnel costs and AI subscription is significant – for equivalent phone work.
No downtime
No vacation, no illness, no resignations. Vokaro is always available.
Clear task separation
Vokaro does phone perfectly. For everything else, you still need people.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Vokaro complement my existing team?
Vokaro steps in when no one can answer – after hours, during peak times, or during off-site appointments. Complex tasks, reception, and office organization stay with your team.
Isn't that impersonal?
For missed calls, Vokaro is better than no answer at all. When your team is available, they take the call. Vokaro is just the safety net.
When does Vokaro step in?
Only when you don't answer – after X seconds of ringing or outside your business hours. Routine calls are captured, complex cases are forwarded to you.
Reduce phone costs, increase quality
Calculate your savings with the Vokaro cost calculator.
No obligation · GDPR compliant · Made in Germany