Local business’ new team member gets wheels spinning

Is the future upon us? Local business’ new team member gets wheels spinning

Accounting is not traditionally considered to be the most exciting of professions, but Auckland-based firm Wise Advice are looking to change that, through their latest recruit.

Embracing new technologies and developing innovative ways to work, Wise Advice have recently hired a new staff member; George, a telepresence robot that allows staff to have a presence at conferences, meetings and training programmes, without physically attending.

“As a business, we’ve always been big on technology,” says Brad Golchin, Founder and Director of Wise Advice. “My background is in IT and as a business, we’ve adopted online systems. Hiring George seemed like a natural progression, and a great opportunity to implement a very new method of Created by American company Double Robotics, George is the first of his kind to be bought into New

Zealand, and is controlled by a remote user who can appear on-screen, or use him as a platform to show others content during training, workshops and seminars.

Once he’s been fully inducted into the Wise Advice team, Brad intends to have George certified by Xero, with whom Wise Advice are a Platinum Partner. He’ll be able to do clients’ accounts and train others in Xero’s software, as well as being sent to conferences, training programmes and meetings on behalf of Brad and other Wise Advice staff.

Because he can be controlled by anyone, from anywhere, Wise Advice also intend to us George for charity work, as well as involving him in various social interactions. He’ll have the capacity to let children virtually meet their heroes and link people with those they can’t see in person.

“We’re looking forward to putting George into exciting and challenging social situations,” says Brad.

“He’ll go out for drinks with clients on a Friday, and won’t have to drive home. He’s great company, so he may even go on a few dates, Big Bang Theory-style. He doesn’t eat, won’t spend all evening looking at his phone, and he’s really low maintenance, so he’s quite the catch!”

It’s not only artificial intelligence that sets Wise Advice apart from the rest; the human members of the team are up-to-date with consumer trends too. Operating entirely online to speed up and simplify the accounting process, they place an extremely high value on client relationships. To ensure they are accountable for providing excellent service, Wise Advice offers a three-month money-back guarantee, one of very few accounting firms to do so. They also pride themselves on being readily available to their clients, something that will be furthered by the addition of George to the team.

With George at their side, Wise Advice are defining the future of accounting. Now it’s up to the rest of the country to find out what that future’s all about!

- Ends -

© Scoop Media