Pepsi Cola Jamaica (PCJ) has launched a new human resource (HR) virtual assistant, AVI.

AVI will facilitate 24-hour HR assistance to all PCJ employees, with ease and convenience.  

For her part, Chantelle Richards, HR manager at Pepsi Cola Jamaica, said, “The PCJ plant is open 24/7, however not all employees work 24/7… so if someone needs an answer, let’s say on the weekend, then they don’t have to wait until Monday for an HR personnel to respond”.

However, with AVI, employees can have round-the-clock HR support.

Employees can access the virtual assistant via WhatsApp by either adding the number or scanning a barcode that is sent to staff as a weekly reminder of how to access the platform. 

“We will load AVI with frequently asked questions, others we have predicted, and the related responses. Each person will be prompted to enter their work ID number so AVI will know exactly who it is talking to,” Richards explained.

“…However if the query is unresolved then the individual will be instructed to visit an HR representative for further assistance,” she continued.   

PCJ hosted a lunch treat for its staff on May 5, to officially introduce them to the platform. 

“Today’s lunch activities are all about allowing everyone to understand in depth what AVI is and how to use it. Of course, music and food is here and we even brought the Pepsi Food Truck that has been creating a buzz on the scene lately,” Richards said.

The HR manager emphasised that the aim of the virtual assistant is not to eliminate the ‘human’ aspect of the department but to grant around the clock assistance. 

New research from enterprise software company Sage found that a majority of HR leaders and C-suite executives agreed that HR needs to take on more of a strategic focus and a greater consultancy role, but 73 per cent of HR leaders and 76 per cent of C-suite executives said the balance of HR work is often still more administrative and process focused.

“In an evolving digital world, no matter where or how we work, technology continues to play a vital role. User-friendly automation provides us with the ability to address all our staff as well as with more time to brainstorm strategies that will move the business and its employees forward,” Richards said.