A secretary at €3,500, or an AI agent from €199?
The verdict in one sentence: to answer, qualify, quote and follow up without interruption, an operated AI agent costs a fraction of a loaded role — but a human keeps the edge on physical reception and delicate relationships.
Salaried secretary vs Secondia
| Criterion | Salaried secretary | Secondia |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | ≈ €3,200 – 4,200 total employer cost (gross + social charges + holiday pay) | €199 – 499/month + setup |
| Availability | 35 h/week, minus leave and sick days | 24/7, including nights, weekends and holidays |
| Scope | Reception, calendar, delegated tasks | Calls, quotes, invoices, follow-ups, support — in parallel |
| Time to live | Hiring + training: several weeks | Live in under a week, configured for you |
| Absences | Leave, illness, notice, cover to organise | No absences, no turnover |
| Scalability | One person = a capped volume | Absorbs spikes without extra hiring |
| Commitment | Permanent contract, social charges, costly to end | No commitment, first-month guarantee |
| When it overflows | Queue builds up, callbacks forgotten in a rush | Escalates to you on your rules — nothing is lost |
Indicative ranges, not promises: the cost of a salaried role depends on region, experience and collective agreement.
When to choose what
When a human secretary is still the right call
- •You need a physical presence: front-desk reception, paper mail, on-site logistics.
- •Complex relationships are core to the job: delicate negotiation, empathy on sensitive cases, reading between the lines.
- •The volume justifies a full-time role and you prefer a team member fully embedded in the company.
When an operated AI agent takes the lead
- •You lose calls and requests outside office hours or during peaks — the AI never sleeps.
- •You want to cover several tasks (phone + quotes + follow-ups) without adding headcount.
- •You want a predictable cost, with no social charges and no turnover risk.
What people ask us
Does an AI agent really replace a secretary?
For everything repetitive and well-framed — answering, qualifying, sending a quote, chasing an invoice, handling support — yes, and without interruption. For physical reception and subtle relationships, a human keeps the edge. Many clients combine both: the AI absorbs volume, the human focuses on value.
Is the €3,500 figure realistic?
It's a careful estimate for a full-time role in Belgium: gross salary, employer social contributions (ONSS), holiday pay and a 13th month. Depending on experience and the joint committee, expect €3,200 to €4,200 in total employer cost. The AI agent sits between €199 and €499/month plus setup.
What happens when a request falls outside the rules?
The agent never improvises an answer. Anything beyond your instructions is escalated to you — by SMS or in your portal — so you decide. You keep control over everything that matters.
What would each option really cost you?
Take the 2-minute diagnostic: we price your situation and tell you honestly whether an AI agent, a hire, or both make sense for you.