On An Overseas Reception

The Washington Post has an article that explores off-shoring jobs to Pakistan. One company even off-shores its receptionist!

As receptionist for the Resource Group, Musa greets employees and visitors via a flat screen hanging on the lobby's wall. Although they are nine hours behind and nearly 7,500 miles away, her U.S.-based bosses rely on her to keep order during the traffic of calls and meetings.

But, can a receptionist all the way around the world get a person a cup of coffee? Perhaps I overestimate the role that face-to-face communication plays in the office, but I think that a receptionist needs to be available to offer the small things to folks waiting for whatever it is they are waiting for.