Recent world events have rapidly accelerated the move to digital. Businesses are waking up to the possibilities and conveniences of shifting their businesses online. More and more companies are offering hybrid working conditions or remote work. This has proven to not only be cost-effective but also to boost overall productivity.
This, of course, is nothing new to virtual assistants who are quite adept at this already. Hiring a virtual assistant who works remotely – whether pro rata or on a retainer – is fast becoming an appealing option to businesses. With the increase in remote work, the benefits of outsourcing to a virtual assistant are becoming even more apparent.
But why should you hire a virtual assistant?
Virtual assistants offer businesses a flexible alternative to hiring a full-time assistant. As most virtual assistants work on a monthly retainer or on an ad-hoc basis, they are also more cost-effective than a traditional employee. You’ll save money on taxes, office space and equipment.
Having a virtual assistant also helps with productivity. Many business owners spend their day doing a myriad of tasks ranging from administration to bookkeeping and scheduling appointments. This cuts into the time available for core business operations and can hinder the growth of a company. By hiring a virtual assistant, you can easily delegate administrative tasks to free up more productive time.
Moreover, VAs allow your business to make the best use of its human resources. There are certain tasks such as data capturing, scheduling meetings and conducting research that tend to bog employees down and distract them from their core tasks. VAs take care of all the nitty-gritty administrative work, allowing for smoother operations and happier staff.
Virtual assistants also bring flexibility to a business. With this comes the opportunity to scale up your business operations. By bringing a VA on board, you can quickly acquire extra hands on a project-by-project basis. This will allow your business to cope with increased demands without having to hire new full-time employees.
Most virtual assistants are also quite experienced; they may specialise in a particular area or have the ability to perform many different tasks. VAs may also have the ability to streamline your processes and give insights on best practices for your business. They can also offer you reporting services to help you prioritise important projects.
While there are many more reasons why businesses should opt for virtual assistants, one thing is clear – with the rise of remote working and the shift towards digital, a virtual assistant will be an invaluable asset to your business.
