How a virtual administrative assistant helps you get the job done

How does a virtual administrative assistant help you get the job done?

A virtual administrative assistant handles your daily admin tasks remotely, so you get more done with less work and lower costs.

• They take calls, manage calendars, and handle email and customer support.
• They cost less than in-house staff, with no office space or training needed.
• They free you to focus on the core work that grows your business.

Managing a business is hard work, even for seasoned owners. The list of duties can pile up fast. In fact, surveys of small business owners have long shown that most report working at least 50 hours per week.

Fortunately, it no longer has to be this way. By hiring a virtual administrative assistant, owners can get more done with less work on their own plate.

Roles of a virtual administrative assistant

Virtual administrative assistants have the training and experience to handle daily non-core tasks. For example, here are the common ones.

Taking phone calls

Virtual administrative assistants can take incoming calls or make calls for their clients. So they screen calls and help you work with fewer distractions.

Appointment scheduling and travel arrangements

Besides calendar work, they schedule and follow up on meetings. In addition, they book appointments and arrange their clients’ travel.

Customer service

A virtual administrative assistant can also handle customer service. For example, some VAs manage complaints and answer inquiries, so you skip an in-house hire.

These days, VAs cover a broad range of tasks based on client needs. Other roles may include social media management, email filtering, and report creation. Many clients also handle routine records through data entry virtual assistants.

Daily remote office tasks

Virtual assistants manage repetitive daily tasks. For example, they organize calendars, update files, and answer emails. Some remote admin assistants also handle accounting roles like bookkeeping, payroll, and invoices.

When should you hire a virtual administrative assistant?

Outsourcing admin assistants helps growing businesses in many ways. However, it can be hard to know when to make the move.

Leading BPO firm MVP Asia Pacific can guide you in finding admin and virtual assistants that fit your operations. For a broader approach, many firms also look into administrative outsourcing.

So outsourcing a virtual administrative assistant is very useful in these cases.

Loss of productivity

As a business grows, tasks and duties grow too. That is why larger firms keep several admin staff. However, a lack of skilled help can hurt daily productivity.

A recent study shows that remote employees can be more productive than in-house staff. After all, remote work removes the daily commute. So employees control their time better and get more done.

Lack of financial capacity to hire new employees

Startups and small firms often lack the budget for new hires. Meanwhile, in-house staff can get overworked, which leads to burnout.

So outsourcing virtual administrative assistants is a smart step. It expands your capacity. In addition, it is a viable way to save on costs. For back-end work, some teams add back office outsourcing.

For non-core routine tasks

Routine tasks eat up a lot of valuable time. However, remote admin assistants let leaders and staff focus on core work. As a result, the team gets more room to plan the next steps.

Why you should hire virtual administrative assistants

Now you know what admin assistants do and when to hire them. So let us look at the whys. Hiring virtual assistants helps for these reasons.

Boosts productivity

Remote admin assistants help you get work done faster. In fact, today’s VAs are skilled enough to cover a broader range of tasks. So your company gets more time to focus on its core.

Flexibility

Virtual administrative assistants work on flexible schedules. This helps most when your VA sits in a different time zone. So you can run extended hours or finish a task before your workday starts.

24/7 customer support

When you hire VAs in other countries, you can use time zone gaps to your advantage. So outsourced VAs can run customer support over longer periods.

Achieve work-life balance

A reliable remote assistant helps your company find balance. In short, VAs give you more time to work. In addition, they give you more time away from work.

Hiring a virtual administrative assistant also cuts overhead costs. After all, VAs need no training, office space, or extra resources.

Qualities of a good virtual administrative assistant

When hiring, make sure your assistant shares your outlook and commitment. Otherwise, you may sink resources into a poor fit. For senior roles, this guide shows how smart leaders hire virtual executive assistants.

So here are the traits to look for.

Good communicator

Good communication is a must with remote staff. A virtual administrative assistant is no exception. So clear communication keeps you both on the same page.

In addition, it lowers the risk of errors from mix-ups. As a result, your orders get done the way you want.

Good time management skills

The tasks you hand off are often time-consuming. For example, data entry, email, and calendar work all take focus.

So your VA must manage their schedule well. That way, they finish the work on time.

Has a keen eye for details

Keen attention to detail is another key skill. After all, these VAs work remotely and with little supervision. So they must be detail-oriented and good at noting important information. For a higher-level hire, consider an executive assistant.

Frequently asked questions

What does a virtual administrative assistant do?

They handle daily admin work from a remote location. For example, they take calls, manage calendars, answer emails, and support customers. So you focus on core work.

How much does a virtual administrative assistant cost?

Costs vary by skill, tasks, and location. However, a VA costs far less than in-house staff. You also skip office space and training costs.

When should I hire a virtual administrative assistant?

Hire one when routine tasks slow you down. For example, consider it when productivity drops or budgets are tight. As a result, your core team gains time.

Are remote assistants as productive as in-house staff?

Often, yes. Studies show remote workers can be more productive. After all, they skip the commute and manage their time better.

What skills should a good VA have?

Look for strong communication and time management. In addition, a keen eye for detail matters. These traits keep remote work accurate and smooth.