As more companies move away from physical workplaces to embrace hybrid to fully remote structures, the demand for virtual assistance is increasingly on the rise. In fact, Gartner predicts that by 2025, 50% of knowledge workers will be employing virtual assistants on a daily basis.
Virtual assistants are independent contractors who offer a vast number of services to businesses remotely. Because they come with different skills and specializations, they are a particularly flexible solution for businesses that need help with a specific function or department or need someone to handle multiple responsibilities at once. Proving to be an efficient, adaptable and cost-effective benefit, virtual assistants can aid businesses across various industries — including healthcare, finance and communications — in achieving their goals.
One of the primary benefits of virtual assistants is they are available to address tedious, repetitive tasks such as bookkeeping, appointment scheduling, monitoring email correspondence, social media management and recruiting, freeing up time to focus on more high-value tasks. By making more time available, virtual assistants allow organizations to focus their energy and make strides on critical projects. There is also the benefit of increased efficiency in work production due to a limited amount of distractions and the ability to schedule work time when it is best for the assistant.
Introducing a virtual assistant to the business to handle data entry, schedule management and take care of accounting also frees up attention for more collaboration and creative pursuits. With a virtual assistant available, businesses work to create space for employees to thrive by ensuring they don’t take on too much responsibility but, instead, are able to focus fully on the specifics of their role.
Virtual assistants can also widely reduce employer costs, saving businesses 50 to 70 percent on average. Because virtual assistants are independent contractors, businesses have the opportunity to hire for long-term service or project-related tasks, giving them flexible options that can decrease staffing costs.
The pandemic has shown that it is possible to maintain, and even accelerate, success by working virtually. Virtual assistants provide a cost-effective and efficient solution to managing the digital workplace and can provide flexibility and targeted expertise to help businesses adapt to and succeed in a remote work style.
Randall Averitte is president and CEO of Scottsdale-based Remote Raven, an affordable and flexible staffing company that connects business owners with highly qualified remote workers to quickly fill positions.
