[US] 6 essential facts about virtual assistants

Remote employment and hiring methods are only two of the many areas of life and business on which the pandemic has had a profound impact. Hiring offshore contract virtual assistants and services is fast becoming a “new normal” practice for US businesses resulting from the need to reduce expenses in the wake of such significant economic disruption, AZ Big Media reports.

Randall Averitte - CEO and president of Remote Raven a staffing company that connects business owners with highly qualified virtual assistants in a variety of fields - shared with AZ Big Media six key things employers need to know about virtual assistants.

Many businesses are opting to hire virtual assistants in an effort to boost productivity and cut costs as a direct result of their appeal in terms of saving time, space, and money. According to Statista research, there will be 86.5 million freelancers in the US by 2027; equating to 50.9 per cent of total US employment. Here are six facts about the virtual employees diversifying the labour pool:

1. Employing a virtual assistant can cut costs for businesses by 70-90 per cent: Hiring a full-time on-site assistant is more expensive because they require a desk, a computer, payroll taxes and other expenses. Businesses can save between 70 and 90 per cent of their company’s annual costs by using a virtual assistant that does not require these hidden expenses, freeing up funds to invest in other aspects of the business.
2. The majority of virtual assistants have four-year degrees and international VAs generally place a high value on continued education and training: Virtual assistants typically have a four-year degree at minimum and are enrolled in courses to further build upon their knowledge of Microsoft, QuickBooks and social media marketing, among other skills.
3. Virtual assistants aid in administrative roles but they can also provide their support to over 20 other areas: A virtual assistant can successfully execute any task that can be done remotely. Services such as social media marketing, financial/CPA, writing, nursing, bookkeeping and real estate are just a few examples of what the VA industry has to offer.
4. Virtual assistants can work 30 hours or more per week: VAs mirror their client's time zone regardless of where they reside. While full-time virtual assistant employment is ideal for significantly increasing tenure, both part-time and full-time hours are available options for businesses to consider.
5. Employing independent virtual assistants allows businesses to reduce their most expensive line item, wages: Businesses save money on their payroll but workers benefit too, contributing to a satisfied workforce. In the Philippines, for example, the average journey to work is 90 minutes one way, for a daily commute time of three hours. Skilled virtual assistants, understandably, prefer remote work.
6. Virtual assistants employed abroad by US businesses are paid substantially more than they would be paid at home: This is true but, on the other hand, the business that employs the VA pays substantially less than they would have to in America for work of a comparable or greater grade. 

Virtual assistants can be a practical solution with many advantages for businesses seeking to improve and streamline their operations because they are flexible, well-trained and provide an economical labour alternative.

Remote employment and hiring methods are only two of the many areas of life and business on which the pandemic has had a profound impact. Hiring offshore contract virtual assistants and services is fast becoming a “new normal” practice for US businesses resulting from the need to reduce expenses in the wake of such significant economic disruption, AZ Big Media reports.

Randall Averitte - CEO and president of Remote Raven a staffing company that connects business owners with highly qualified virtual assistants in a variety of fields - shared with AZ Big Media six key things employers need to know about virtual assistants.

Many businesses are opting to hire virtual assistants in an effort to boost productivity and cut costs as a direct result of their appeal in terms of saving time, space, and money. According to Statista research, there will be 86.5 million freelancers in the US by 2027; equating to 50.9 per cent of total US employment. Here are six facts about the virtual employees diversifying the labour pool:

1. Employing a virtual assistant can cut costs for businesses by 70-90 per cent: Hiring a full-time on-site assistant is more expensive because they require a desk, a computer, payroll taxes and other expenses. Businesses can save between 70 and 90 per cent of their company’s annual costs by using a virtual assistant that does not require these hidden expenses, freeing up funds to invest in other aspects of the business.
2. The majority of virtual assistants have four-year degrees and international VAs generally place a high value on continued education and training: Virtual assistants typically have a four-year degree at minimum and are enrolled in courses to further build upon their knowledge of Microsoft, QuickBooks and social media marketing, among other skills.
3. Virtual assistants aid in administrative roles but they can also provide their support to over 20 other areas: A virtual assistant can successfully execute any task that can be done remotely. Services such as social media marketing, financial/CPA, writing, nursing, bookkeeping and real estate are just a few examples of what the VA industry has to offer.
4. Virtual assistants can work 30 hours or more per week: VAs mirror their client's time zone regardless of where they reside. While full-time virtual assistant employment is ideal for significantly increasing tenure, both part-time and full-time hours are available options for businesses to consider.
5. Employing independent virtual assistants allows businesses to reduce their most expensive line item, wages: Businesses save money on their payroll but workers benefit too, contributing to a satisfied workforce. In the Philippines, for example, the average journey to work is 90 minutes one way, for a daily commute time of three hours. Skilled virtual assistants, understandably, prefer remote work.
6. Virtual assistants employed abroad by US businesses are paid substantially more than they would be paid at home: This is true but, on the other hand, the business that employs the VA pays substantially less than they would have to in America for work of a comparable or greater grade. 

Virtual assistants can be a practical solution with many advantages for businesses seeking to improve and streamline their operations because they are flexible, well-trained and provide an economical labour alternative.