 Large corporations, as early as late 80s, had started setting up offices or partnered up with local back office service providers in South and Far East Asia to take advantage of cheaper talent pool. These companies had the financial muscle to open offices, train employees, and adapt management techniques to fit the local environment. This option was not viable for Small-to-Mid size Enterprises (SMEs) for financial and economy of scale reasons. All this has changed with evolution in Virtual Assistant Services concept and the advancement in broadband internet access and remote connectivity tools. Virtual Assistant Services Providers now not only provide basic services but also web/desktop application development, business analysis, online marketing, and bookkeeping support to new a few. So how do we differentiate this new crop of Virtual Assistant Services Providers from standard outsourcing firms? In my view, successful Virtual Assistant Services Providers operate in a make-to-order environment with flexibility to accommodate the needs of a SME. Their flexibility and lower cost structure actually makes them attractive to any size business. The question then becomes how do you find a quality Virtual Assistant Services Provider and how should you engage the provider in a mutually beneficial relationship. While there is no silver bullet, the following seven points will improve your probability of finding and sustaining a good match. Characteristics of Good Virtual Assistant Services ProvidersFirst define what your needs are. Take some time to make a list of tasks using 80/20 rule; 20% of the tasks that take 80% of your time. How many of those tasks are repeatable; for example, regular content updating on your website or ad postings on a daily or weekly basis is a repeatable task. Once you have your list, then search online for providers that provide those services. Pick three to five Virtual Assistant Services Providers that have a solid website with testimonials section and provide a range of services. Google these providers to find out what good/bad information you can find. Read their testimonials, ask for references preferably from one of the clients in the testimonial list, and ask for work samples. Generally, you can expect responsive service if your requirements are at least 20hrs/week. Expect Learning CurveA common mistake made is not accounting for learning curve. No matter how experienced a Virtual Assistant Services Provider is and how much a client has utilized a Virtual Assistant in the past, it always takes some time to understand requirements and implement solutions. Clients that factor in the learning curve have the highest success rate. If you are going to test a Virtual Assistant Services productivity against a specific benchmark then you must help the provider to perform at it best. In few extreme cases we came across, the client’s focus was on proving that Virtual Assistance arrangements do not create value and as a result, the relationship was more adversarial to begin with than a potential partnership. While virtual assistance many not work in all situations, the value it creates is well documented and beyond doubt. If your doubts about productivity, discuss those with your provider so an accurate assessment can be made. Visit Us : http://virtual-assistants.outsourcing-services-india.com
Source By :
|
Hiring Virtual Assistant Services: Making Relationship Work. |