Why a Virtual Assistant Might Be the Productivity Game-Changer Your Association Needs
Virtual Assistants (VAs) are time-tested resources that can provide many solutions to your association’s productivity needs. They can significantly reduce operational costs while enhancing your association’s output and potentially increase the value you deliver to members.
That said, there are some crucial factors to consider before hiring a virtual assistant. VAs can be viewed as a form of “automation,” which is a hot buzzword right now. So, let’s move past the jargon and dive into the pros and cons of hiring a virtual assistant!
What Are Virtual Assistants?
Virtual assistants are professionals who handle your association’s administrative and technical needs. The main difference between traditional employees is the VAs do their tasks from a remote location, and they typically will never be on-site if your association has a physical headquarters.
In general, VAs aren’t permanent employees of your association either. As such, hiring them can lower your costs while also improving efficiency. Some VAs may even be based abroad.
Typical VA tasks include managing emails, answering phones, scheduling meetings, and even planning the logistics of events. Depending on their expertise, VAs may also help you with bookkeeping, social media, and database management.
What Are the Advantages of Having Virtual Assistants for Associations?
Hiring a virtual assistant could be the right move for your association because of these reasons:
- Cost Saving: Outsourcing an assistant results in as much as 78% savings on operational costs.
- Efficiency and Flexibility: Some virtual assistants can provide support outside of business hours. Your members can experience better responsiveness around the clock.
- Time-Saving: Virtual assistants can free up your time and allow you to focus on the most important tasks.
- Improved Output: Studies show that virtual assistants are well-trained. Over 60% of VAs have college degrees.
- Scalability: If your association is experiencing fluctuations in growth, you can hire new VAs relatively fast and without hassle.
- Access to Specialized Skills: Different virtual assistants have varying expertise. You can find ones with the necessary skills for the specific tasks you have in mind.
What Are the Disadvantages of Virtual Assistants for Associations?
Despite the advantages, hiring a virtual assistant may have the following drawbacks:
- Data Security Risks: Virtual assistants are outsourced personnel. You may want to reconsider hiring them if you have sensitive association data. A nondisclosure agreement (NDA) may be difficult to enforce if the VA is located in a country different from where your association is headquartered.
- Training Difficulties: Some associations may find it hard to train a remote worker. You’ll need to prepare resources, such as Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for your VAs in advance.
- Inconsistencies: At times, multiple virtual assistants from agencies can work on a single task. This results in inconsistencies in the quality of work.
- Less Personal Interactions: You’ll rarely see your virtual assistants. They may not be suitable for associations that require personal collaboration.
- Reduced Control: Ensuring virtual assistants follow the association’s protocols may be challenging.
- Cultural Differences: As mentioned before, some virtual assistants come from other countries. Cultural differences can lead to misunderstandings.
Final Verdict on Hiring a V.A. at Your Association
Ultimately, whether you should or shouldn’t hire a virtual assistant for your association depends on your needs. There’s no doubt you can free up your time and further improve how you run the association by hiring a virtual assistant.
Still, it’s essential to find reputable and capable virtual assistants you can trust. Set protocols in place for data privacy, and be sure to train your new hires well. Our takeaway tip for you is to weigh the pros and cons mentioned above of hiring a virtual assistant before deciding!