Virtual Assistant - Embracing Change

The days of Job Posts asking for an assistant who can "file" are over.

With everything being paperless now there is really no administrative task that can not be visualized. With the advent of web 2.0 things such as content writing, blogging and increasing one's social networks are relevant tasks that are time consuming and expensive. Outsourcing many of these tasks along with the standard appointment setting, appointment confirming, booking travel and drafting basic reports.

The at home and outsourced models have taken off and you see specialization with things such as REVA (Real Estate Virtual Assistants). This often one to on relationship can also create knowledge transfer that can benefit parties in disparate geographic regions. In addition you are seeing what virtual assistance entails is growing. Now follow-ups and basic telemarketing are just as likely to be added as correspondence.

It is in this process where things get interesting. One can imagine a scenario where a virtual assistant would be a group of people providing front and back end services to allow the business owner to focus on core activities. A web development company that outsources sales, back office HR/Payroll, Recruiting and Finance so it can focus on it basic business.

Expect to see continued differentiation as well as increased depth of knowledge for specialized virtual assistants.