Imagup General Magazine 2024
The last two years completely threw several services online and paved the way for rising customer expectations. Virtual assistants power the consumer industry in the present digital world.
Working with virtual personal assistants is an effective and quick way to scale any business because they can handle several tasks, from digital marketing to accounting and project management. A virtual assistant allows you to focus on urgent tasks and develop business growth strategies for the upcoming months. With professional assistance, you can handle the growing workload of your venture without overworking your employees.
Because a virtual assistant can facilitate business growth in countless ways, you should keep tabs on the latest trends expected to make waves in the sector. This article discusses the trends that could shape your business decisions in 2024 and beyond.
The growing number of remote freelancers who provide virtual assistance services
The pandemic’s impact triggered a steady rise in the number of freelancers working remotely. Be it for online marketing or accounting, an increasing number of freelancers are offering virtual assistance services. Statista reported that 50% of Generation Z workers are engaged in a form of freelance work. Many full-time employees were forced to switch to freelancing because they lost their jobs during the pandemic and now provide virtual assistance services for fields they specialise in. Statistics show that 59% of virtual assistants are full-time employees that enjoy the benefits of working remotely, with a flexible schedule and increased productivity, in 2024.
Your business can benefit from this trend as it enables you to hire a remote specialist to handle tasks like social media marketing, market research, accounting, or project management. Further, you save money because freelancers don’t expect medical benefits or other perks. You can also get good referrals from VPAs because they work with clients from all industries and develop a diverse professional network.
What is the key takeaway of this trend?
• Freelancers require little supervision as they’re used to working independently.
• You can work as a virtual assistant on a contractual basis if you need a specialist for a particular job or project.
• You can review their work quality on virtual assistant platforms like Virtalent or LinkedIn.
Better internet connectivity
Developing economies in the Asia Pacific and Latin America are expanding their internet network each passing year, and the online world is gaining 27,000 users daily.
The internet provides new job opportunities for specialists residing in remote areas by offering them a platform to connect and collaborate with organisations and other individuals from the comfort of their homes. Governments worldwide work to improve the digital infrastructure, and therefore virtual work is getting more popular. The virtual assisting sector is benefitting from the increased reach of high-speed internet. Naturally, businesses also find it easier to harness specialists with internet accessibility.
What is the key takeaway of this trend?
• High-internet connectivity enables you to stay in touch with remote workers.
• Your VPA can download, access, and share data while working remotely.
Organisations embrace the trend of outsourcing
Due to the pandemic, many ventures incurred capital and client losses and were compelled to embrace outsourcing to cut costs. A survey shows that 70% of companies began outsourcing with the single purpose to reduce costs. This trend has had a significant impact on the virtual assistant sector. Companies worldwide have been outsourcing specialists for several tasks because they offer high-quality services at affordable prices. In the context of an ongoing pandemic, offshore outsourcing and hiring VPA will further increase. Virtual assistants can offer support for countless tasks by working remotely and bringing down business costs. You don’t have to pay freelancers monthly travel allowance, medical benefits, office equipment, or other expenses required to maintain a full-time employee.
What is the key takeaway of this trend?
• The demand for remote virtual assistants will constantly increase as more businesses embrace hybrid or remote work.
• Outsourcing frees managers time and resources and allows them to focus on more complex tasks.
• A virtual assistant brings in specialised knowledge and provides quality services for your company.
A shift towards flexible work schedules
A flexible work schedule offers people the freedom to work when they’re most productive. The Boston College published a survey that shows that 70% of business managers and 87% of workers think that a flexible work schedule can boost productivity. If you run a business, use this trend to your advantage by hiring remote workers such as virtual personal assistants to help you deliver better results. Your employees don’t have to work 40 hours weekly to deliver quality results and complete their assigned tasks. If they’re at maximum productivity, they can work for 20 hours.
Allowing your remote workers to establish their schedules can help you attract and retain talented resources. You can build a team of highly motivated employees and promote a healthy work culture. Hiring remote assistants and giving them the flexibility to establish when and where they work enables them to stay in good shape. Studies show that remote employees and virtual assistants are 20% less stressed than cubicle employees.
What is the key takeaway of this trend?
• A flexible work schedule boosts job satisfaction levels.
• Flexible work arrangements enable you to build a positive brand reputation and increase your company’s market size.
• Flexible hours allow workers to avoid commuting stress and traffic and promote relaxation and quality work.
Integration of digital tools
Digital tools streamline communication between departments, reduce or eliminate paperwork, scale daily business operations, and manage payrolls. You can also manage remote workers and virtual assistants depending on what software you use. Statista reports that 79% of remote workers and virtual assistants have used digital tools for improved collaboration in 2024.
What is the key takeaway of this trend?
• Tools like project management software provide VPAs with easy access to files, information, and data, in a centralised place.
• Digital tools power easy communication because you can easily discuss project tasks and connect with clients and workers with the help of an app.
• Digital programs power online scheduling of meetings and tasks and streamline communication.
The above virtual personal assistant trends highlight the importance of working with a remote specialist, especially in the context of the pandemic.
