What do you typically associate with BPO? Let us guess, call centers, right?
Well, nowadays, when talking about outsourcing talents, most people instantly think about virtual assistants.
If you’re wondering if these two are somehow related, well, yes! Virtual assistants are part of the big BPO industry. In essence, they follow the same concept of bringing in professionals from all over the world to help businesses.
If you’re dealing with routine tasks and wonder about VAsand BPO meaning, here’s an article explaining all that and why virtual assistants are the perfect match for your business needs.
What’s BPO?
BPO, which stands for Business Process Outsourcing, is the process of outsourcing routine tasks inside your business to an external provider. This is a strategy used to get business processes done a lot cheaper.
Many companies, big or small, have outsourced different types of tasks to a third-party provider. Some of these tasks include video editing and basic accounting.
BPO agents operate differently from virtual assistants, though. They handle a very definite business operation that requires a specific skill, which they are primarily trained for.
What Is the Difference Between Outsourcing and Virtual Assistant?
BPO and virtual assistant are two trendy staffing solutions. But even though these two leverage outsourced talents to help companies fill in talent gaps, they are not entirely the same.
How so? Check out our main comparisons below:
Outsourcing (BPO)
One thing to remember about outsourced professionals is that they work on a specific repetitive task. You pay to complete a certain process in your business, assigning that one task to a member of the outsourced team.
Some of these business activities include customer service, lead generation, data entry and market research. A BPO team is trained for these tasks, wherein one or two of their staff are assigned to complete the project based on their set criteria and not on the client’s standard protocol.
Virtual Assistant
Unlike BPO agents, a virtual assistant becomes integrated with the client’s firm. They can offer their services directly to you or through an agency.
VAs address your specific business objectives in client relations or marketing. These assistants are college graduates with diverse experience who are more than just administrative allies.
You can think of them as office employees with more skills but without the added baggage of office expenses and long-term commitments.
By contrast, an outsourced company works round-the-clock on a shifting schedule. Virtual assistants are lone soldiers, available whenever you need them. They shift gears constantly but are adept at juggling multiple demands.
Virtual professionals are a dynamic workforce that caters to many facets of your business.
What Is a Virtual Assistant in BPO?
Virtual assistants are essential elements of BPO, following the same concept of outsourcing talents from all over the world to optimise resources and access competencies not found in-house.
The virtual assistant BPO method gives you intensive focus on core functions while outsourcing non-revenue generating tasks to a VA. This helps you save limited resources by not hiring a full-time employee.
A virtual assistant BPO operates like an average self-employed VA. But unlike remote freelancers, BPO agents receive salary and compensation benefits, which is why they are quite pricey.
What Does a Virtual Assistant BPO Do?
The first rule to elevate your business is to not be bogged down by menial assignments that can easily be handled by someone else.
The most typical virtual assistant BPO assistance is mentioned below; feel free to outsource them to a BPO VA and focus on growth-inducing functions instead.
- Check Company Emails
- Make Invoices
- Send Emails
- Create a Daily Report
Your virtual assistant understands what working around a team is. As such, checking company emails is one of the most important functions of their day, outside of handling your follow-up request, of course.
An invoice is a transaction that formalises an agreement between a buyer and a seller. In your VA's case, they can create detailed statements for your customers and prompt payment dispersals.
If you’re in a real estate business, one of the responsibilities that you can pass on to a VA is sending emails to clients, ranging from documents to reminders.
Yes, you can ask your virtual assistant BPO to make a report on a project or a task. A detailed record can be really helpful in gaining valuable insight on how to improve a process and productivity.
P.S. Your virtual assistant's job is highly dependant on their niche of expertise and your industry. If you are in a publishing company, your VA will most likely be editing articles as opposed to property sourcing.
Why Do Clients Hire Virtual Assistants?
Here’s a favourable look at having a virtual assistant BPO for your business.
- Cost-Savings
- Improved Productivity
- Access to Skilled Expertise
- Get an All-in-One Support
- Flexibility
- Encourage Work-Life Balance
By outsourcing talents from all over the world, you can save resources on the usual overhead costs associated with hiring a new employee. Since everything transpires online, there’s no need for an office space or equipment.
When you delegate to a virtual assistant, you can be more effective as a leader. With your attention concentrated on core missions, you can experience higher levels of productivity.
Virtual assistant BPO offers experience and skilled expertise that can’t be found within the company.
While BPO companies are quick to launch, they operate using standard processes, barring them from offering the personal touch that most customers need. In truth, they mostly handle routine tasks that don’t require decision points.
If your business relies on bringing nuances and building strong personal relationships with clients, your sophisticated business is in better hands with a virtual assistant.
Traditional BPOs don’t have all types of support your business needs. For a company, like yours, with diversified requirements, you demand a broad range of skills that a virtual assistant can deliver.
From marketing to content creation, VAs can aid your team in all ways, whereas a BPO centre cannot. This magnifies your productivity without investing more money.
The power to scale up or down as your business requires is given to you the moment you hire a virtual assistant. You have all the flexibility to collaborate with them on a short-term basis or a project-based.
No more late nights in the office. No more cancelled planned family vacations. By outsourcing to a virtual assistant, you’ve earned back your lost time for fruitful adventures you want to take with your business and outside of it.
Who Needs a Virtual Assistant Most?
It’s a lot more efficient to just outsource your most tedious tasks to a reliable VA who is more skilled at handling them than you are.
Here’s a list of people who might benefit from a virtual assistant or two:
- Small business owners
- Executives
- Customer Service Team
- Sales Team
- Startups
- Entrepreneurs
- Coaches
- Medical Professionals
- Anyone who wants to strive for a work-life balance
Frequently Asked Questions About Virtual Assistant BPO
What Is the Meaning of BPO VA?
A BPO VA is a cost-effective strategy for companies who want to optimise their operations, cut expenses and boost productivity. It’s a method that brings a virtual assistant into your company to handle projects from a remote location.
What Does BPO Mean in Call Centre?
Business process outsourcing is a third-party provider that deals with customer interactions on behalf of a company.
A BPO virtual assistant in call centre specialised in handling incoming and outgoing client calls, ensuring a smooth customer journey with a virtual call assistant.
What Do Virtual Assistants Do?
A virtual assistant supports office management. They tackle a long list of administrative tasks, such as phone answering and email management. But some with specialised skills can handle more complex chores like digital marketing and video editing.
What Is the Difference Between Customer Support and Virtual Assistant?
Customer support agents are specifically trained to cater to client needs, effectively handling their calls and responding to their concerns efficiently.
On the other hand, virtual assistant services cover various expertise, from administrative and technical to content creation. They are primed to support your needs in different ways.
What Is a BPO Assistant?
A BPO assistant is someone who supports a BPO company by providing administrative assistance for the team, so they can better deal with customer care. These tasks include online filing, booking meetings and maintaining documents.
Wrapping Up!
Now that you know what a virtual assistant BPO can do for you and your business, it’s time to take the next step to achieve your goals.
We want to hear from you. Connect with VAV Asiaand let us help you find the right VA who can help you create a successful business.