Are Virtual Assistants Necessary for Efficient Order Management Process?

Posted on June 9, 2023June 12, 2023 by admin@officebeacon.com

The order management process is the backbone of any eCommerce business. About 20.8% of retail purchases in 2023 are expected to occur online. From the time a customer clicks on ‘buy’ till the time the product is delivered to the customer, the whole journey falls under order management and processing. It sounds easy enough at first, but if it’s not maintained or executed correctly- it will lead to potential loss and damage. In this blog, we will explore the order management process and how a virtual assistant can help you.

Understanding Order Management Process

In simple terms, the order management process includes accepting, tracking, and fulfilling orders placed by customers. However, there are a lot more components to it. The order processing manager will also have to coordinate and manage the inventory system, delivery visibility, etc. With the advancement of technology, business owners can now keep track of everything in one place.

There’s room for error in the coordination and involvement of many departments within the order management process. As a business owner, you can’t afford such a mistake. That’s why most business owners outsource eCommerce store management, specifically order processing management, to save time and money. Letting an expert virtual assistant handle all the grunt work reduces the possibility of error and frees up time for your full-time employees to focus on other essential tasks.

The Key Components of Order Management Process: Tasks a VA Can Help You With

Are you planning to outsource your order management process but unsure what tasks your virtual assistants can handle? Well, worry not. In this blog section, we focus on the different tasks your VA can do for you.

1. Order Receiving and Entry

Depending on your business model, your VA receives and accepts customer orders through emails, social media, websites, or phone calls. It is the first of the many steps in the order management process. Your VA can enter the order details manually or use software to automate the process to ensure all the necessary information is stored in a database. Furthermore, they send an order confirmation message or mail to the customer.

2. Order Verification and Validation

Once the order is accepted, it needs to be validated regarding available inventory, promo codes, special discounts, pricing, etc. Virtual assistants do this to monitor the business's stock availability and cash flow. They also verify the information provided by the customer, like phone number, address, etc., to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the order information. The VA screens all orders to ensure there's no fraud to prevent/block fraudulent charges, keeping your business safe.

3. Inventory Check and Allocation

Managing inventory is a tedious and time/consuming task in the order management process, but it's crucial for the success of your business. With the help of your VA, you get detailed and error-free inventory reports timely, so you can focus on optimizing your business. They update the inventory records and alert you if there's an out-of-stock or low-stock situation to take the necessary action. Most of all, your business will always be up and running as the VA will ensure that there's always sufficient stock for order fulfillment.

4. Payment Processing

It's always best to let one person handle the end-to-end order management process. Virtual assistants are generally well-versed in financial knowledge and have the skills to use software tools to make payment processing easier. They handle credit card transactions, processing invoices, payments, etc. To ensure the customer's and company's safety, your VA ensures that all protocols are followed, the payment gateways are secure, and the payment collection process is monitored.

5. Order Fulfillment and Packaging

Since multiple departments are involved, coordinating with them can get tricky. VAs are constantly in touch with the warehouse or fulfillment center during order management. They coordinate with the center to ensure the order is picked up, packaged, and delivered on time. Further, virtual assistants also arrange for packaging material (like boxes, protective bags, etc.), to secure the products and ensure the delivered goods are not damaged. VAs also look into labels and packing slips to confirm the order is correct and reaches the right person.

6. Shipping and Delivery Logistics

Another department virtual assistants coordinate with during the order management process is logistics. VAs help them schedule pickups for on-time delivery. They must also look into customer preferences like shipping methods, delivery destination, cost on delivery options, cost considerations, etc. They take care of the shipping and delivery logistics to ensure no delay during transit. On-time delivery adds to customer satisfaction, which builds brand reputation.

7. Order Tracking and Status Updates

Do you know that 76% of people will stop doing business with a company after two terrible customer experiences? They want to see where the order is, how long it will take to reach, etc. Virtual assistants keep customers informed about their order status and answer any query that they might have. They can provide further information on order shipping, processing, approximate delivery date, and more. It reassures the customer and keeps them in a loop.

8. Returns and Exchanges Management

Virtual assistants also handle the process of managing exchanges or returns for customers. VAs communicate with them to understand why they want to exchange or return the product, if the product received is damaged, etc. These reasons help your business improve production and order management processes. Customers get 24/7 assistance from virtual assistance to initiate return requests, get return shipping, and exchange products on time.

9. Customer Communication and Support

A Harvard Company Review states that business owners spend, on average, 3% of their work hours communicating with customers. It means there's little time allocated to the people essential for growing the business. That's why they choose to outsource a virtual assistant to help them with the order management process. This way, business owners can focus on other things on their plate without neglecting customer support.

10. Order Documentation and Record-Keeping

The order management process is complex; virtual assistants keep the process organized and manageable by documenting everything. They are responsible for maintaining and keeping track of ongoing and past order details, payment records, customer data, and more. These documents and records are stored in a manner that is easily accessible for future use. Virtual assistants can also use data and records to analyze trends and give insights into sales, business trends, or customer behavior.

Overcoming Common Challenges in Order Management Process

The order management process is not smooth sailing. During this journey, you are bound to encounter one or many challenges. Here is a rundown of some of such issues and how to solve them.

1. Technology Limitations

The manual order management process is a thing of the past. It is time-consuming, inaccurate, causes delays, is error-prone, and ultimately leads to customer dissatisfaction. Business owners have realized that the key to rapid growth and success is automation. By integrating order management system processes or even customer relationship management software, you can improve the efficacy of operations on all fronts of your business.

2. Order Tracking

Customers want to know where the product is or how long it will take to deliver. Poor tracking and visibility of the order lead to customer queries, a hike in customer support requests, and a poor shopping experience. To avoid this, streamline your eCommerce site or app and allow customers to track their orders and get real-time updates. Back-end processes like integrating tracking numbers from shipping carriers into your OMS needs to be done to give such a service to your buyers. Customers who can view and manage orders independently are less likely to be dissatisfied with your business

3. Collaboration and Communication

As mentioned before, the order management process requires many departments to communicate and coordinate to deliver the product successfully. In most cases, the inefficient communication between these parties leads to delays or errors in order processing. To prevent this from happening, most businesses outsource virtual assistants as it's less time-consuming, and they are well-versed with all the practices/tools required for accessible and effective communication.

4. Scalability

As your business experiences an increase or decrease in demand due to seasonal fluctuations, market forces, etc., it can be hard to adapt to such changes instantly. There needs to be a system in place through which you can maintain the flexibility to meet the changing demands. Outsourcing the order management process is the easiest and most effective solution. Depending on the current requirements, you can scale up or down and pay accordingly. An alternative solution is to invest in scalable technology that can handle the increasing orders when necessary.

To Sum Up

By now, it's clear that virtual assistants are the solution to all challenges encountered during the order management process. They are necessary to streamline operations and drive growth or success. Outsourcing a virtual assistant from Office Beacon comes with many perks. The competitive rates allow you to hire them cost-effectively; you get access to a suite of powerful software tools, detailed weekly reports of VAs, and so much more. Outsource your order management process and leave your operations in capable hands.

How to Wow & Win Customers with Promotional Swag

Posted on June 8, 2023June 9, 2023 by admin@officebeacon.com

In the dynamic digital media ecosystem, brands vie for consumers’ attention. It becomes challenging to connect with customers since their attention spans are getting shorter owing to the abundance of products available. In essence, marketers have a brief window of time to grab the audience’s interest before they scroll past to another product.

If we cast our eyes around, we probably see a promotional item or many.

Nowadays, it has become common to see social media influencers hawking merchandise, HR inundating branded merchandise to employees, and startups splurging on bags to commemorate their IPO.

It’s interesting to realize that there are more uses for products with logos today than there were even ten years ago, which indicates that the market for promotional goods is growing.

Therefore, firms should now resort to promotional products as a successful marketing tactic to grab consumers’ attention.

Breaking into the Promotional Products Industry

Often referred to as swag or giveaways, promotional products are branded objects featuring a company logo, phrase, or motto used in marketing, sales, and advertising. Promotional products broaden the target market, promote products and services, and raise brand awareness. Typically, businesses give free promotional items to their audience, employees, and clients at trade shows.

Promotional products evoke positive emotions in the target audience. The customer feels happy, curious, appreciated, and connected when they receive promotional products. Through emotional engagement, brands establish a connection between their products or services and their target audience, which is the precursor to a purchase.

The Most Popular Promotional Products

Depending on the organization’s needs, industry, and customer base, promotional products are of many forms. Promotional products measure through impressions over the lifetime of the item.

The number of lifetime impressions is a good indicator of how effective promotional products are. It is crucial to consider how long promotional and marketing products will last. A promotional product can maximize the number of lifetime impressions and possible organizational gains if it is kept and used for a long time.

Based on anticipated lifetime impressions, PPAI claims that the following promotional goods are the most well-liked and successful:

Outerwear — Rain slickers, jackets, and windbreakers can achieve an estimated 6,100-lifetime impressions.

T-Shirts — T-shirts can achieve an estimated 3,400-lifetime impressions.

Headwear — Hats, visors, and similar headgear achieve an estimated 3,400-lifetime impressions.

Bags — Backpacks, and tote bags can achieve an estimated 3,300-lifetime impressions.

Stationary — Pens, notebooks, and pencils can achieve an estimated 3,000 lifetime impressions.

Polo Shirts — Polo shirts can achieve an estimated 2,300-lifetime impressions.

Drinkware — Coffee mugs, water bottles, and glassware can achieve an estimated 1,400-lifetime impressions.

Umbrellas — Umbrellas can achieve an estimated 1,100-lifetime impressions.

Calendars — Calendars can achieve an estimated 850-lifetime impressions.

Why Do Businesses Need to Branch into Promotional Products?

Promotional products are a powerful marketing tool. However, before using promotional products, businesses need to assess their goals. An organization can reap the benefits of promotional products when giveaways add value to the consumer and effectively communicate the brand message.

The following PPAI statistics demonstrate the effectiveness of promotional products as a marketing tool:

Consumers are willing to take action to get promotional products.
88% of consumers who got a promotional product could recall the brand
96% of customers want to be informed when a business plans giveaways.
80% of consumers react strongly to promotional and marketing products.
Consumers relate a brand's reputation with the caliber of its promotional products in 72% of cases.
Promotional products rank as a highly effective marketing strategy by 70% of brands

Promotional products are a tangible tool that addresses a range of marketing issues, such as amplifying attempts to engage employees and raising brand recognition. They offer high ROI due to the impact on the public.

Freebies Put the ‘Emotion’ in Promotion

Everyone loves free stuff. However, does it provide enough buzz for a brand to give out these gifts?

People often forget an advert on TV or billboard in a few seconds. However, a gift from a brand stays with the user. Promotional products elicit emotions. For instance, when you give a consumer a customized gift, they interact with your brand rather than just seeing it in an ad.

Freebies give people a feeling of accomplishment in general. Such an experience helps businesses grow by cultivating loyalty by establishing the business-customer connection.

A personalized promotional product imprinted with a distinctive logo, tagline, or text aid in achieving many business goals:

Keeps the brand in the minds of the customers
Increases a customer’s loyalty
Celebrates clients and employees
Encourages and promotes attendance at events, booth visits, and in-person interactions
Extends face-to-face communication beyond a single meeting

Tapping into Promotional Products to Fuel Branding

Promotional goods are a powerful advertising tool for businesses. Below are the four benefits of promotional products that boost marketing.

Attract More Eyeballs

Companies can increase the efficiency of their marketing campaigns and draw in new clients by using promotional handouts and thoughtfully crafted swag boxes. They are a great way to increase eyeballs on the brand and create more awareness.

Branded merchandise acts as a marketing tool that allows brands to ensure that people will get to know their products. It increases the chances of the audience recalling the brand.

Increase Sales

Freebies are enticing and can increase sales. Half of the people who receive promotional products engage further with the advertiser.

Promotional products serve as lead generators in addition to being branding tools. These products have demonstrated the ability to leave a lasting impression on clients.

Therefore, working with brilliant designers has an immeasurable benefit because great designs are one of the things that draw in new customers. After falling in love with the brand, consumers eventually become paying customers.

Enhance Employee Engagement

When employed correctly, promotional products are an efficient external marketing method for elevating a brand among internal stakeholders of the business. Promotional products help to build relationships with employees and can increase brand loyalty. They improve a company's reputation.

Employees find it easier to connect with a company that invests in meaningful gifts that make them feel valued. The Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) reports that 57% of American workers would stay with a company longer than one that didn't provide branded things to its staff.

Act as a Business Card

Business cards are an essential marketing tool that promotes brand awareness while establishing a connection with people. Promotional products with a brand name can act as a business card by introducing the brand and its services to consumers.

When distributing promotional products, businesses can introduce themselves to broader prospective buyers.

Promotional handouts include contact information, just like business cards. They bear the brand and graphics of your business together with a message that conveys your marketing strategy.

As a result, consumers can use the tangible brand-named product as a useful business card on a daily basis.

3 Ways to Align Your Market Presence Through Your Promotional Products

Every brand aspires to be distinctive in today's competitive business environment. Therefore, businesses need to understand who they are, what makes their product stand out from the competitors, and how they add value for the customer. Here are the three ways to align market presence through promotional products.

Ensure Brand Relevance

It's crucial to select a giveaway item relevant to the brand and encapsulates what your company does. Your target market will find it simpler to relate your brand to the product they have purchased. For example, T-shirts are a popular promotional item, but if the company doesn't perform promo shirts, they might not be the best choice.

Understand Buyer’s Personas

A consumer interacts with a brand through many touchpoints, and there is a potential to increase brand awareness, trust, and loyalty. Therefore, businesses need to recognize every stage a customer goes through. From the time they first learn about the brand until they make a purchase. Once a company has accomplished this, they ensure that their promotional products create an emotional connection.

Establish Competitive Advantage

Businesses must be explicit about the advantages their promotional products offer to customers. They have to be upfront with customers about how the product will benefit them and improve their lives. By highlighting these advantages, brands make it simpler for customers to consider choosing their product over others.

Winning the Giveaway Game

If a promotional item is fun, practical, and stylish, people are more inclined to keep and use it. Mix fun in your swag with a dash of functionality to appeal to the social media-savvy audience. The third factor is to remain trendy. For instance, today's consumers are fun-loving while also being responsible. Customers love a brand that promotes ecologically friendly promotional items and cares about the environment. The industry witnessed a surge in sustainable promo product sales last year by 20%. Therefore, brands must use eco-friendly products to capture the attention of their target audience.

Wrapping Up!

Promotional products remain a powerful marketing strategy. Whether you call them swag, branded goods, or promotional products, promo products are a fantastic way to engage with customers and demonstrate your concern for them. These freebies increase brand recognition. These products are also great for attracting a loyal fanbase and increasing sales.

How Innovation Is Shaping Up The Construction Industry’s Future?

Posted on June 7, 2023June 7, 2023 by admin@officebeacon.com

Introduction

Imagine a world where engineering and construction (E&C) firms can create impressive skyscrapers and infrastructures that meet the diverse and dynamic needs of the population. A world where they can leverage the power and efficiency of remote professionals to deliver projects faster, cheaper, and better. A world where they can innovate and disrupt the industry with new business models and value propositions. This is not a fantasy, but a reality unfolding right now. Welcome to the construction revolution era, where E&C firms increasingly embrace new ideas and seize opportunities like never before.

Key Trends Dictating The Construction Industry’s Future

Construction is poised for a great year in 2023 as it rebounds from the pandemic. The industry will enjoy the fruits of technological progress and high demand for its services. The sky is the limit for what can be accomplished! Here are some key trends unfolding in 2023.

#1 The Age of Construction 4.0 & Labor Scarcity

Interconnected techs will digitize, automate and integrate the construction process across the value chain, which experts are terming Construction 4.0. These technologies include the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, additive manufacturing, drone monitoring and other cyber-physical systems (CPS), and building information modeling (BIM).

According to IMARC, a leading market research group, the construction 4.0 market size was USD 14 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow to US$ 35.1 Billion by 2028 at a rate of 15.7% per year from 2023 to 2028.

BIM is a key technology that reduces energy consumption and creates 3D models that prevent errors and delays in projects. It also cuts down on waste materials and carbon emissions during construction. It can also improve worker safety when coupled with augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) solutions.

However, the construction industry faces a challenge in finding and hiring skilled workers. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index reported that 88% of contractors have had this problem. This comes at a time when the country (the US) has approved its largest infrastructure bill ever.

Guess what? All of these can be outsourced and the best talent can be acquired globally!

Take this for example! Remote construction is a booming industry that has grown from USD 853.2 million in 2022 to nearly USD 974 million in 2023. According to the market analysis, this trend will continue and accelerate at a rate of 14.2% per year until 2033. By then, the market value of remote construction could reach (or even exceed) USD 3.7 billion.

#2 Modular Designs

Imagine a construction company that cares about the planet and uses cutting-edge technologies to create modular buildings. That’s exactly what Modulex Modular Buildings Plc is trying to do! They use artificial intelligence and IoT to design and build eco-friendly structures that can be assembled on-site.

More and more builders are choosing modular construction as a smart and sustainable way of creating structures. Modular buildings are manufactured offsite and then put together on-site.

This method saves time, reduces environmental impact, and enhances design quality. Modular buildings also generate less waste and builders can recycle (and reuse) materials. Plus, the buildings can be modernized/moved easily, cutting on resources required for new projects. Experts predict modular construction is around $200 billion in 2023 and will clock a steady growth of 7.4% from 2023 to 2033.

#3 3D Printing

Do you know Aiman Hussein?

Maybe not, but chances are high that you have seen one of his videos of 3D concrete printers building homes! Meet the growing cult of 3D printing entrepreneurs, which Aiman, the director of printing at US-based startup Alquist 3D, proudly represents. He has clocked over 60K followers and tens of millions of views on his TikTok videos that show 3D concrete printers constructing houses.

Building a 2,000-square-foot home usually takes months. This does not even count the time for designing the plans or installing the windows, power lines, and other finishing touches. But, there is a new and faster way of constructing houses that is emerging: 3D printing.

The first step to creating a 3D-printed home is the same as any building project: the blueprint. But instead of having construction workers follow the plan on the ground, a bigger 3D printer is used. It is a digital drawing to make a physical structure based on the scale decided by the engineers.

The printer has all the details it needs, such as dimensions and details of the load-bearing capacity of a particular wall (and the materials/thickness required for it). The printing process involves stacking distinct construction materials in layers. However, the process is complex. The printing mix must have certain properties like - faster preliminary setting, pumpable output, ease of constructing layers-on-layers without deformation (buildability), etc.

Nevertheless, 3D Printing is taking the construction industry by storm. According to Grand View Research, the number of 3D printers delivered worldwide in 2021 was 2.2 million and it is projected to reach 21.5 million units by 2030.

#4 Green Tech & Sustainable Construction

The climate crisis is hitting cities and urban areas hard as they struggle to accommodate the growing population and the demand for housing. The construction industry must pivot fast and build with greener methods, or else a global catastrophe is impending!

One of the emerging concepts is net-zero, which is a way of designing and building structures that can generate their own power from renewable sources of energy and disconnect from the regular electricity grid. The Zero in this concept means that the buildings do not use any net energy per year and do not emit any carbon. The renewable sources of energy that are used in the net-zero concept are solar and wind energy.

As the cost of solar cells continues to plunge, more governments are expected to enforce their installation on public and private infrastructure. This also calls for a massive deployment of solar rooftop mapping experts to aid the process.

Cities like London, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Paris, and Zurich have already taken the lead when it comes to investments in green construction technology designed to decarbonize the built world. This trend is only about to pick up as the decade progresses.

#5 Invasion of Data Wizards to Optimize A-Z of Construction

The construction industry is adopting a new way of using data-driven insights to improve their processes, forecast their costs, and overcome challenges. By deploying data wizards, businesses can make smarter decisions that enhance their efficiency and reduce their risks, paving the way for better margins.

Businesses are embracing the future with advanced insights that boost their project management and decision-making capabilities. With real-time data from various sources, construction projects can finish faster. By combining ERP and project management into a unified platform, construction businesses will be sharper than ever to compete for profitable projects, implement marketing strategies, and boost sales.

The first step is to gather and process construction data from different systems and tools, including paper-based ones. This is done by hand at first and then by machine as the data quality improves.
The next step is to use a database platform to organize, analyze, and match the data from different sources to make it consistent.
The final step is to use a dashboard visualization tool to show the data in a clear and uniform way, with the right level of detail for the audience. The dashboard makes it easy and efficient to report on key performance indicators at various levels of customization.

A Synopsis of Construction Industry & Macroeconomic Headwinds

Some of the main headwinds that the industry is facing are:

As discussed above, the construction industry is facing a chronic shortage of skilled workers, limiting its capacity and productivity. The labor gap is caused by several factors- an aging workforce, low retention rates, lack of training, and immigration restrictions. The industry needs to attract and retain more talent to meet its current and future requirements.
The global economy is still exposed to shocks and uncertainties, geopolitical conflicts, and policy changes. A slowdown in economic activity could reduce the demand for construction projects and affect profitability.
The construction industry is experiencing rising costs of materials, labor, and transportation due to supply chain disruptions, and inflationary pressures. These cost pressures could squeeze the margins of contractors and developers and make some projects.

These headwinds pose significant threats to the growth and competitiveness of the construction industry. However, they also create opportunities for innovation and differentiation for those who can adapt and pivot to the changing market conditions.

How Office Beacon Is Propelling The Construction Industry Ambitions?

The construction industry is under increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact and contribute to the global goals of mitigating climate change and enhancing social well-being. This calls for uncanny tech roles in the construction sector that can be offshored. Office Beacon is proud to partner with the construction industry by providing niche professionals in a hassle-free way.

With the right virtual staffing, rapid recruitment process, weekly performance reports, and 100% data fortification, the construction industry can leverage our expertise to roll out projects in a whisker!

Architectural Services

Engineering Services

Wrapping-Up

From planning to designing to construction, technology has been spreading its benefits in all the sub-segments of construction. The future of construction lies with techs such as AI, BIM, and VR. These will oversee the complete construction project while advising on risk management, schedule adherence, structural integrity, and much more.

The construction industry is yet to witness a significant disruption - something like e-commerce vis-a-vis retail or Fintech vis-a-vis banking & finance. Nevertheless, it is at the cusp of innovative disruptions.

Transforming Project Efficiency: Leveraging the Power of Outsourced Engineering Service

Posted on June 5, 2023June 7, 2023 by admin@officebeacon.com

Outsourcing is revolutionizing the work culture around the globe. Companies are slowly opening up and becoming more dependent on outsourcing agencies to provide them with capable individuals. According to research, the current global outsourcing market is expected to reach USD 280.6 billion in 2023.

However, most business owners are still unaware of the full potential of outsourcing. Did you know that you can also outsource engineering services apart from IT, administration, finance, and other favored industries?

The blog below contains an in-depth guide on what outsourcing engineering services mean and how outsourced engineering services benefit your company.

What are Outsourced Engineering Services?

As the name suggests, outsourced engineering services refer to hiring an external employee to complete specific engineering tasks or functions. It works like any other outsourced service. Due to the complexity of the industry and high costs, companies are looking for alternative ways to get their job done at the lowest possible prices. Hiring full-time employees is not a feasible option as it only ends up costing them a lot more.

That's why business owners prefer outsourcing, as it is reliable and helps boost their company's productivity without burning a hole in their pocket.

This trend shows the continued growth of ESO and the internal decisions made by several companies to choose outsourcing engineering services.

Exploring Outsourced Engineering Services: An Overview

Okay, now you must be wondering what type of tasks or functions you can outsource. Well, most engineering virtual assistants are well-versed enough to handle any kind of task you assign them. However, to give you an idea, here are a few examples of outsourced engineering services.

1. Conversion Services

An outsourced engineering virtual assistant can help you take care of all the conversion tasks like 2-D to 3-D, Point Cloud to BIM, PDF to CAD, and much more. Conversions require 100% accuracy for the success of the project. One needs to be an expert at it. Luckily, our virtual assistants are subject matter experts with the software proficiency to handle such tasks. Our VAs also give you a detailed terrain report and detect potential risks in your project.

2. Stimulation Services

Certified engineering VAs can perform stimulation services that play a critical role in manifesting the project. Using high-tech specialized software, they can bring life to the projects by visually stimulating them. It helps the architects, engineers, and designers involved to visualize the project and collaborate efficiently. 4 BIM construction, mechanical/HVAC BIM, and Plumbing BIM are a few examples of such services.

3. Design and Drafting

Are the cogs of your creativity wheel stuck? Why not oil it with the creative juices of our virtual assistants? 2D, 3D, Solar Rooftop, and Sketchup Modeling are some popular outsourced engineering services. Our VAs have years of training in using computer-aided design (CAD) software and its various types available in the market. They provide you with models or drawings of product design, mechanical components, architectural plans, etc., in either 2D or 3D.

4. Compliance

Adhering to regulations and compliance procedures is mandatory while working on any project. Compliance is regularly outsourced engineering service as business owners want to reduce time and cost by relocating their resources elsewhere. Our VAs are subject matter experts and up-to-date with the latest environmental regulations, product concepts, and more.

5. Cost Estimation & Takeoffs

Another vital outsourced engineering service is cost estimation. It is conducive and wise to plan out the cost distribution before you start the project. Not only does this go hand in hand with drafting designs of the project prior, but it also will help you fit the project within your budget. Additionally, you will be able to avoid any overruns and delays in the future. From renovation takeoffs to BIm estimates, our virtual assistants can handle it all.

6. Documentation

Outsource engineering services to virtual assistants to ensure you're not wasting time on back-end processes. VAs can quickly create any technical documentation required for the project. It includes engineering reports, user manuals, assembly introductions, etc. They ensure the information is easy to comprehend and presented concisely.

Benefits of Outsourcing Engineering Services to a VA

Now that you have an idea of outsourced engineering services, here is a list of benefits that will give you a picture of why you should choose outsourced engineering firms for your business.

1. Cost-Friendly

The number one benefit of outsourced engineering service is that it will always be cheaper than hiring someone in-house to do the same task. Virtual assistants don't require infrastructure requirements, quote high prices, or require employee benefits. VAs can help firms save up to 78% on operational costs compared to a full-time hire. Reliable outsourcing agencies like Office Beacon is a prominent destination for a plethora of businesses to outsource their operations.

Also Read: Virtual Assistant Cost: 4 Crucial Factors to Keep in Mind

2. Free Access to Powerful Tools

Advanced technology doesn't come cheap. Especially in an industry like engineering, you will need access to numerous tools and software for project execution. One big advantage companies can benefit from while outsourcing is gaining free access to state-of-the-art technological tools and software. Thus, outsourced engineering services boost the overall integrity of the project.

3. Scalability and Flexibility

Outsourcing Firms like Office Beacon provides clients with 24/7 availability. Our VAs are present worldwide, so they are flexible to work in any time zone and your preference. Another bonus is that VA services are on an as-need basis. It means that you can hire more VAs when the load of the outsourced engineering task is more and then scale up or down based on the current requirement. It maintains the overall efficiency of your company.

4. Expert Help

Any VA hired from a reputable firm will be a subject matter expert in that particular industry. With years of experience, training, and knowledge under their belt, Office Beacon's VA gives you access to a broader range of engineering skill-set. Outsourced engineering services allow companies to leverage specialized skills without any constraints or limitations.

Future Trends in Outsourced Engineering Services

Similar to any other industry, the landscape of outsourced engineering services is constantly evolving. A new market or opportunity is created with new innovations and developments that impact the industry. Based on the current information and trends, here's what you can expect the future of outsourced engineering services to look like.

1. Growth in Outsourcing Designing

Outsourced engineering services in the design sector are expected to grow at a CAGR of 27%. With the functions and designs getting further complicated, it is predicted that they will be a greater need to outsource design work at relatively low prices.

2. Automation and AIs

As part of the cutting-edge solutions provided to clients, there will be significant developments in technology- specifically AIs and automation. Core outsourced engineering services will now include possible technological upgrades capable of predicting & preceding problems and helping with maintenance.

3. Sustainable Solutions

Needless to say the earth's drastic climate change is changing how we work. In order to reduce carbon footprint and other environmental damages, there will be considerable growth in the market of green engineering solutions. Solar 3D planning and similar outsourced engineering services will see a significant hike in terms of demand and staffing.

4. Cybersecurity

With the rate at which digitalization is taking over the world, it is hard to keep up with cybersecurity to maintain the same. Taking preventive measures to safeguard sensitive data, access codes, design software, etc., has become an absolute priority for business owners. They have started investing in cybersecurity and outsourced engineering services to secure their data.

Conclusion

As the demand for outsourced engineering services increases, companies look at 360-degree firms that can handle all their needs. Office Beacon has more than two decades of experience in the outsourcing business and has helped 4,400 clients achieve their goals by providing them with expert virtual assistants. It goes without saying that we are the number #1 trusted firm for outsourced engineering and other remote services.

It is because we understand and interpret our client's requirements and provide them with nothing else than the highest quality work. Embracing virtual assistant engineering services is guaranteed to contribute to the success of your project and optimize your workflow. Improve your bottom line and accelerate your project's timeline by simply giving Office Beacon a call.

Outsourcing 3D Printing: Is It The Best Bet For Your Business?

Posted on June 1, 2023June 2, 2023 by admin@officebeacon.com

3D printing has gained ground quickly, given the advantages such as cost savings, and enhanced product-design possibilities. 72% of companies have already embraced the technology, and 52% of organizations believe 3D printing will improve significantly over the next five years.

3D Printing Market — Image Source: Markets

Often businesses remain in dilemma whether to set up an in-house 3D printing or outsource to 3D printing service providers.

This blog post explores the nuances of 3D printing and breaks the impasse for businesses in making a decision.

3 Major 3D Printing Trends to Look for in 2023

The year 2022 was challenging owing to ongoing supply chain issues, the Ukraine crisis, and the rise in energy and raw material costs. It made businesses realize how important it is not to depend on a complex supply chain and made it obvious how 3D printing can be a savior.

Hospitals and medical personnel benefited greatly from 3D printing throughout the pandemic. The technology aided in accelerating the production of face shields or intricate ventilator parts.

So what is in the store for 3D printing in 2023? How is it going to revolutionize industries? Here are the three 3D printing trends that may influence the market through 2023 and beyond.

Growing 3D Printing Technology Maturity

3D printing enables customized products and reduces manufacturing costs and process downtime. These factors indicate that the market will become more mature in 2023. 3D printing applications are evolving beyond prototyping to functional part manufacturing in various industries, such as healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, transportation, automotive, medical, aerospace, and consumer goods.

When supply chain disruptions occur, 3D printing technology enables the rapid availability of much-needed parts. Also, additive manufacturing is an optimal solution for production ramp-up. Outsourcing 3D printing allows the easy shift from one material and technology to another by reducing the risk and cost of implementing its infrastructure.

The Upsurge of Digital Supply Chain

3D printing drives streamlined processes for greater efficiency and cost reduction. Digital warehousing platforms will enable companies to manage their parts more efficiently throughout their lifecycle. Companies can eliminate warehousing and maintain an integrated or connected ordering system.

In 2023 we can witness a digital supply chain that uses additive manufacturing technologies, leading to transparency, sustainability, flexibility, and efficiency.

Upgrades in the 3D Printing Sector

There are two types of 3D printing users: experts that are committed to the technology and want their printers to operate more reliably and effectively. The second category of users are exploratory, who can appreciate the advantages of 3D printing but require assistance in putting it into practice and challenging the status quo in their respective industries.

Now it has become an obligation for businesses to train and upskill their staff to leverage the power of 3D printing for business growth. For this, organizations need to spend time and money training new employees, so outsourcing 3D printing makes sense.

The Enormous Benefits of Outsourcing 3D Printing

3D printing offers many benefits, including quicker prototyping, enhanced product quality, and more. However, only businesses with the right 3D design and modeling skills can benefit from these advantages.

1. Prompt Prototypes Creation

A crucial part of manufacturing firms is creating prototypes, which requires resources, time, and effort. 3D printing enables companies to manufacture prototypes in less time while saving money.

2. Optimum-Quality Products

Businesses can use 3D printing to create high-quality products at a lower cost. The computer-controlled 3D printer creates a replica of the original product or prototype, guaranteeing unmatched quality.

3. No Equipment Handling Hassles

Businesses can avoid the headache of maintaining manufacturing facilities by outsourcing 3D printing. They can conserve space, reduce operating and maintenance expenses, and expedite production without any equipment. Additionally, as 3D printers are more adaptable, there is less worry about interruptions that can halt the manufacturing process.

4. Low Manpower

Outsourcing 3D printing isn’t as labor-intensive as traditional manufacturing. It has advanced 3D solutions that are fully computer-driven and come with robust technology. Considering that outsourced 3D designers are often highly skilled and can handle more work, the number of people required is also fewer. Virtual 3D designers use advanced tools to optimize operations and deliver optimum results.

Why 3D Printing Is Better Outsourced Than Done In-House

Interesting Read: The Emerging Trends That Will Redefine Logistics Outsourcing in 2023

Businesses shouldn't attempt to make everything in-house. Even the largest Fortune 500 companies outsource 3D printing projects despite having resources at their disposal.

Here are the four reasons why 3D printing is better outsourced than in-house.

Capacity

Every firm faces resource shortages, which can cause impediments in the business processes. Businesses that outsource 3D printing might use more capacity. A reliable outsourcing supplier optimizes printing outcomes and eliminates production delays using powerful 3D printers with the best build capacity.

On the other hand, to install 3D printers, manufacturers or service providers need to make considerable facility changes. Some 3D printers are too big to enter through regular doorways, some demand sophisticated power requirements, and others need ventilation. These changes are expensive, and in some cases, they might not even be achievable at the in-house facility.

Technology

3D printing is ever-changing. New tools, materials, and processes are pushing the bounds of what is conceivable. Keeping up with evolution can be an expensive endeavor for the in-house team. Also, many businesses cannot afford to invest in new 3D technologies because of their high upfront costs and the rapid speed of innovation, which could render them obsolete in a few years.

With outsourcing, businesses can access cutting-edge technology without investing in them. In addition, not having the right machinery, such as an SLA machine, for a specific technical project pushes businesses towards outsourcing 3D printing services.

Expertise

The 3D printing sector is novel and creates materials in unique ways that traditional manufacturing cannot match. However, 3D printing requires skill to work well. Changes to the equipment, build orientation, material mix, and support material alters the results. For this, businesses need knowledge and understanding to use the equipment.

When firms outsource their 3D design requirements, they get access to highly qualified, skilled, and experienced staff. Outsourcing brings a high level of expertise, not just the services.

Cost

High-end 3D printers can be pricey to buy. In addition to the expense of the machines, businesses also need the infrastructure, skilled labor, and raw materials to run them. With technology and tools, companies still need staff to run the process. Even if a firm has the right equipment, outsourcing a project could be less expensive than in-house.

Top 3D Printing Challenges

There are many advantages of 3D printing, including effectiveness, speed, waste reduction, zero errors, and lower costs. If you are still debating whether to outsource 3D printing or build it in-house, then knowing the challenges of 3D printing can help you decide which path to take.

Employing a 3D printer for the internal production of large parts pose several challenges for businesses to overcome, including:

Common Challenges in 3D Printing

A study reveals 25% of businesses cited equipment prices as the biggest obstacle to 3D printing. That response shouldn't be a surprise because most firms require more than one 3D printer to manage the volume of orders they receive, and saving up for the initial outlay can take some time.

Another expense related to additive manufacturing is the cost of production and processing. Although 3D printers are autonomous, firms still need a professional to send the digital file to the printer, check the printer setup, and start the printing process.

Technical Challenges in 3D Printing

3D printers are vulnerable to errors producing components that can't adhere to strict tolerance standards. This problem poses a hurdle for the use of additive manufacturing in fields that demand exceptionally high levels of accuracy, like the aerospace or automobile industries.

How to Overcome 3D Printing Challenges

Are you unsure how to integrate 3D printing into your firm, having trouble designing, or are overwhelmed with the cost or technical challenges of owning your 3D printers? It is best to outsource 3D printing to a trustworthy outsourcing partner. One of the biggest obstacles to 3D printing is upfront equipment expenditures, uneven outcomes, and a lack of understanding of the technology. An experienced 3D printing partner may assist you in overcoming many of these challenges.

Conclusion

The debate over employing an internal or external 3D printing service ends. No matter what stage an organization is at, outsourcing can assist a business in achieving its 3D printing objectives without going over budget.

To maximize your marketing budget, consider outsourcing your 3D printing to Office Beacon's experts, with over 23 years of experience. Your brand's growth is what we strive for.

Prepare for Emerging Challenges in 2023 (and beyond) with a Virtual Insurance Assistant

Posted on May 29, 2023July 25, 2023 by admin@officebeacon.com

Insurance companies are facing looming uncertainties. Mounting pressure from inflation, rising interest rates, and macroeconomic and geopolitical concerns dampen investors’ optimism. To this end, investors should concentrate on creating a lasting competitive edge.

Often held up in daily responsibilities, insurancers find it hard to focus on the core business operations. With a virtual insurance assistant, insurance agencies can focus on growing their sales pipeline, generating leads, and more.

A virtual assistant can help insurance businesses with many back-office tasks, such as policy modifications, billing, and customer support, and ensure nothing slips through the cracks. This blog will discuss working with a virtual assistant and the services they can provide for insurance agencies.

What Is an Insurance Virtual Assistant?

A virtual insurance assistant works from a distance and handles different responsibilities for insurance companies. They take customer care calls, respond to general inquiries, research potential coverage options to recommend to customers, and more for the insurance industry.

Insurance businesses can utilize a virtual insurance assistant to maximize their productivity and performance. For example, if your insurance agents are stretched thin with incoming policy claims and queries, a virtual insurance specialist can come to the rescue and handle the situation.

7 Key Tasks a Virtual Insurance Assistant Can Do for You

For insurance companies, virtual insurance assistants carry out many activities. They frequently handle the following jobs:

Data Entry in AMS/CRM

Insurance companies can hire virtual insurance assistants to do data entry or data “clean-up” inside the AMS or CRM. Virtual insurance assistants move data back and forth between different software programs and eliminate duplicate entries. Thus, these virtual insurance specialists ensure data is clean and up to date. They can override premiums and commissions inside the systems to ensure the reporting is correct.

Administrative Tasks

Every insurance agency has to deal with administrative tasks such as transcription, file management, email management, and research. Insurance agencies can hire virtual insurance assistants to perform administrative tasks so they can focus on high-value business processes.

Also Read: Is a Remote Assistant Worth the Investment?

Insurance Assistance

A virtual assistant with phone skills can answer customer care calls and help customers with pressing issues. For instance, customers often inquire about what insurance policy they are eligible for and what kind of coverage might be best for them. A virtual insurance assistant conducts research, reviews policy information, and recommends options to clients. Similarly, a virtual insurance verification specialist can verify the claims faster and provide support to an insurance company.

Preparing Policy Information

Making bids and ensuring that the details of each client's policy are updated is part of any insurance agency's general practice. A virtual insurance assistant gathers policy information, modifies current rules, and provides bids for new clients because this requires a lot of administrative work.

Lead Generation, Nurturing & Management

A virtual insurance assistant can assist insurancers in effective lead management. They also ensure insurance businesses close more deals by converting prospects into customers.

Accounting & Bookkeeping

Insurance accounting services have emerged as a strategic approach for insurance companies. A virtual insurance assistant lessens the burden of staffing in-house bookkeepers and accounting professionals. They provide comprehensive services to insurance businesses that make it simple to comply with statutory requirements.

Website & App Development

Insurance businesses need advanced websites and applications that will reduce their insurance work and offer a seamless experience to their customers. A virtual insurance assistant offers top-notch web and mobile applications. They are well-versed in website and app development design to ensure all your insurance business requirements meet your business needs.

Benefits of Hiring Virtual Assistants for Insurance Agencies

Employing a virtual insurance assistant might completely revolutionize the way insurance companies operate. Using virtual assistant services has several advantages, such as:

Improved Customer Service

In the competitive insurance industry, there is a need for insurance carriers to put the customer experience at the center of their business strategy. Insurers that offer superior customer service beat their peers. A virtual insurance assistant does research on your behalf for your support and sales teams. As a result, insurance businesses can save time by not undertaking policy research.

Organized Leads

A virtual insurance assistant can aid insurance companies in managing their vast network of current, past, and potential clients. With a virtual assistant, insurance companies can keep their lead database in order and access it easily.

Focus on Insurance Activities That Drive Growth

An insurance business spends an average of 16 hours per week on administrative tasks and other work that doesn't require their expertise or authority. This substantial loss in productivity inhibits the expansion of crucial initiatives for the insurance industry.

Using a virtual insurance assistant allows business owners to focus on the efforts that promote growth.

By offloading all of the time-consuming and tedious administrative tasks, they free up a ton of time for insurance companies to improve their strategic projects and establish crucial contacts.

A Big Saving on Hiring and Employee Costs

While hiring a virtual assistant, there are no hiring or incentive costs, which can save your company thousands of dollars.

According to a study by the Society for Human Resource Management, it costs $4,129 on average to fill a job opening. It includes:

Time invested in preparing job listings
Cost of posting jobs on employment boards
Recruitment advertisements
Examining applicants and conducting interviews takes time.
Background check costs
Costs of training
Employees benefits

Increased Business Efficiency

Businesses are attempting to cut expenses by broadly sustaining the economic gains made by virtual staff. Salesforce and Airbnb have significantly reduced office space rent. Insurance companies can use virtual insurance assistants to increase business efficiency by taking a cue from these successful businesses.

A virtual insurance assistant swiftly and accurately analyzes large volumes of data. They provide precise market information and help insurance companies make decisions more quickly. They can also speed up insurance back office support and accurately take the role of manual processes in customer service activities like generating quotes or processing payments.

Increased Insurance Sales

Virtual insurance assistants aid companies in boosting sales by enhancing the general consumer experience when using their goods or website. They achieve this by providing customers with quick responses. It increases engagement and leads to higher conversion rates for insurance businesses.

How Much Does a Virtual Insurance Assistant Cost

Generally speaking, a virtual insurance assistant costs $8 to $16 per hour, depending on where you hire them. In contrast, employing in-house employees costs between $17.00 and $19.83.

Insurance companies need to evaluate if they are hiring a trained virtual assistant or whether they need to do so.

Employing a qualified virtual assistant can save insurance companies money and effort on training, saving them up to $1,800 a month.

To this end, insurance companies can save money by working with a reputable outsourcing partner like Office Beacon to hire a virtual insurance assistant while successfully streamlining operations to drive growth.

Conclusion

It has become imperative for insurance companies to acquire virtual assistants due to the many advantages they offer. Are you looking for an efficient way to manage your customers and optimize business tasks? If you nodded yes, Office Beacon could be of assistance by providing trained virtual insurance agents.

Talk to our experts now to see if hiring a virtual insurance assistant is best for your agency.

The Emerging Trends That Will Redefine Logistics Outsourcing in 2023

Posted on May 23, 2023June 7, 2023 by admin@officebeacon.com

Introduction

Disruptive forces are continuously at play, transforming how industries embrace technology, conduct businesses, and evolve with time. The last few years have been particularly difficult for the logistics sector as market trends have had a significant impact. From large-scale supply chain interruptions brought on by Covid-19 to the infamous Ever Given saga, the shipping and logistics industry has seen it all. Nevertheless, the logistics industry has to keep moving forward since it is the backbone of the global economy. The industry leaders are preparing to usher in a new era of logistics outsourcing, with technologies, new practices, and evolving regulations showing the way.

Top 6 Shipping and Logistics Industry Trends Dominating 2023

Here are the top 6 shipping and logistics industry trends disrupting the sector.

#1 Skills Gap and Logistics Outsourcing

New technology has transformed the way supply chains operate, and it has blurred the distinction between white and blue-collar jobs. Now, supply chain leaders are looking for new collar employees, candidates who bring the right mix of technical and physical skills to succeed in a digitally transforming logistics environment.

The shortage of such candidates has created a skills gap. Couple that with the ongoing labor shortage and it adds up to 2.1 million critical jobs by 2030 (if not more). To address that, employers in the shipping and logistics industry are scrambling for new avenues of recruitment and talent acquisition.

A smart strategy is to collaborate with virtual staffing companies that employ the best remote new-collar employees all set to sync in with logistics organizations. From logistics coordinators to data entry specialists to order management experts, a virtual staffing company makes hiring a cakewalk!

#2 Cloud-based Systems and Integrations

Cloud services in logistics are applications that help manage and optimize various aspects of the supply chain, such as transportation, inventory, and warehousing.

It can provide real-time visibility of goods movement, inventory levels, and order status across the supply chain network. This enables logistics managers to monitor and control their operations more effectively and efficiently. For example, UPS uses Google Cloud's smart analytics to save $400 million a year by optimizing routes, reducing fuel consumption, and improving customer service.

Moreover, cloud services can dramatically improve collaboration and integration with freight partners, carriers, customers, and suppliers through cloud-based platforms and APIs. Oracle, for example, has already demonstrated capacity enhancement with Uber Freight by connecting shippers with carriers on demand.

Cloud services in logistics have proven to deliver significant value for supply chain management. According to a report by DFreight, cloud computing can save up to 40% of logistics costs and increase revenue by 25%.

All of these benefits will drive wider cloud adaptation in the logistics industry in 2023.

#3 Real-time Analytics and Tracking

Supply chain processes face many challenges, such as fluctuating demands, changing routes, major disruptions, and compliance issues. Therefore, they need to be monitored and optimized continuously.

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is an emerging technology to decode big data in supply chains since RFID tags are used throughout the supply chain process. This includes scanning through raw materials, transporting/relocating goods, and warehouse management, with accuracy and speed. Real-time analytics utilizes this live information to provide insights, leading to improved decision-making.

To improve delivery procedures, more and more shipping businesses are collaborating with data scientists. They can leverage key information to gain a clear understanding of important influencing elements like traffic, weather, etc, to further optimize delivery systems and provide precise arrival times to warehouses and customers.

#4 Environmental Sustainability

The logistics and shipping industry accounts for over 80% of world trade and more than one billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year.

Well, that is roughly equivalent to the emissions of the top five emitting countries combined. Yes, you read that right!

The industry also emits other greenhouse gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide, which have a higher global warming potential than CO2.

Reducing Scope 3 emissions has been a key part of corporate ESG goals for a long time.

In 2023, this will likely become more important as regulators and other stakeholders will probably require more action and transparency on this issue. Global banking institutions, private equity, and venture capitalists are increasingly aligning their portfolios with sustainable organizations.

One way to get around this is that transportation and logistics operations transform their modus operandi and adopt greener solutions. The use of parcel collection-point networks, which reduce the distance between consumers, is one of the burgeoning strategies being used by logistics companies to reduce carbon emissions.

#5 Automation & Predictive Analytics

Automation and predictive analytics are emerging techs that are radically transforming the logistics and shipping industry. They enable the industry to optimize its operations, reduce costs, improve customer satisfaction, and enhance sustainability.

Automation can increase efficiency, accuracy, safety, and productivity while minimizing human errors, labor costs, and resource wastage. For instance, Amazon has already started robots to move goods around its warehouses and drones to deliver packages to customers.

On the other hand, predictive analytics can help the logistics industry use data and artificial intelligence to predict demand and supply shocks, plan routes, monitor performance and quality, and minimize risks and disruptions. For instance, UPS has demonstrated the fact that predictive analytics can optimize its delivery routes while saving fuel and time.

Burgeoning Challenges for the Logistics Industry - How to Mitigate Them?

1. Increasing Implementation of Blockchain - Should You Join The Bandwagon?

Blockchain technology is a game-changer for logistics, as it offers secure and efficient management of supply chain operations. Blockchain solutions can provide complete transparency, prevent fraud, enhance the safety of products, simplify verification processes, minimize paperwork, and enable real-time traceability.

Imagine letting the customers know where their organic food was cultivated. Or, what if you can trace the source of affected products and choosing not to order them next time? These are small examples of what blockchain technology can do for the logistics sector.

Verifiable credentials, for instance, are a modern method of safely storing and disseminating product and confidential business information. These are digital certificates that utilize blockchain technology and encryption to make them instantaneously verifiable and fraud-proof.

2. Cybersecurity and Data Breaches

2023 will witness cyber criminals increasingly using sophisticated tricks to infiltrate supply chains to damage/steal from businesses. Traditional supply chains are typically vulnerable to cyber threats. New-age cyber criminals can also hack through basic warehouse gear such as barcode readers or IoT (Internet of Things) devices.

This can disrupt the flow of goods, compromise data integrity, and expose sensitive information. According to a report by BCG, cyber attacks used to occur every few years in the transportation and logistics sector, but now there seem to be one or two each month.

In recent years, major cyber risks have plagued the sector including ransomware, sensor & industrial technology, and phishing. The cost of cyber attacks can be significant, not only in terms of ransom payments and business losses but also in terms of reputation damage and customer trust.

For the unversed, a cyber attack in May 2021 triggered a week-long shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline, which supplies gasoline to almost half of the east coast of the United States.

To mitigate this, the stakeholders of the industry must conduct a cyber assessment for all functions/activities within the supply chain using IoT devices (especially those with direct access to sensitive information and wider systems).

Another important aspect is to train employees on the risks of opening dubious emails or clicking unfamiliar URLs, links, or attachments since they will shape the future of global logistics. Criminals often imitate email addresses, and invoices, while using text messaging to get access to sensitive information. Logistics personnel must be alert to such nefarious attempts.

3. Embracing Creative Solutions with a Freight Forwarder

Freight forwarding is going digital. Imagine a future where advanced analytics, digital front ends, and robotics work in tandem with integrated back-end operations. Sounds exciting, right? But not everyone is ready for this change. How fast and how well the logistics industry embraces these technologies will depend on how much they understand the potential of streamlining and simplifying operations.

As per Allied Market Research on global logistics trends, the digital freight forward market will grow from $2.92 billion in 2020 to $22.9 billion in 2030, growing at a staggering pace of 23% per annum, with 2023 being a crucial year for innovation.

In another survey by McKinsey, it was found that 90% of supply chain leaders have invested in digital tech for advanced planning, and 80% will continue to do so in 2023 and beyond. GPS tracking and real-time data are becoming the norm in logistics to ensure that shipments are delivered within the stipulated time frame.

To ride this wave, industry leaders need to be agile, flexible, and visible – and digitalization can help them achieve that. They should not ignore this opportunity with freight forwarders.

4. Reducing Emissions by Adopting Greener Technologies

To reduce their environmental impact, logistics companies need to adopt greener technologies that can make their operations more efficient, economical, and eco-friendly. Some of the green technologies trends that are transforming the logistics industry are:

Voyage optimization, which uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to plan the best routes and speeds for ships based on weather and maritime conditions
Cargo delivery drones, can deliver packages faster and cheaper than traditional vehicles, while avoiding traffic congestion and emissions.
Green cold chain, which uses renewable energy sources and smart sensors to power and monitor refrigerated containers.
Electric cargo vehicles are ideal for urban deliveries, as they are emission-free, agile, and cost-effective.

By implementing these green technologies, logistics companies can not only reduce their carbon footprint, but also improve their customer satisfaction, profitability, and competitiveness.

5. Efficiently Handling Returns in Logistics

With surging e-commerce activities in the post-pandemic era, the volume of returned products has witnessed explosive growth. This is driving demand for efficient and cost-effective reverse logistics solutions that seamlessly handle returned goods.

However, this can pose a challenge for the logistics industry. According to a Salescycle report, 30% of shoppers consciously over-purchase and then return items. Retail giants like Amazon monitor accounts reaching concession limits and could reject returns on orders from habitual returners, but smaller retailers may not have the advanced systems in place to do the same.

The shipping and logistics industry has started to factor in such returns and invest in return logistics solutions and it is going to be a major trend in 2023 and beyond.

6. Russia-Ukraine War & Other Geopolitical Tensions

The war in Ukraine between Russia and its Western-backed opponents has created a major disruption in global trade and international supply chains. One unlikely victim is the logistics sector, disrupting the movement of goods and materials across borders as well as logistics outsourcing. The unwanted conflict has spiked freight charges and led to container shortages.

Similarly, the ongoing geopolitical tension between China and the United States is snowballing into trade policy changes and tighter regulations, (such as tariffs, sanctions, and embargoes). This can disrupt the logistics industry since they are the largest economies.

As importers observe and adapt, they are quickly learning that transacting from a single source is a lethal mistake in the long term. For example, during the Los Angeles Longshoreman strike (2012), many importers switched from the Port of Los Angeles to multiple East Coast ports to avoid detention fees (running into thousands of dollars). Similarly, as the United States decouples from China, the entire supply chain can transform with the incorporation of smaller countries.

The only problem?

Most of the supply chain infrastructure is still dominated by the US, China, and a handful of other developed economies.

Take this for example. The bulk shipping market expanded at a meager CAGR of just 1.3% between 2015-2020. The growth rates will hover around 0.8% until 2030, with declining Chinese demand for coal and iron ore being the prime factor.

Logistics Outsourcing Trends

Many companies in the global logistics industry are opting to hire third-party logistics (3PL) providers to handle their logistics functions. This reflects a surging trend in the logistics outsourcing demand.

According to Research And Markets, it is expected to grow at a 4.77% CAGR from 2021 to 2027. This report on the logistics outsourcing market examines the performance of the major regions such as North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

Wrapping Up

Any multinational business' success depends heavily on logistics and how competent they are with logistics outsourcing. Despite challenges, the logistics industry has enormous growth potential for 2023 and beyond. With AI, IoT, blockchains, and other advance solutions dominating the shipping and logistics trends, the industry is on the cusp of ushering in a new era. Looking ahead, it is clear that blending with these emerging tech trends will help logistics businesses stay ahead of the curve top.

Delegate Your Healthcare Back Office to a Virtual Medical Assistant

Posted on May 16, 2023May 17, 2023 by admin@officebeacon.com

Dealing with time-consuming administrative duties frequently causes burnout in healthcare professionals. While occupied with administrative tasks, healthcare professionals look for methods to make the most of their time so they can care for patients.

Hiring a full-time medical assistant is expensive. To this end, virtual medical assistants are a more productive and cost-effective alternative to a full-time medical assistant.

Thankfully, physicians can outsource some of their work to virtual healthcare assistants (VAs) at a reasonable cost.

A virtual medical assistant can help healthcare professionals manage non-clinical parts of healthcare.

What is a Virtual Medical Assistant?

A Virtual Medical Assistant (VMA) remotely performs patient-facing and backend tasks. They handle scheduling, correspondence, and document management. Additionally, they have expertise working in a medical office and are well-versed in the healthcare industry.

A virtual assistant can be a priceless asset to any healthcare practice if they possess the right skills and credentials. Businesses need a reliable virtual medical assistant provider like Office Beacon who can fulfill their clinic and practice needs.

What Does a Virtual Medical Assistant Do?

A medical virtual assistant performs many tasks such as:

Administrative Tasks

The needs of the patients come first for healthcare workers. To this extent, virtual medical assistants oversee scheduling, cancellations, and plans for healthcare practice. Additionally, they educate patients and address any complaints through follow-up. Thus virtual medical assistant acts as the first point of contact for patients and can assist with the following administrative duties:

New patient referrals and admissions.
Appointment registrations that include all scheduling activities, cancellations and patient recalls..
Managing your schedule like patient visits. meetings and events.
Creating a database subdirectory structure.
Management of supplies that entails keeping an eye on and assessing the inventory at your workplace and, as required, placing orders for fresh goods.
Medical billing and classification.
Check-ins and follow-ups with patients.
Medication refills.
Email inbox management.
Document conversion from paper to digital.

Medical Transcription

Virtual medical assistants are skilled in data entry for Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and Electronic Health Records. (EHR). Using secure video conferencing software, you can have your virtual assistant take notes during meetings, or you can give them specific directions to type the notes up later.

Front Desk

A virtual medical assistant can run your front office like a traditional receptionist, taking calls, transferring critical calls, relaying messages promptly, screening spam calls, and responding to texts, emails, and live chats.

Insurance Tasks

Virtual medical assistants handle all correspondence with the patient's insurance providers. They facilitate submitting claims. They also confirm the patient's status before pre-authorizing any treatments.

Bookkeeping

A virtual medical assistant can aid healthcare professionals with payroll management, bill payment, and invoice distribution. For healthcare workers to review and forecast cash flow, they also generate financial reports.

Marketing

Without marketing, healthcare professionals struggle to grow their patient base and practices. A virtual assistant in the healthcare industry can manage your social media pages, keep your website updated and user-friendly, and respond to customer feedback. A VA can set up campaigns to aggressively seek out new patients by focusing on people in your neighborhood.

Benefits of Having a Virtual Assistant for Doctors

A study found that healthcare employees spend 3.17 hours every day, or around half of their workday time, on a desktop, typing progress notes into an electronic health record.

Because of this process, they miss nonverbal cues during examinations. Fortunately, using a virtual medical assistant makes it easy to avoid this situation. Here are six benefits to think about:

1. Enhances Doctor-Patient Relationship

Healthcare professionals can quickly and easily schedule patient follow-ups and personal calls for extra medical advice using a virtual assistant. The medical personnel can concentrate on each patient individually while the virtual assistant handles the supporting tasks.

In crowded waiting areas, patients feel anxious. VAs can help doctors schedule private consultations for patients who require them without requiring them to visit the clinic. That leads to a stronger doctor-patient relationship.

2. Saves Time

Doctors frequently find themselves unable to give each patient their undivided attention. Thus there comes a dire need to hire a virtual medical assistant to get assistance with daily tasks.

Virtual assistants can aid healthcare professionals in making up for lost time in their day. A virtual medical assistant collects patient information by asking standard questions and then sends it for analysis.

They check on the patients and give them medication reminders. Spending too much time on monotonous, repetitive tasks will also negatively affect the core operations of your healthcare team. A virtual assistant can handle such tasks, allowing healthcare professionals to focus on high-priority tasks.

3. Cost-Effective

Since the pandemic, the hiring of virtual medical assistants has become rampant as doctors find it hard to finish their daily tasks. Physicians also experienced financial hardship, either directly or indirectly.

Healthcare professionals can hire virtual medical assistants without investing in physical space or office equipment like computers. A VA can save you a lot of money by working remotely. Furthermore, there is no need to cater additional benefits, such as health insurance and a pension, to a virtual assistant.

As a result, you can do your work more quickly and effectively without spending more money. There are days when your clinic is quiet and times when it is overloaded with patients.

In such situations, you don't need to hire a full-time employee and pay them a set salary and benefits regardless of the workload.

Virtual assistants receive compensation based on the project and the number of hours. So, depending on their requirements, healthcare professionals can work with a virtual assistant. By hiring virtual assistants, you can do away with fixed costs.

4. Increases Productivity

If you are a medical professional, you can not undermine the value of constant upskilling. A skilled virtual medical assistant allows you the flexibility to focus on your growth. Your virtual assistant can make time-saving and productivity-boosting recommendations you might not have been aware of.

You can seek a virtual assistant’s help managing your email and updating your spreadsheets, among other things. Thus, you become more effective when you complete tasks like entering data, accepting calls, and communicating with vendors, patients, and payroll.

5. Access to Skilled Staff

Virtual medical assistants are skilled and independent contractors. They ensure assigned tasks are on time and reflect how you want them. As virtual medical assistants are paid per hour and only after work is complete, your VA is motivated to complete work precisely and on schedule.

Lack of accountability is a common issue among full-time employees wherein responsibility is passed from one person to the next. With your virtual assistant, this will seldom happen. Because they are keenly aware of how much their livelihood depends on the caliber of their work, VAs take greater responsibility for it.

Additionally, they will consistently look for constructive criticism to grow.

Virtual medical assistants are skilled in many other areas, such as email management, account administration, bill paying, etc.

You can set your virtual assistant's schedules to suit your needs.

Six Easy Steps for Hiring a Virtual Medical Assistant

Here are the six easy steps for hiring a virtual medical assistant:

1. Document the Tasks

Making a list of the tasks you want to assign to your virtual assistant is the first step in hiring one. Record the specific goals you want your virtual assistant to achieve as well. For this, create a company guide that outlines your business objectives, vision, mission, and work ethic.

2. Create a JD

A detailed job description gives your virtual assistant a clear understanding of what you want from them. The typical components of this job description are:

An overview of your company's history
Requisite level of expertise and education
Obligations and responsibilities list
Weekly hours worked and their hourly rates
List of the software and/or applications you intend to use

3. Post your JD

Once you've completed outlining your job description, the following step is to post it online and start reviewing applications. You can submit your job description through many channels, such as job portals, freelance marketplaces, and virtual assistant agencies. Else you can opt for a reliable outsourcing partner, Office Beacon, to get access to the skilled virtual medical assistant at reasonable prices.

4. Schedule Interviews

Following the posting of the job description and evaluation of the applications, you can schedule interviews with the top 5 to 10 candidates. Ask about their goals, values, strengths, and time management style apart from their job history and skill set to get a general sense of who they are and whether you would get along with them.

5. Assign a Test Job

To narrow down your search and hire the ideal virtual assistant, assign a test assignment. The test job should include the tasks you wish your virtual assistant to fulfill once you onboard them.

Conclusion

The roles and responsibilities of those in the healthcare sector are evolving alongside the industry. Medical virtual assistants are becoming more and more valuable to businesses and individual practitioners. If you are looking for skilled virtual medical assistants for support, Office Beacon can help.

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Should You Really Hire a Virtual Personal Assistant? Here’s Your Answer

Posted on May 9, 2023June 6, 2023 by admin@officebeacon.com

With the growth of a company, its demands, and needs also grow. Therefore, keeping track of daily mundane tasks and expanding your business becomes difficult. There comes a considerable need for external support that you might not get from your in-house team. It is where virtual assistants come in.

Thanks to the pandemic, their popularity has increased, and more businesses have realized the true impact of hiring a virtual personal assistant. Let’s look at what these virtual personal assistants can offer and if hiring them is worthwhile.

What Do You Mean By Virtual Assistants?

As the name suggests, a virtual assistant is a remote working employee that offers additional support to your business. Their goal is to free up your time so you can focus on crucial tasks like increasing the profitability of your business.

A virtual assistant performs a myriad of valuable tasks, such as managing emails, handling administrative tasks, scheduling meetings, and more. They are well-versed with the latest tools and software that may help them work smart and offer quick turnarounds. A virtual assistant can help you improve productivity by 13%, making them a valuable asset for your company.

What Are the Responsibilities of a Virtual Personal Assistant

Let’s say you want to hire a virtual personal assistant, but you don’t know how their services can be relevant to you. In a broad sense, a virtual personal assistant can carry out any back-end or admin task, remotely. Read below to understand a few basic tasks a personal assistant can help you with.

1. Email Management

As a business owner, your inbox is often flooded with promotional messages, client queries, meeting requests, and whatnot. There's not enough time to skim through the spam and reply to each mail. A virtual personal assistant organizes your inbox, so you can quickly respond to the priority emails and ignore the spam. Furthermore, the assistant can reply directly to simple customer emails and carry out mundane communication tasks to free your time.

2. Social Media Management

If your business has a social media presence, it's imperative to build on that to increase brand awareness. Virtual personal assistants help you strengthen your social media strategy through regular social media posts, responding to customer queries, and even running social media ads.

3. Bookkeeping

Don't have the budget to hire a full-time accountant but need someone to carry out your basic bookkeeping tasks? Hire a part-time personal assistant to take care of such needs! Most virtual personal assistants can complete bookkeeping tasks such as entering data, reviewing inventory, reconciling bank accounts, maintaining financial records, approving invoices, etc.

Also read: 9 Practical Ways Virtual Accounting And Bookkeeping Can Improve Your Bottom Line

4. Travel Arrangements

Constant traveling is part of growing your business, but it can get tricky and time-consuming if you take care of such arrangements yourself. Hire a personal assistant to complete such tasks while you focus on other essential things. From booking tickets to arranging a comfortable stay, a virtual assistant makes your life easier.

5. Scheduling Appointments/ Meetings

As a busy entrepreneur, you do not have the time to keep track of your daily engagements and coordinate with other parties. Moreover, delegating this task to any of your employees will waste their productive time. A virtual personal assistant is a team player who will take care of back-end tasks to enhance your company's productivity. They will create e-invites, coordinate with clients and organize meetings/appointments at a suitable time for you.

Outsource Your Day-to-Day Hassles to an Office Beacon Personal Assistant

The Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Personal Assistant

Hiring a virtual personal assistant has been a game-changer for several business owners. Essentially, they are the external support your business needs to complement what it lacks internally. Here are some compelling benefits that will convince you to hire a virtual personal assistant today.

1. Work-Life Balance

The constant hustle of running a business can often blur the boundaries between work and personal space, making it challenging to balance both aspects of your life. Hiring a virtual personal assistant will lessen the workload, giving you more space to stay balanced and focused. According to the Harvard Business Review, learning how to delegate puts you one step closer to being a great leader. It enables you to spend time on other priorities like building your business and focusing on your personal life.

2. Cost-Friendly

Hiring a full-time employee is cheaper than hiring a virtual personal assistant. Full-time employees need high salaries and are entitled to employee benefits. At the same time, a virtual assistant doesn't require high-end benefits. Furthermore, your virtual personal assistant wouldn't need an office or other physical resources because everything would be done remotely. Thus, hiring a virtual personal assistant is not only beneficial but also affordable.

3. Expertise

Virtual personal assistants usually specialize in multiple domains due to the nature of their work. However full-time employees generally come with a special industry background. Thus, your versatile personal assistant can replace multiple in-house positions at a nominal rate. This is especially useful when you are cash-strapped or just starting up. Virtual personal assistants are a sure-shot way to get more done with minimal expense.

4. Time-friendly

Hire a virtual personal assistant to work on time-consuming administrative tasks and decrease your workload. They specialize in several areas and can quickly adapt to your business requirements. As a business owner, it helps you quickly free up your time and focus on your core responsibilities.

5. Flexibility

You can hire virtual personal assistants from anywhere, so they are compatible with working in different time zones. You are not limited to your business hours to complete your workload. These hardworking virtual personal assistants are available according to your schedule and can complete the job within your deadline.

6. Scalability

Another attractive benefit of hiring a virtual personal assistant is that you can tailor their services according to your needs. As your business grows, you can scale the assistant's workload. Whether adding more tasks or decreasing them, the assistant will adapt to your needs accordingly.

This flexibility makes it easy to manage your budget and ensures you only pay for the support you need when needed. Additionally, by scaling your virtual personal assistant's workload, you can ensure they can always provide high-quality support and that you are getting the best possible value for your investment.

The Drawbacks of Hiring a Virtual Personal Assistant

Here are some foreseen challenges you might have to face if you're hiring a virtual personal assistant.

1. Potential Miscommunication

Working with a virtual personal assistant eliminates the possibility of face-to-face contact, which can result in miscommunication. Dealing with delicate or complex jobs that demand a high degree of knowledge and clarity can make it more difficult. These risks can be minimized by following clear communication guidelines and scheduling frequent check-ins.

2. Security Concerns

Most business owners are worried about data breaches when they hire a virtual personal assistant. Sharing highly confidential information becomes difficult and interrupts the workflow. Putting data safety measures in place or outsourcing these assistants from a company that guarantees data protection is recommended.

3. Technological Problems

Since all of their work is online virtual personal assistants must have reliable access to technology. Any technological problems will interfere with their daily communication and completion of tasks. These assistants must have some knowledge or training to troubleshoot simple tech issues to improve their workflow.

4. Building Relationships

It can be challenging to connect and build a strong working relationship with a virtual personal assistant as they are not physically present at work. Moreover, they might feel alienated as they don't get a chance to socialize with other employees and participate in the company culture. Virtual social events and team-building activities can help you solve this issue.

The Solution to Your Pain Points

Now that you know the benefits and drawbacks of hiring a virtual personal assistant, you have a good idea about their potential. However, these drawbacks may hold you back from hiring them. What if we told you there's a way to hire a virtual personal assistant without any hassles?

Office Beacon is an industry-leading company that helps businesses outsource required services. Our virtual personal assistants are heavily trained and have years of experience working in several industry verticals. We have legal checks in place to protect any sensitive client information that's shared. Moreover, our assistants are internally managed, so you don't have to go through hiring, managing, or training them.

Get your time back with Office Beacon VA

To Conclude

It is fair to say that in today’s competitive landscape, virtual personal assistants have become indispensable. Many business owners have attested to the fact that hiring a virtual personal assistant has changed their life. Not only are they observing much more positive changes in their business, but they also have time to relax and focus on their personal lives. Based on the information presented above, it is highly recommended that you should hire a virtual personal assistant from Office Beacon.

Paralegal Vs. Virtual Legal Assistant: Your Best Bet

Posted on April 12, 2023April 13, 2023 by admin@officebeacon.com

It’s common to use the terms “paralegal” and “virtual legal assistant” interchangeably. In reality, each of these roles has a specific function.

Some professionals work as paralegals or virtual legal assistants before enrolling in law school for the experience. Some pursue paralegal or virtual legal assistant roles because they are interested in the legal sector but do not intend to practice law.

This blog describes each position and its functions so you may better comprehend the roles. It also highlights the main differences between paralegals and legal assistants.

You can choose which of these positions is the best bet for your company by knowing how a paralegal and a legal assistant differ.

What is a Paralegal?

A paralegal works in a law office with a lawyer or government agency performing various legal tasks. They prepare documents, investigate the facts of cases and write reports. Paralegals can specialize in certain areas of the law, such as family law, criminal law, real estate or immigration law. Their specific responsibilities can vary depending on the area of the law.

What are the Duties of a Paralegal?

Paralegals provide technical assistance to attorneys so they can focus on their clients’ needs. They handle both clerical and legal work, such as:

Conducting interviews with clients
Maintaining communication with clients
Performing legal research
Drafting documents, pleadings, and correspondence
Attending case hearings with lawyers
Locating and interviewing witnesses
Compiling and demonstrating evidence used in court
Summarizing testimony, depositions, and interrogatories
Filing appeals with opposing attorneys
Making and signing documents that do not include legal counsel or third-party legal opinions

What is a Legal Assistant?

A legal assistant performs administrative and client service duties in a law firm. They aid lawyers in their legal research, much like paralegals. Legal assistants are also known as administrative assistants and legal secretaries.

What are the Duties of a Legal Assistant?

A legal assistant help lawyers with administrative and customer service tasks, including:

Composing and editing legal correspondence and documents
Managing the billing for clients by creating, sending, and resolving bills
Gathering and arranging proof and legal papers for the attorney to review
Scheduling meetings, depositions, and interviews with clients and witnesses
Arranging and maintaining paper and computerized filing systems for documents
Providing general administrative assistance, such as planning the attorney's travel and keeping their calendar

Paralegal vs Legal Assistant: Five Key Differences

Here are the five main ways that a paralegal and a legal assistant differ:

1. Qualifications

Paralegal

A college degree is necessary for a paralegal. Most paralegals are recent graduates of colleges who may attend law school. Specific work requirements for paralegals vary by state. For instance, paralegals in California complete a paralegal certificate program certified by the American Bar Association (ABA) and particular educational and workplace criteria.

Legal Assistant

After completing high school, a legal assistant may not need to attend any further education. Many law firms provide on-the-job training for persons without a background in law or formal schooling. Some organizations could additionally favor hiring legal assistants with an associate's degree or a certificate.

2. Skills

Legal assistants and paralegals share many skills, including computer literacy, interpersonal skills, and communication.

Paralegal

Paralegals frequently need to possess knowledge of the legal system's inner workings and intricacies.

Paralegals typically provide specific legal assistance to qualified lawyers and attorneys, and therefore they should possess the following skills:

Legal documentation
Composing legal documents
Legal research
Litigation

Legal Assistant

A legal assistant typically needs a wide range of abilities and knowledge, with a focus on the following:

Scheduling
Legal support
Administrative support
Data entry

3. Experience

Paralegal

A paralegal must have three to five years of experience working in a law office. Before transitioning to the paralegal, a successful applicant may have worked as a legal assistant. Some candidates work as paralegals after completing an internship after college.

Legal Assistant

A legal assistant's position does not require prior expertise. An attorney assistant can typically be a recent graduate of law school.

4. Responsibilities

Paralegal

Working directly with clients as a paralegal might be a beneficial experience for individuals who want to become a lawyer.

They do all the duties of an attorney except for making decisions and exercising authority.

A paralegal's workday includes case analysis, document authoring, legal research, and other activities.

Legal Assistant

The legal assistant doesn't interact with client work. But they perform administrative back-office duties. They spend their time typing correspondence, scheduling meetings, and carrying out administrative tasks to keep the law business running. Therefore, legal assistants' interactions with clients are limited to administrative duties. This interaction is crucial to the legal process since it saves the attorney time and promotes efficiency.

5. Case-Preparation Tasks

Paralegals and legal assistants work closely together to thoroughly prepare cases for trial. A legal assistant's duties are primarily administrative.

They arrange the trial files and papers for the attorney to peruse. They also schedule meetings between the paralegal, the lawyer and clients, witnesses, and other parties.

On the other hand, a paralegal gathers information, interviews potential witnesses and others who may be involved, and draughts declarations and arguments the lawyer will use in court.

Also Read: 11 signs you need remote staffing now more than ever

How Virtual Legal Assistants Can Help Law Firms

A virtual assistant helps law firms streamline workflows by taking care of time-consuming tasks like research, document review, and data entry. They could be a resource for legal firms as they manage several tedious tasks that lawyers are concerned with. They reduce the expense of hiring an attorney and free up the law firm to concentrate on other legal services that can bring in more money.

Here are some tasks that virtual legal assistants can help law firms with:

Legal transcription
Legal data entry
Legal research and writing
Answering calls
Legal bookkeeping/accounting
Email inbox management
Social media management
Setting up legal appointments
Sending out appointment reminders

Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Legal Assistant

Here are the top benefits of hiring a virtual legal assistant.

Save Time & Money:

Because of the numerous administrative obligations, law firms are pressed for time. Using a virtual legal assistant in such circumstances can save valuable time. By employing a virtual legal assistant, attorneys are relieved of the burden of overseeing non-core tasks, covering employee benefits, and paying for infrastructure. As a result, they can spend less money on hiring a virtual assistant and concentrate more on core legal issues.

Business Efficiency

Virtual legal assistants take care of all office work for law companies. They efficiently manage all essential legal tasks like the administration of legal contracts and legal research, increasing the firm's general effectiveness. In addition to handling calls for busy attorneys, they enhance the caliber of legal research and writing.

Utilizing a legal virtual assistant's services has many advantages, including meeting deadlines, working across time zones, and more. However, deciding which tasks to outsource to a virtual legal assistant will primarily depend on the needs of the law firm. VAs are particularly useful for managing administrative tasks that weigh down law companies.

Law firms can access skilled staff and get quick turnaround times, cost savings, and flexibility by contracting with a reputable legal process outsourcing business like Office Beacon.

How Virtual Paralegals Can Help Law Firms

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that between 2020 and 2030, the employment of paralegals and legal assistants can increase by 12%.

Typically, law firms employ paralegals to aid staff attorneys in their work. By assigning administrative and legal tasks to paralegals, staff attorneys can spend their time assisting clients and completing sophisticated legal work.

Law firms can appoint a virtual paralegal to conduct a range of legal tasks, including:

Client consultations
Case file organization
Legal research
Communication between witnesses and attorneys
Creating legal documents and briefs
Verifying legal citations
Legal issue analysis
Upkeep a database of cases
Customer follow-up

Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Paralegal Assistant

Here are the top benefits of hiring a virtual paralegal assistant.

Focus on Specialized Tasks

Virtual paralegal assistants have more specialized training than administrative assistants but less than lawyers. They interview clients, do legal research, draw legal documents, and keep track of filings on a firm's casework.

By delegating administrative and legal tasks to paralegals, attorneys can spend time focusing on more specialized tasks.

Benefits Bottom Line

Assigning less specialized work to paralegals who demand less than staff attorneys improves the financial health of a law firm.

Through outsourcing, a business can only hire paralegals when they need them.

Law firms significantly reduce their overhead costs by hiring a virtual paralegal assistant because they have to pay for the work a virtual paralegal assistant does.

End Points

Virtual paralegals and legal assistants have diverse roles to play. One cannot replace the other. Law companies can choose the best fit for their operation by carefully examining the duties of a virtual paralegal and virtual legal assistant.