Outsourcing – the game-changer for small business growth.
Are you one of the many small business owners who’s experienced this all too familiar feeling? No matter how structured and organised you may be within your business. It seems when growth occurs, even with automation, you can’t keep up? There comes a time when you need an extra pair of hands to complete those time-consuming tasks for you. An Australian Made Virtual Admin Support.
It’s likely you’ve heard one of your business buddies raving about how they’ve outsourced the work they don’t love, to a Virtual Assistant (VA). They probably look like they’ve stepped out of a day spa. They’re likely laser-focused on what matters. This zen-like appearance is evidence of a weight lifted from an overbearing workload.
If outsourcing sounds like a brilliant next step, the question begs to answer: Do you outsource to a fellow Australian small business? Or send the work offshore?
Why hire a VA?
VA’s are an incredible business resource. When you find your perfect match, they’ll become your indispensable right hand. A VA will make a huge positive difference to your business. You’ll be able to confidently hit your goals and focus on your top priorities.
There are mental health benefits.
Family and ‘you’ time will re-emerge as the balance is restored. With flexibility in the length of service, it’s up to you how much or little you want to outsource, and there are no employment costs attached.
VA’s hourly rate is generally lower than yours. Making it a clever business investment. VA’s niche in various areas and industries for example:
- Social Media management
- Email/Time Management
- General Administration
- EA support
- Project Management
- Marketing
- Web Admin
- Sales Admin
- Accounts Admin
There is even an equine VA!
As VA’s provide virtual support, they can work anywhere, so long as they have equipment and WI-FI. So, let’s explore why Australian made is a smart investment. Without ignoring the elephant in the room. Why is offshore appealing to so many businesses?
Benefits of Local VA’s
- Local virtual assistants have a greater knowledge of the local language and Aussie jargon! Offshore have Buckley’s chance of comprehending instructions that form part of our daily language. After all, you don’t want a misunderstanding to result in work that looks like a dog’s breakfast!
- As a small business owner, your virtual admin support can connect you with existing local networks. (Think prospects, resources, referrals, venues for local events and the list goes on). This provides additional value to your local business
- Awareness of local happenings and geographical knowledge. For example local events, national and state-based news, and environmental factors happening locally.
- If you need an event booked, the likelihood is, your Aussie VA will be able to make inquiries and use their local knowledge and contacts to set it all up for you.
In Australia in 2020, we’ve all been affected by droughts, fires, and floods and then by Covid19. This impacted businesses in various ways. Whether it be supply and demand of a product, impact to sales with increased production costs, or loss of power to name a few. In tough times your Aussie VA ‘get’s it’ and will be willing to go the extra mile for you.
They are locally accessible if lack of WI-FI, electricity prevents meetings. Your local VA is a local phone call away. Depending on how geographically close, they could meet with you in person.
You can trust the instruction delivered is understood and will be done to a high standard.
If you need to delegate more complex work over the short term to help you through a bind, they’ll be more equipped to tackle it. And communicate effectively if there are questions.
Time zone – If you need to communicate, you know that the time zone is the same (or similar). So urgent work tasks can be actioned efficiently. Any last-minute offers or opportunities can be seen through with simplicity.
Collaborative – outside the box thinking. If you’re wanting more than just a task-ticker, local VA’s consider themselves an integral part of your team. As such, they naturally take a high-level and collaborative solution-based approach. Local VA’s can create your processes and procedures for you.
Australian laws apply – We all know working with others can be risky. However, it can be reassuring for business owners to know they’re covered by the same federal and in some cases state laws. By choosing a local VA, your data is safe. Business risks are minimised, leaving no uncertainties, no additional legal fees, creating peace of mind.
Currency – This is both a pro and a con. It’s a pro as there’s no uncertainty on the rate of pay. No need for currency conversions and regardless of the worldwide economy the rate is set to the same as yours. This simplifies the planning and budgeting process. The con is obvious, our dollar is predominantly higher.
Supporting Australian small business – You will be proudly supporting local workers and Australian families. As the Aussie brand, Holden, closed manufacturing in Australia. We can see the direct impact of not retaining our brands, by sourcing and supporting Australian owned and made.
The Virtual Assistant industry is growing. There are 100+ VA’s just in our Sydney VA Support Community online group. These business owners are predominantly degree qualified or highly experienced Mum’s. Most left full-time work to create a balanced lifestyle. You’re easily able to build trust when a local business uses and refers them. There is also the advantage of meeting a local VA at networking events.
Cons of Local VA
They are always going to cost more than offshore, the cost of living in Australia is higher than the offshore alternatives.
Benefits of Offshoring
They are always going to be cheaper. Additionally, with their lower cost of living, this will likely increase the returned earnings back into your business and as such still boost the Australian economy.
They’re good at recurring tasks that have strict processes and procedures around them.
Timezone – the Philippines for example, are only 2 hours (approx.) apart from Australia, leading to a conducive work arrangement. Also, if you want 24/7 support for your business, it’s advantageous to use opposing time-zones, so the work keeps going while you sleep.
Cons of Offshoring
- Arm’s length business arrangements are thwarted with issues.
- Language and communication barriers
- Cultural and social issues – Offshore countries have cultural and social customs that are very different from the countries of the originating companies. For example, an Australian executive may talk in a candid, outspoken manner while her Filipino freelancer is reserved and not used to the frank communication approach, creating misunderstandings.
- Security concerns – Data breaches, privacy laws, and confidentiality are all highly rated concerns for offshoring.
- Insufficient briefing and decreased output due to language barriers.
- Delayed updates due to differences in time zones
- Dealing with a middle-man (the project manager).
- Many offshore VA companies have project managers, who bridge the time-consuming communication gap for the client. They manage onboarding, delivering the brief, re-iterating any misunderstandings and managing incorrect work. However, the project manager creates additional complications too.
- Chinese whispers can come into play. With some instructions being misunderstood even by the project manager.
- Timeliness is impacted.
- Then there is the question of ethical wage. Do you know how much they are paying their sub-contractors? Is it reasonable? Is it ethical?
If you’re looking to save costs over all else, or possibly you want around the clock support, then there’s a time and place for offshore virtual business support.
However, if you’re looking for a valuable team member who will grow with your business, who will think outside the box, go the extra mile, look to add value to your business, understand instruction, tone, and Aussie jargon, and be confident to ask questions, then it’s likely you want to hire an Aussie VA.
Streamlined Organising provides virtual administrative solutions to Australian based businesses. Want to find out more? Contact us today for a 1-hour obligation-free conversation, we are all about you!
Another reason why hiring a VA is a good idea: here!
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