Companies have been rethinking their staffing solutions, using outsourcing as a strategical tool. However, there is a growing demand for other types of assistants than the traditional virtual assistant. A virtual assistant is one who typically would take over low-level tasks such as customer service or administrative work. The focus is now shifting towards more specialized virtual assistants. These are professionals who can complete mid-to high-level tasks. This is also the focus of this article. Let’s begin to explore the various types of assistants.
Software development virtual assistant
If you manage or own a software development company and need assistance to complete projects while remaining agile, a virtual assistant is ideal. An in-house developer would be too pricey, and would not offer you the flexibility you might desire. In contrast, a software development virtual assistant will reduce business outlay and operating costs. More so, the business will then be able to take on more projects, especially projects with tight deadlines. Such support for a business would allow it to compete against large international companies. Therefore, a virtual assistant will help to scale the business to a new level. Moreover, a software development virtual assistant can assist with various niches. These are mentioned below.
Mobile app development
A virtual assistant can offer first-rate mobile app development. The mobile app development can include:
- iOS app development (or Apple developer)
- Android app development
- React Native Development
- Wearable app development
- Hybrid mobile app development
- Enterprise mobility solutionsÂ
- Mobile Commerce Development
- HTML5 mobile app development
- PhoneGap app development
- DevOpssoftware development
- Flutter app development.
Enterprise solutions
Keeping up to date with the changing technological developments is important, especially if you want to stay ahead of your competitors. But a virtual assistant can help to deploy various enterprise solutions. More so, they will be doing this with tech such as:
- Microsoft & Windows SharePoint
- Microsoft dynamics
- SAP support, Azure application development
- ERP software development
- Customer Relationship Management
- Supply chain management (SCM)
- Web portal & vortal development.
Software testing
A part of the value chain is testing the software. This time-consuming activity can also easily be outsourced. A virtual assistant can complete the following type of tests:
- Functional check
- Acceptance test-driven development
- Independent testing
- Beta check
- DevOps testing
- Service-oriented architecture check
- Usability check
- API testing
- Mobile testing
- System check
- Web check
- Sanity check
- Exploratory testing Regression
- Testing network chekcing
- SOA and web checking
- Test automation independent verification and validation load checking
- Volume checking
- Recovery chekcing
- Installation checking
- ETL checking
- Soak checking
- Performance check
- Backward compatibility check
- Browser compatibility check.
Infrastructure management services
Keeping your infrastructure up to date can fall to a virtual assistant. This can be achieved by:
- IT Risk and security management
- Remote monitoring
- Digital forensics, data center management
- IT helpdesk services
- Active directory setup
- Migration network management
- Microsoft Office 365 setup and migration.
Software development
Regardless, whether you are an established or a startup company, a virtual assistant can offer software development. These can include:
- API development
- Embedded software development
- Software architecture sesign
- SaaS development
- IoT as a service
- Product development
- Web application development
- Desktop application development
- UI/UX design
- Website design and development
- eCommerce solutions
- Mobile website design
- Game development
- Software support and maintenance
Web design and development
Web design and development mixes technical skills with creative talent. Therefore, a good web designer and developer would be sufficiently talented to initiate not only a user-friendly but also an extremely functional website. The website development field is a broad one. It can be difficult to narrow down all the tasks to a mere handful. However, here are some of the tasks that can be completed:
- Domain and hosting setup
- Domain and hosting transfers
- Website setup
- Website transfers
- Landing page
- Opt-in page development
- eCommerce website construction
- Website dev utilizing website builders platforms
- Bespoke website development
- Web apps
- Server setup and maintenance
- Membership site development
- Website maintenance and debugging.
Graphic design virtual assistant
Graphic design virtual assistants are a great advantage for any company, even for individuals. Occasionally, we might require high-quality designs, but not have the graphic skills. Yet graphic design virtual assistants do have the technical skills. More so, a virtual assistant can complete several tasks. These tasks include such as logo designs, graphics for websites and social media channels, designing infographics, business cards, branded stationery, editing images, guides, brochures and flyers, e-books and book covers. More so, a graphic designer will assist your marketing and procurement departments not only to give life to your marketing efforts, but also to design attractive product labels to lure clients into buying the items.m
Cryptocurrency assistant
A cryptocurrency and blockchain virtual assistant, or crypto assistant, is a useful adjunct as investors flock to invest in cryptocurrencies. Here the virtual assistant can help with deep and critical structural research that focuses on main cryptocurrency assets needed for investment decisions. Also, the virtual assistant can scrutinize any protocols and other important aspects that relate to cryptocurrency. Other tasks include data entry, generating and maintaining Excel spreadsheets to track the data gathering, and reading and sorting the various articles, which can add value to investment decision-making. Similarly, a virtual assistant can help research rules and regulations pertaining to investment decisions.
Video- (and photo-) editing virtual assistant
Video content is growing in demand. This is because video content can boost your brand awareness and, more so, help your SEO. In fact, it can increase your organic traffic by up to 82%. Videos are a certain way of increasing your SEO ranking. They are a graphic way of displaying your products, reflecting them more clearly. Videos also help to increase the email click-through rate, increasing sales.
Moreover, video content will augment your followers or client base while maintaining your existing clients. Therefore, the tasks a virtual video editing assistant can complete include editing raw footage, removing bloopers and other errors from your videos, and inserting dialogue, music, and narration. Additionally, subtitles, sound effects, graphics, titles, and banners with titles may be composed. Furthermore, a virtual assistant can provide add-in intros to videos, helping to prepare your videos ready for publishing on the various social media channels. Social media’s differing requirements must be understood and fully adhered to.
Transcription virtual assistant
These virtual assistants are often undervalued; however, the tasks that they can complete include extending the value of your content marketing. Moreover, these virtual transcription assistants can help avoid repeating the same tasks. You will thus avoid the costs of creating new content. The virtual assistant can convert your videos into blogs. Likewise, interviews can also be changed into blogs. These virtual assistants can turn notes into solid and clearly written documents, which you can use on your website as whitepapers or as case studies if these documents can be made public. All such written content can then be optimized to ensure that it is SEO friendly. It will help you greatly to have your content more visible online. Other sectors, not only the business sector, can benefit from these virtual assistants − legal firms, music industries, and academic institutions can be equal beneficiaries of this talent.