How Technology is Shaping the Virtual Assistant Industry

You’ve probably come across countless “How Technology is Changing X” blog posts, but here’s the truth: technology is transforming our world at an unprecedented pace. While classic combos like peanut butter and jelly are timeless, the digital tools reshaping the Virtual Assistant (VA) industry are anything but static. Here’s what we’ve noticed:

Our executive assistant company is always taking on new clients and that means we get to work with so many different types of leaders in many different industries. What I’ve seen lately is that our Virtual Assistant clients are now reaching out for help for more than the traditional administrative tasks.

It used to be that our VAs spent a lot of their days organizing inboxes, scheduling meetings, and sending invoices. But since the world has gone “virtual,” our clients are expanding their digital presence, which means we’re there to help them with digital marketing. We’ve (happily) expanded our Northern Primrose services to include specialized services like social media scheduling. I’m excited to expand these offerings in the near future to include content creation and copywriting services for our clients.

With a flood of new tech tools available, the VA industry is quickly adapting to stay ahead of the game. This means mastering everything from project management software like ​​ClickUp, Asana and Trello to automation systems like Zapier and IFTTT and getting certified in them.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere nowadays, so it makes sense for it to have entered the VA space.  A lot of the tools linked above are infused with AI, which helps Virtual Assistants automate repetitive tasks like scheduling and data entry. There is talk about AI-Driven Virtual Assistants eventually replacing human VAs. But It’s not all so black and white; the trends are pointing to many Virtual Assistants using AI to support their clients. It’s not a question of being entirely replaced but rather leveraging these tools to provide even greater value to our clients.

Being your right-hand person means Virtual Assistants handle sensitive client information. The idea of data leaks is scary: whether it’s financial records, business strategies, or personal information, a single breach can damage trust or worse; lead to our client’s information landing in the wrong hands. In today’s digital climate, VAs now have to prioritize digital security. At Northern Primrose, we use LastPass to manage all passwords and confidential information securely— there is a good free version (we, of course need the premium version) so there’s no excuse not to use it!

That said, security doesn’t stop at password management. Successful Virtual Assistants are the ones who go the extra mile to use platforms that encrypt communications. As a golden rule, if you’re working from a coffee shop or any public space, our executive assistant company in Canada recommends that you use a virtual private network (VPN) like Express VPN. A VPN wraps your data in a secure, encrypted package to shield your sensitive information from online pirates.

Lastly, while it might seem a bit out there right now, the integration of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) into the remote workspace could become a game-changer in a few years. Doctors are already using AR for surgeries, so who knows how the Virtual Assistant industry will adopt these new technologies to its advantage? Perhaps it could enhance training and onboarding for new staff and clients? I just know that being able to throw on some VR headset and then feel like I’m in the same room as my client across the country would be pretty fucking cool.

As technology keeps speeding ahead, so does the Virtual Assistant industry. So, whether you’re a veteran VA or just stepping into the field, keep your curiosity alive, stay flexible, and get ready for whatever comes next, like a potential career at Northern Primrose. Contact Northern Primrose to take over the VA world with us!