Technical Virtual Assistant: Responsibilities, Key Advantages and Hiring Process

Are you struggling with your business technical tasks? Are you trying to decide whether to hire a technical virtual assistant? Then, this is the blog to go through to keep your mind at ease.

You should know that you are not the only one struggling with technical tasks. According to a survey by SCORE, 40% of small business owners find it challenging to manage their applications and software. A technical virtual assistant can assist you by building websites, maintaining them, and protecting data while working remotely.

There is no rush to make a decision because we want you to know everything about technical virtual assistants. Once you come across all the benefits, we are sure you will be eager to hire, with another question: how to do that? We have the solutions for you, too. Stick to us!

Let us give you all the benefits and how you can hire one in this article.

What is a Technical Virtual Assistant?

A technical virtual assistant is a remote tech specialist who provides technical support and services to businesses or individuals. These remote workers are proficient in using numerous software applications and possess strong technical knowledge. They also continuously learn about the latest software and technologies. Not necessarily, but often, a tech VA has an IT background, CSE, CS, or related field.

Are you a YouTube blogger or podcaster? Perhaps you run a large online business or a small startup. In any case, technical support is an essential component of your business. You might be wondering, why go for remote tech support when you could hire an on-site employee? The answer lies in cutting costs, hiring, and paying for the completed tasks only.

Another point to note is the difference between a general VA and a tech VA. Otherwise, you may end up using the wrong remote assistant. There are huge differences between these two virtual helpers regarding their areas of expertise, administrative support, and the nature of their tasks.

So, working with a virtual tech assistant, you can delegate complex technical tasks. Among numerous other reasons to hire a VA, the core factor is to reduce the need for in-house IT staff. Their flexibility and scalability let them handle workloads whenever you need them.

What Are the Core Responsibilities of a Technical Virtual Assistant?

The core responsibility of a virtual assistant is to work for the longevity of a business’s online presence.

Any business with an online presence can not avoid technical functionality. Here, there is no alternative to a tech expert where the best solution is hiring remotely for customer service. Virtual assistants can start by resolving your customers’ tech queries to managing your website.

Let’s look at your VA’s core responsibilities and what they do.

1. Technical support

Most companies hire virtual assistants for technical support, especially those who are not tech experts. These assistants access the system remotely and handle all the technical issues.

For example, you have an e-commerce website, and it goes down. You have no alternative than an immediate fix. Your tech VA can quickly diagnose and fix the issue. They will even try to prevent the problem from arising in the future. Ultimately, your online sales will be minimally disrupted.

2. Manages and maintains databases

Your virtual tech assistant will do data entry, organise and manage them, and make reports for you. They know all the tricks to database management and hence use many productivity tools quickly. You can keep all the records accurately. It can regard your sales, employee records, or important information.

Now, you do not need to spend tons of time analysing data. All will be in your hands, and you can make a data-driven decision.

Worried about data integrity and security? Virtual tech assistants are well aware and ensure the highest professionalism in maintaining confidentiality.

3. Software Management

Tech VAs help more with regular software updates, software troubleshooting, or installing new software. They keenly work in managing communication, accounting, and cybersecurity software.

Out of thousands of tasks, it is quite tough for any business owner to check on software regularly, pushing the decision to hire a remote tech assistant.

If you need a dedicated QuickBooks virtual assistant, a popular accounting management software, your tech VA can help you with that. Or some dedicated work for project management.

4. Cloud Services Management

Online businesses must depend on cloud-based operations, and managing cloud infrastructure is quite tough. Outsourcing a remote assistant means you can fully rely on them as they depend on cloud services. They know the ins and outs, hence setting up cloud storage, managing access permissions, and monitoring cloud performance.

Simply put, your VA will set up and manage your company’s data backups on AWS. This way, they ensure all critical data is securely stored and easily retrievable.

5. Implements And Manages Cybersecurity Measures

We all are aware of cyber attacks and the importance of data security. Without an effective IT maintenance team, your company and customer data are vulnerable to cyber-attacks. You can hire a tech virtual assistant dedicated to focusing on your websites and information cybersecurity and protection.

Imagine your virtual helper configured with multi-factor authentication and do regular security audits. You no longer need to worry about data security. How big a relief this can be for any online business owner.

6. Websites Design, Build, & Maintain

If you are planning for a startup or want a solid online presence, then a website is a must. Hire a tech virtual assistant who can design, & develop website. To keep both mobile and desktop users, tech experts do the necessary optimisations, too.

They design the website according to brand identities, such as layouts, colors, logos, and others. With experienced virtual assistants, you can portray your brand voice through your website.

Moreover, they will regularly work to implement updates, keep backups, and check for broken links or pages to fix them.

7. Digital Marketing Support

Digital marketing tools management has become more important as people move more toward digital platforms. For higher sales rate marketing, you need someone who knows digital marketing tools well. This is a strength of a tech virtual assistant, too. They will help you with email marketing automation, campaign implementation, or performance tracking. The best part is they can provide actionable insights according to customer engagement rate.

Working in virtual environments, VAs know exactly how to utilise digital tools or platforms for the best. 

8. Managing CRM systems

Want your sales to work more productively and effectively? Get help from a virtual assistant to manage your CRM software, who will generate detailed sales reports. Your sales team no longer needs to spend more hours managing or organising customer data. Now, they can focus only on sales and other core activities.

Check out some more responsibilities your virtual tech assistant can do for you.

Industries That Benefit from Technical Virtual Assistants

Industries of all sizes need virtual assistants who are focused on their digital brand identity and presence. Though large companies have on-site tech experts, small businesses often lack such experts. VAs can be reliable for startups or small companies because of their congested workspaces and to cut costs.

E-commerce

Let your tech VA for e-commerce manage your online store. Then, you can work on increasing sales or marketing. Your personal remote assistant will handle website maintenance and manage inventory systems. With their help, your stock level will be enough, so there are no overselling or stockout incidents.

• Shopping cart and checkout system management
• Payment gateway integration
• Inventory management systems
• Customer support and live chat integration
• Order fulfillment and shipping integration
• Product data management
• Performance optimisation and scalability

Healthcare

If you are wondering how tech virtual assistants can help in the healthcare sector, then have a look at their duties,

• Electronic health record (EHR) systems management
• Telemedicine platform support
• HIPAA compliance
• Medical billing and coding software
• Patient management systems
• Appointment scheduling systems
• Health information exchange (HIE) integration
• Medical imaging systems support
• Laboratory information management systems (LIMS)
• Patient portal development and maintenance
• Remote patient monitoring systems

Let us understand with an example. A tech VA can set up a secure patient portal. In the portal patients can access their medical records online. They will also make sure all data is encrypted and compliant with HIPAA regulations.

Real Estate

In the real estate industry, technical virtual assistants can provide numerous support. Virtual assistant for real estate help with, 

• CRM (Customer Relationship Management)system management
• Virtual tour integration
• Online payment processing
• Property management software support
• Technical support for product listing
• Lead generation and management systems

Finance

the presence of a virtual assistant in the finance industry is crucial for ensuring the security of online transactions and information. They also can support for additional tasks,

• Online banking platform development and maintenance
• Data security and compliance (e.g., GDPR, PCI DSS)
• Financial management software support
• Fraud detection and prevention systems
• Automated trading systems
• Payment gateway integration
• Blockchain and cryptocurrency support
• Cybersecurity measures and threat monitoring
• Financial data analytics and visualisation tools

Other

Other industries, such as law firms, marketing agencies, and others, can hire tech VAs for full technical support.

Freelancers can create an online portfolio and resume by hiring a remote tech VA. Otherwise, this could be time-consuming.

Law firms need help with case management software or legal research databases.

Even tech companies often outsource tech support for version control systems, API management, DevOps, and continuous integration.

And how can we forget about content creators? Technical VAs can do video editing, graphic designing, audio editions, or help with live streaming tools.

Benefits Of Having a Technical Virtual Assistant

Technical virtual assistants are capable of handling countless tasks. They ensure your technical systems are robust and consistently updated, minimising the likelihood of failures.

Now, let’s see how a tech VA can uniquely benefit your business.

Tech VA enhances your online presence by creating and maintaining attractive, efficient websites that draw more traffic to boost customer engagement and loyalty.

Regarding SEO service, a skilled technical VA understands how to optimise your content. This includes improving your site’s SEO, indexing pages, and optimising video files for better Google visibility. also, they create social media posts, blog post, and scheduling posts.

The most popular technical VA support is real-time live support, which quickly resolves software issues to reduce customer drop-offs. They offer support across multiple channels and improve overall customer satisfaction. They can also handle technical inquiries over the phone. So you can support your products or services.

Moreover, staying current with the latest technologies, technical virtual assistants can recommend the best tech tools for your business growth. They diligently research, test, and implement new technologies to keep you ahead in a competitive landscape.

The flexibility of hiring a technical virtual assistant is a significant advantage. They can work from anywhere worldwide with a reliable internet connection. Get access to top tech talent regardless of location. This virtual assistant is ideal for entrepreneurs or small business owners who require technical support but do not have the resources or overhead costs for a full-time employee IT staff.

What to Consider When Selecting a Technical Virtual Assistant

Technical virtual assistants can be a valuable addition to your team to take over any technical issue. Let’s see some of the things you should consider before selecting your valuable asset, which is a tech VA. 

Check Their Track Record With Similar Projects Or Tasks

The best way to find the right VA is by checking their previous records with similar projects. Though a tech VA is knowledgeable with diverse tech specialized skills, each has specialty in a particular area. If you want someone to handle your software installations and regularly check their functionality, check if there are any such records. For data security, look for someone who works more with cybersecurity-related tasks.

Relevant Technical Skills And Experience

Since you are hiring a virtual technical assistant, he must have relevant skills. But how would you know? Here, check this list,

• Web & software development
• Data entry
• Internet and tech-savvy
• Familiarity with tech tools and systems
• SEO optimisation
• e-commerce & social media management
• Online advertising in social media channels
• Knowledge of various programming languages such as Java, Python, C++, and HTML/CSS. This is essential if you need assistance with website development or coding tasks.

• Video, audio & picture editing
• Customer support

Now you can check their resume to know if they have any previous experience of working as a tech VA. because with previous experience he knows ins and outs how to support businesses with tech functionalities.

Privacy  & Security Awareness

Your remote helper will be accessing all your sensitive business data, information, and records. And you can not risk your business security by ending up with a VA who does not practice privacy and security. Here again, background checks become crucial. Check out the references, too, and years of experience. Give enough time to check their previous projects and how they handled data security. If you have very sensitive business information, then it would be best not to give all access at the beginning. Once you get to your virtual professional well, you can trust them.

Communication Skills

With good communication skills, your VA can handle customer queries, showing your brand potential. SaaS or tech industries launch digital products most of the time. Hence, customers have common concerns about how to use them. In general, most people do not possess good tech knowledge. This is why the virtual helper should have excellent communication skills. Moreover, since they work remotely, team collaboration can only be smooth if they can connect with all the team members.

How to Find and Hire a Technical Virtual Assistant

After describing the benefits of a technical VA, now it’s time to help you how you can find your perfect tech match. We will be moving with simple four steps,

First, Define Your Business Needs

Technical needs of your online business is not similar to others. So, it is important we first define the business needs. Based on this we can move further to select the right candidates.

Also, the budget is also a concern. You can hire by hourly rate, contractual or full-time. Check for competitive rates.

We have already covered how technical support varies according to industry. You can give a quick sneak peak to that section. Now note down bullet points which technical area of your business need attention now.

Key skills and qualifications to look for

You noted down all your requirements, right? Now you know what type of skills you should look for in your tech VA. In creating a job posting, you can highlight these key points so only those with relevant skills apply. This also narrows down your search effort and helps you find the right VA.

Interview VA candidates & Onboarding 

Interview the selected candidates virtually. There are a lot of test online available to figure out the eligibility and quality of tech-savvy virtual assistants. Handover the quality assessment interview session to your HR team. When you find the right technical virtual assistant go for the onboarding process.

Find The Best technical Virtual Assistant Company.

We know you do not really have time to find quality tech VA for you. The easiest solution find the best technical virtual assistant company. These companies offer virtual assistants with competitive pricing.

Let’s make your path easier with one of the leading virtual assistant service provider companies, YesAssistant. We have every type of virtual assistant for any business size. Just book an appointment and start working in no time.

Tips For Working With A Technical Virtual Assistant

Whenever you are ready to work with a tech virtual assistant, here are some tips to follow,

• Set clear expectations.
• Provide detailed instructions.
• Keep them updated with urgent work.
• Encourage them to use productivity tools & give them access to necessary tools.
• Provide constructive feedback.
• Encourage skill development.
• Track and monitor their hour and performance.

Final Thought

If you are from the e-commerce industry, real-estate, solopreneur, or a content creator, you can not deny the need for a technical expert. Thinking of hiring on-site employees is fine, but when you can cut additional office space and cost and hire according to your flexibility, why not consider technical virtual assistants, such as tech-skilled professionals?

Your virtual tech assistants can work for,

• Developing a dedicated website,
• Do SEO optimisations
• Manage all technical functionalities
• Software management
• Cybersecurity
• Online and digital marketing and tons more

The moment you take decision of hiring your virtual assistant, start noting down your business needs, then go for hiring based on that.