Month: July 2024

Do you ever wake up and already feel overwhelmed because you have a huge “to do” list and only so many hours in the day?

It’s getting harder to balance your time between home, family and your business. A Personal Errand Service is a combination of Personal Shopper,  Event Planner and Concierge and can help you achieve that balance.

An individual may use an Errand Running Service to pick up their medications at the pharmacy or pick up their groceries.  We can also purchase and gift wrap birthday or Christmas gifts, along with taking your packages to the post office or courier.  Do you need a gift basket or condolence card?  Or you’re planning a birthday party and just don’t have time to pick up the decorations or order the cake.

Perhaps you are experiencing mobility issues and you  don’t want to wait until your friends or family have extra time to help you out. And, when you hire a professional errand service, the chores will be done when it’s convenient for YOU, not your friends!

Maybe you are having work done on your home and are looking for various contractors. An Errand Service can source, contact and deal with the contractors so you don’t have to! We can also meet the contractors at your home and ensure the job is done to your specifications.

Do you have a big event coming up and need your favorite shoes and dress or suit ready?  An Errand Service can get your outfit to the dry cleaners and shoes to a reputable shoe repair and have everything back in plenty of time for your big night – with no stress for you!

There are so many instances where you could use an Errand Service. If there is something specific you need, just reach out and ask. We realize each client has specific needs and will do our best to accommodate you.

If you’ve ever considered hiring a Virtual Assistant but still need more reasons (we’ve provided a handful of convincing articles on the subject), we’ve compiled the ten biggest benefits of hiring a Virtual Assistant.

Because when you Google ‘reasons to hire a virtual assistant,’ you’ll be inundated with other people, industries, and businesses shouting their praises from the cyber rooftops.

The following four points may help advance the conversation around why it now makes good sense for many organizations to opt for a remote executive assistant. Considering that a general Google search for “virtual assistant jobs” produces 285,000 results, there is no time to waste in joining the ranks of many employers and job searchers that are already on board.

Why Hire a Remote Personal Assistant?

Hire Top Talent

When decision-makers open up to the idea of hiring a remote executive assistant, untapped potential to reach greater talent abounds.

No longer restricted by geography, businesses can mine talent from across the map. This can be an incredible value-add for businesses in smaller towns or lower-tier metropolitan areas, where the local candidate pool may be shallow or exhausted.

Companies that require specialized skills or capabilities also increase the odds of landing the highly-qualified help they need by casting a broader net.

For example, a business might never find an executive assistant with a background in business development, who has advanced Excel skills, solid visual editing chops, a knack for increasing operational efficiencies, and incredible accounting skills if they look only within a 30-mile radius.

However, the virtual option makes finding such professional “unicorns” all the more likely.

Engagement and Employee Happiness

Imagine what not having to deal with a commute does for a team member’s total work day and overall quality of life. The Washington Post reported in February 2016 that the average American commute has jumped by 20 percent since 1980, clocking in at 26 minutes.

In big cities and major metros with expansive and highly populated suburbs, it gets much worse. And more and more employees are dealing with the challenges of the “mega-commute,” driving 90 minutes or more to report for duty.

Add to this the convenience of wearing ultra-casual clothes, having healthy at-home snacking options just a few footsteps away, and enjoying the relative comfort of working from one’s own residence.

The health benefits of remote work can bring advantages to employers as well—again, with fewer sick days, more employee enthusiasm, a positive sensibility that reaches throughout the organization, and even the longer work hours that remote team members voluntarily contribute.

Additionally, research organization Gallup found that remote workers also feel more connected to their employers. In effect, they are empowered, sensing that their opinions matter and feel linked to the organization’s mission and purpose.

Get More Done – And Save Time

Working from home has a way of emphasizing what matters most—getting the job done. Research backs this.

A 2012-2013 study from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business revealed that call center workers who were allowed to work from home for nine months were 13 percent more productive. They took fewer breaks, had fewer sick days, and took more calls per minute.

Participants also reported higher levels of job satisfaction, and the company’s retention of workers improved.

Businesses that include remote executive assistants in their model can realize similar benefits. Sick days, turnover, disengagement, and other pitfalls associated with rigid work cultures have true business costs.

The virtual option can ease the burden, alleviate some risks, and introduce quickened pluses in performance.

Reduce Costs and Save More Money

Did you know that a new cubicle costs about $2,000? Used cubicles go for one-third to half that cost. More modern, better-constructed workstations and office partitions can go for much, much more.

But the money businesses save by hiring remote executive assistants extends beyond the initial outlay for a cube.

There are also other hard assets, like furniture and office supplies. Associated expenses for on-site employees—particularly for “best-in-class” employers, can include utilities (lighting, heat and air), parking, snacks, beverages, meals, on-site childcare, on-site work-life amenities (car detailing, dry clean services), and even on-site wellness and fitness amenities.

Other factors on the softer side of the equation can be more difficult to calculate. Increased productivity, tenured team members, and employee happiness produce innovation, consistent quali

ty work, and sincere client service that defy estimation.

If you’ve been on the fence about hiring new remote assistants or have been skeptical about allowing your existing team to test it out, maybe it’s time to think again. As these points show, at this stage in time, there can be much more to gain than lose by embracing the new possibilities remote workers bring.

The 10 Biggest Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Assistant

So if that wasn’t enough convincing you needed, here, we’ve rounded up some of the most compelling benefits of finally hiring a Virtual Assistant once and for all!

1. Get More Time Back in Your Day

The most valuable asset anyone has is – no, not money – time because once it’s gone, it’s gone. That’s why it’s mission-critical to hire people to whom you can delegate. Because solopreneurs that spend their days addressing low-level administrative tasks are destined to stall.

2. Have Someone Take on Those Administrative Tasks

From calendar management, to emails, to answering phones, a Virtual Assistant’s scope of work can almost vary as much as the industries that hire them, like marketing, web design, bookkeeping, and other services.

3. Begin to Grow Your Business to Scale

Virtual Assistants will allow you to scale operations – and with less risk. Since growth requires capital – and Virtual Assistants are a comparatively cost-effective alternative to IRL employees – you can substantially reduce your costs and instead invest your money back into your business.

4. Maintain a Consistent Online Presence

As a small business owner, there’s no escaping the reality that you should have an online presence by virtue of a website, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest and more. But managing them is a time-suck most solopreneurs can’t afford – but your Virtual Assistant can.

5. Generate Your Leads

Whether through inbound campaigns to your website, social media accounts, or website contact forms, lead generation is a very time-consuming – albeit invaluable – task. Your Virtual Assistant can sort through your leads, determine their value, and add those potential customers to your database.

6. Create and Produce Content

You want to be seen as an authority in your industry and by researching and creating content around your product or service, you’re adding value to the customer experience. Your Virtual Assistant can handle content creation – from market research to publishing – to drive more traffic to your site.

7. Manage Your Bookkeeping

This one often comes as a surprise to many small business owners but it’s true – yes, your Virtual Assistant can do your bookkeeping. From bills, to invoicing, to payroll, your financials will be timely, in order and handled.

8. Take Care of Customer Service

To best serve your customers, your Virtual Assistant can:

• • Respond to customer questions
  • Create email responses or Frequently Asked Questions
  • Follow-up on customers
  • Handle and respond to complaints or requests

9. Improve Process, Products & Services

A Virtual Assistant can shore up your processes and streamline your operations. Further, they can monitor your markets, listen for conversations on social media about your brand or industry, watch what competitors are doing and saying, and collate feedback from current clients.

10. Gain Peace of Mind

One word: PRICELESS. Having someone to whom you can faithfully delegate tasks is, ultimately, the cost of your sanity and peace of mind. As we’ve mentioned before, multitasking is often far less effective and efficient than monotasking, and a Virtual Assistant can help you focus on the important things.

But, the benefits of hiring a Virtual Assistant are limited only by your imagination. Contact us today to get paired up with the right Virtual Assistant for your business today!

You can also find all you need to know in our Ultimate Guide to Working With A Virtual Assistant — including specific costs, how to keep track of your VA’s time, how your VA will help you manage your time both personally and professionally, and the best ways to set yourself up for success with your VA.

Procurement as a service is an emerging procurement strategy transforming how organizations of all sizes purchase goods and services. In 2022, the global procurement as a service market was valued at USD 6.15 billion, with an estimated growth of 11.1% from 2023 to 2030.

Similar to the SaaS model, the idea behind procurement as a service is simple: instead of relying on in-house teams or traditional procurement models, organizations can outsource some, if not all, of their procurement needs to a provider that uses technology, people, and expertise.

By streamlining the procurement function, this model gives organizations greater control over their spending and better visibility of the entire process.

In this guide, we’ll cover the basics of the modern purchasing process, including procurement as a service, how it works, its benefits, and what to look for when selecting a provider.

Procurement as a Service Definition

At its core, procurement as a service is a comprehensive cloud-based procurement model that involves outsourcing a portion or the entire process to a company that provides access to procurement services and software on demand. Also called Platform as a Service (PaaS), it’s a great way to embrace digital transformation without incurring all of the costs.

Traditionally, procurement operations have been handled internally by a company’s employees or outsourced to a third-party provider (business process outsourcing). The former is often time-consuming and expensive, requiring a dedicated staff to source and manage vendors throughout the procurement lifecycle.

On the other hand, procurement outsourcing to managed services can be beneficial, but may not offer the same level of cost savings and control over procurement processes.

From sourcing and negotiating contracts to promoting the timely delivery of goods and services, the procurement service provider typically ensures all your procurement needs are met without investing in your own IT infrastructure or staff.

Procurement service providers offer a more efficient, cost-effective procurement solution for organizations by leveraging technology, automation, staff, and expertise.

By taking care of all or part of the procure-to-pay process, businesses can pare down the time and resources needed to manage the day-to-day activities associated with procurement (like contract management, risk management, supply chain management, and more), allowing them to better focus on income-generating tasks.

What Are the Types of Procurement?

Procurement is an integral part of any organization’s operation. It involves the acquisition of goods and services from external sources, typically through a competitive bidding process. The four types of procurement are:

• Direct procurement: Involves the purchase of goods and services that directly relate to the operations.
• Indirect procurement: Focuses on non-core items (indirect spend), such as office supplies or janitorial services.
• Material procurement: Tangible items purchased from a vendor, such as raw materials or software subscriptions.
• Services procurement: People-based services required for the operations, such as consulting or IT services.

What Is the Difference between Procurement and Purchasing?

Regarding procurement vs. purchasing, the two are often used interchangeably but refer to two different processes. In a nutshell, procurement is the broader process of acquiring goods and services for an organization. It involves research, negotiation, and evaluation, to ensure that the right products are purchased at the most cost-effective prices.

Some of the most common procurement activities are procurement data management, strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, cost analysis, spend management, and risk mitigation.

In contrast, purchasing is just one element of the typical procurement process. It’s essentially ordering from a vendor or supplier after due diligence on pricing and quality. Other purchasing activities include supplier management, contract execution, and payment processing.

What Are the Benefits of Procurement as a Service?

Even though procurement as a service is still relatively new, most companies see the value and benefit of leveraging this best-in-class model. With procurement services, they can streamline their operations and reduce costs without sacrificing quality.

As with any business process, procurement is time-consuming and complex. By outsourcing some or all of this process to a service provider, businesses can free up valuable resources for more important tasks.

Here are some of the key benefits of using the procurement as a service model:

1. Cost savings opportunities

Tapping into the economies of scale provided by a service provider can help organizations save money on procurement functions, particularly for high-volume purchases. They often get access to better deals and discounts that businesses wouldn’t have been able to negotiate on their own.

In addition, you can save significantly on labor costs and other overhead expenses since the provider will take care of some or all the necessary tasks involved in sourcing and procurement.

2. Access to deep procurement expertise

Most procurement service providers have deep experience in the field, which allows them to leverage their expertise when selecting suppliers, negotiating contracts, and managing the overall process. They also provide valuable guidance on market trends and industry best practices, which helps businesses stay ahead of the competition.

This expertise is incredibly helpful for companies just starting their procurement strategy or looking for optimization of their existing processes.

3. Faster procurement process

With new technologies and automation, many of the manual and tedious tasks involved in procurement are eliminated or streamlined. As a result, the process can be completed in a fraction of the time it would take using traditional methods.

Necessary documents such as purchase orders, invoices, and contracts can be accurately generated in minutes, allowing organizations to reduce cycle times and make quick decisions to stay agile in a competitive market.

4. Better control and visibility

Since the provider is doing the bulk of the procurement work, organizations have more control over the procurement process and can keep better tabs on where their money is going.

With the help of technology, they can get real-time insights into their procurement activities, enabling them to make more informed decisions about what to purchase and when. They also get more visibility into their suppliers and vendors, allowing them to track performance metrics, such as on-time delivery or cost savings over time.

5. Improved compliance and value tracking

Rather than relying on manual processes and paper trails, procurement services use advanced automation tools to capture and track data, which ensures that everything is recorded accurately and compliant with internal policies and external regulations.

It makes it easier for organizations to track spending more closely, identify opportunities for savings, and demonstrate compliance with relevant regulations.

What to Look for When Selecting a Provider?

Getting started with procurement as a service is relatively simple, but selecting the right provider for your needs can be tricky.

When choosing a provider, organizations should look for one that offers flexibility and scalability in their offerings. It is also crucial to ensure that the provider can provide comprehensive support throughout the process, from category management to contract negotiation.

1. Identify your level of need

Start by auditing your current procurement processes to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your operations. This step will help identify areas needing improvement and the amount of support you need from a provider.

If you’re just starting, basic procurement services may be enough. But if your organization is more complex and has multiple departments, you should consider a provider that can provide end-to-end support.

2. Determine your provider’s level of involvement

The level of involvement you require from your provider will depend on the complexity of your procurement needs.

For instance, an intermediary may be enough if you just need help with vendor selection and negotiation. If you’re looking for a hands-off approach, you should look for a provider that can handle the entire process from start to finish. On the contrary, you may only need minimal help, in which purchasing software would suffice.

3. Consider offshore and onshore providers

Budget is often a major consideration when selecting a procurement service provider. Offshore providers may be more cost-effective but may not provide the same quality or guarantee results as onshore providers.

While onshore procurement can be more expensive, it offers greater control over the process. Onshore providers are also often better equipped to deal with specific local regulations and taxes.

4. Check the provider’s affiliations

Larger providers often have affiliations with professional organizations and industry-leading companies. These affiliations can give you an insight into their practices and provide additional assurance that the provider is reliable and trustworthy.

However, providers act as middlemen between sellers and buyers, so a little bias may be unavoidable, especially if they receive seller commissions.

Pick the Right Procurement Service Solution

Procurement as a service is quickly becoming the go-to solution for businesses looking to reduce costs and optimize efficiency in their supply chain operations.  If you plan to grow your business, look for an all-inclusive, comprehensive solution with custom controls.

Errandables offers a procurement solution that covers every aspect of the user experience, from simple intake management to advanced PO approvals, streamlined supplier management, real-time integrations, and much more. Companies also benefit from AP automation, multi-entity management, and other modules that make Errandables a one-stop solution for all of your modern accounting needs.

The right procurement solution will eliminate the need for in-house staff, allowing organizations to access the expertise of experienced procurement professionals without investing in costly infrastructure, staff, or training. With the right provider, organizations can benefit from cost savings, industry expertise, more efficient procurement processes, enhanced visibility, and improved compliance. Ready to get started on your procurement automation journey? Dive into Errandables Procurement to see if it’s a good fit for your business today.

With 81% of Americans planning to take a vacation this summer, the travel industry is currently booming. If you own a property that you don’t use year-round, allowing short-term rentals is a great way to get some additional income.

This may sound like a challenge, but a short-term rental management company can make it a breeze. Read on to learn how!

Better Tenants

Short-term rentals are typically only let out for a few days to a few weeks. Still, it’s important that you know exactly who will be living on your property at all times. This is especially true if they plan to stay for a month or two!

A vacation rental management company can quickly screen tenants for criminal backgrounds. They’ll make sure that you’re not getting anyone who’s likely to damage your property or steal things. This will let you rest easy knowing that your property’s safe with those renting it.

Guest Services for Short-Term Rental Management

Short-term property management professionals also make communication with guests easier. You won’t need to field calls from prospective tenants or talk directly with those living in the property. It can go through someone who’s trained in quality customer service.

Experts can also manage online reviews to ensure that only the highest-quality ones show up on your website. This will let you make a name for yourself more easily. Marketing your rental unit will also be easier with professionals who have a wide internal network to find you better bookings.

Maintenance and Repairs

Most people perform maintenance between tenants on short-term properties. This ensures that nothing bad happens while people are residing in the unit.

Repairs can be challenging whether you’re near the property or somewhere else. Property managers can help to connect you with maintenance professionals who will keep your building in top shape.

You won’t need to worry about finding contractors on your own or communicating about potential issues. This will happen naturally without you even needing to lift a finger. Your property will always be in awesome shape so you can reasonably rent it out at a higher rate.

Cleaner Rentals

Cleanliness makes people feel more comfortable. This is especially true when someone rents a property, even in the short term. Dirt and dust can make people worry that the space isn’t hygienic and can stop them from really settling into the space.

But cleaning is a huge hassle, whether you do it yourself or painstakingly find professional cleaners. Luckily, vacation property rental managers will do the heavy lifting and find you cleaning experts quickly.

Saved Time

As you can imagine, all of these things save you a lot of time. Finding third-party contractors, marketing your business, and communicating with temporary tenants are time-consuming chores. Since you’re probably not specially trained to do these tasks, they’re even worse.

Hiring a short-term property manager means saving this time. It also means less stress and anxiety on all fronts.