The big picture: SS Support Network LLC has launched AssistBPO, a new division offering managed virtual assistant services with phone capabilities for businesses across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. This initiative aims to provide comprehensive remote staffing solutions for various business needs.

Why it matters: The expansion of managed virtual assistant services provides companies with more flexible and potentially cost-effective options for administrative and customer support, challenging traditional in-house or temporary staffing models. It highlights a growing trend in outsourced, remote talent.

Between the lines:

• AssistBPO provides clients with a named virtual assistant.
• Services include call handling, inbox management, calendar scheduling, customer support, and back-office tasks.
• The focus is on phone-capable remote staff, enhancing direct client interaction capabilities.

Staffing & HR impact: This model could shift demand from traditional staffing agencies towards specialized virtual assistant providers, impacting recruiter mobility and gross margins in the contingent workforce sector. HR departments will need to adapt to integrating and managing these outsourced, remote resources effectively.

The bottom line: The market for skilled, phone-capable virtual assistants is expanding, signaling a continued evolution in how businesses acquire and manage their support workforce.