About VAi
VAI is the offspring of 4 years experience recruiting and training educated, skilled and qualified Filipino College graduates to become successful back office workers for a U.S. public company. We employed as many as 200 staff, performing tasks ranging from advanced internet research, executive assistance, business modeling, customer service, database research/testing, software development and network management………to bookkeeping, accounting and legal services. We built the first successful developing world based English language sms question/answer service for Askmenow in the U.S. We prepared legal documents utilizing experienced contract attorneys for multiple applications as well as performed all the daily accounting for the parent company with experienced accountants.
Until now this kind of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) has been based in a facility under one roof with a typical management structure. While there are definite benefits to this kind of operation in an offshore outsource market, there are also a few issues that affect costs and productivity/turnover. When we first began 4 years ago it was not possible to have workers telecommute or be “virtual” since internet connections were either not available or unreliable. We also were embarking on a bold exercise that would test the theory that such a wide variety of back office functions could be successfully managed in the Philippines. It was imperative we had everyone together for training, up-training, and team interaction so trained staff could assist newer workers to encourage faster learning curves. This proved to be highly successful with the results yielding a large trained pool of back-office workers who are highly motivated and confident in their abilities. It also taught us how to manage the work and workers in an effective manner that insures focus and drive.
Four years later and internet connections are now available inexpensively throughout metrolpolitan Manila and larger cities, with sufficient bandwidth to support VOIP……………and people can now work from home performing a wide range of tasks and functions. This means they can work from the comfort of a home office, avoid the often brutal commute which can save up to 3 hours a day + the cost of riding local transportation, and eating better and cheaper at home. If they work U.S. time (which many in the BPO industry do) it means not having to travel in the middle of the night or early morning when it is dark and difficult to find buses. All of these factors make it extremely attractive and possible for Filipino workers to work from home.
That is where we come in. We trained and managed these people for 4 years and know their strengths and weaknesses as well as their skills and abilities. We have a labor pool that inlcudes people with degrees in engineering, accounting, computer science, social science, art and business. We have college teachers, technical experts, bankers, marketing experts………….and of course call center agents and team leaders. Most importantly we have learned the tricks and nuances of recruiting all of these people in a large and fluid HR market that is growing in demand every day. The key to our success is the know-how to find the right people who have the combination of skills, education, experience, maturity, personality and work ethic to succeed as a virtual home-based staff.
We have put our personal experience and vision in to the ultimate service: offering US businesses and business people qualified workers who can provide a whole host of back-office skills, at a substantial savings over home costs, with highly motivated and focused workers who report direct to the client … all managed by our years of U.S. and international outsourcing experience. We have high hopes for the future of VAi and what we can do to help businesses succeed, saving them time and money when it counts.