Are you an expanding SME seeking a business support team to take you to the next level? Then Virtually Smart Ltd can help.

The role of the Online Business manager (OBM) is on the rise. Start-up’s, SME’s, Mid-market enterprise and even large enterprises are seeking a more flexible approach to their business support functions.

But what is an OBM and how can they support businesses and help them thrive?

An OBM offers management-level support to busy business owners and they work on a freelance or contractual basis.

This role sounds a little like a Virtual Assistant (VA). However, there are some differences between an OBM and VA. For example, an OBM is much more than just an incredibly knowledgeable VA. An OBM can offer a different set of services and their skills and priorities differ too.

The following illustrates how an OBM and VA differ in their approach and what they can offer.

Online Business Manager	Virtual Assistant
An OBM uses their own initiative to drive business growth.	A VA relies on the business owner to drive growth.
An OBM manages a team sometimes provided by their own additional freelance specialists.	A VA is often only responsible for their own individual work and often one-to-one clients.
An OBM often has fewer clients with larger retainers.	Often works for more clients but with smaller retainers.
An OBM works independently.	A VA takes direction directly from their clients.
An OBM is aware of their clients’ strategies and remains strategy focused throughout their work.	A VA is task focused.

 

An OBM supports a business owner in a variety of different ways and acts as the management layer between the business owner and the various business support tasks required for the smooth running of their business.

Therefore, the organisational structure could look like this:

Business owner

Online Business Manager

Social media – Virtual Assistant – Accountant/bookkeeper – Administration support – Designer

Therefore, what is an OBM responsible for and how could they support your business? The job description and tasks of an OBM can vary depending on:

• Their own skills, experience, and preferences
• The type of business and what’s involved
• The business owners’ skills, experience, and preferences
• The stage the business is at and what the current goals are
• The other team members (if there are any) and what they’re responsible for

Virtually Smart Ltd offers professional Online Business Management solutions lead by Director Helena Parrott.

Helena Parrott – Executive VA and Online Business Management specialist, formed Virtually Smart Ltd to offer effective and efficient expert support to business owners, CEO’s, Managing Directors and Senior Leadership Teams.

Here are some of the management support options Helena Parrott can offer CEO’s, Directors and Senior Leadership Teams.

• Management of the Managing Directors’ office – all daily activities, diary management across global time zones, supporting the Board with various activities to meet priorities.
• Supporting the work of the Board – meetings logistics, servicing monthly meetings and all other events, creating and collating Board papers, creating agendas and arranging speakers, capturing actions and ensuring actions were completed on time.
• Planning and arranging international and global business travel.
• Supporting the MD and the leadership team in change planning, business and strategic planning.
• Liaising with consultants on a variety of projects including Diversity and Inclusion and Project Management Function Review.
• Project Support, including managing, planning, tracking a variety of projects as needed, including reengineering strategy.
• Managing high level processing, invoicing, and costing of variety of IT functions.
• Managing all team purchasing – offering cost saving advice, monthly reconciliation, investigating discrepancies, ensuring all purchases stay within budget.
• Liaising with senior management team on relevant issues to ensure strong communication links within the team.
• Management of team communication, organisational updates, distribution lists and organisation of office facilities, furniture and stationery

Helena Parrott’s additional Online Business Support for current clients and Senior Leadership Teams also includes:

• Attending daily SLT (senior Leadership Team) Zoom meetings and acting upon any expectations and or needs presented by the SLT team, coordinating with and updating UK teams and international partners, leading meetings, preparing presentations, group diary management, inbox management and any and all support the team need to allow them to continue with their extensive projects and developments.
• Being the point of contact for all new starters.
• Collating and implementing documentation pertaining to international patents and legalities.
• Liaising directly with Government agencies with regards to Grants and Funding

With an online business management team in place, you can gain greater flexibility and strategic support.

For example, if you are seeking support to launch your business and need the infrastructure set up for you; an online business management solution might be a better option while you get on with the development of the business.

Another example whereby an online business management solution would add great benefit, would be if a large enterprise were seeking to spin-out a separate company and needed the business support infrastructure in place to help with the transition.

Written by Katy-Jane Mason for and on behalf of Virtually Smart Ltd.