A new web-based CRM application has been launched by the makers of Appointments Plus called the Virtual Assistant Manager.

I tried the application and found that it was a very convenient tool for virtual assistants to communicate with their clients.  As this is the first edition, I expect that it will continue to blossom.

  • It is secure (uses SSL) and the company has a good backup policy for the application.
  • The price structure is based on the number of virtual assistants.  You can give all your clients access and add unlimited number of activities -> something that makes most other applications such as Basecamp limiting for this profession.
  • You can track your billable hours right in the application.
  • You can setup repeat activities and setup a project with multiple tasks.
  • Clients can submit requests, view tasks/projects, and run time billed reports.

Some current limitations are:

  • A task must have a due date.  If you don’t select one, one is assigned when you save.
  • The look-and-feel is still a bit choppy and you cannot customize it or move things around.
  • No email integration.  It sends out going email notifications, but you cannot receive emails within the system.

Is Virtual Assistant Manager ready to be used?  Yes, the basic functionality is there, but there are current limitations which may be limiting depending on how your company is setup.