VSA's decision to launch a separate contact tracing division at the start of the pandemic was a major risk. Four years later, the decision has helped VSA become stronger and more profitable than it was before COVID-19's arrival.

HADDONFIELD, N.J. - April 8, 2024 - PRLog -- Back in 2020, COVID-19 had a devastating impact on the lead generation and appointment-setting industry. Businesses were suddenly reluctant to outsource their lead generation and call center needs, given the inability of their salespeople to meet prospects face to face, potential customers' hesitancy to make major buying decisions amid a reeling economy, and, of course, their own financial uncertainties.

VSA CEO Valerie Schlitt knew the company couldn't sit by idly and wait for the crisis to pass. So four years ago this spring, she and VSA took a major calculated risk, launching a separate contact tracing division to help schools and municipalities slow the spread of COVID-19 within their communities.

Four years later, it's clear the gambit has paid off. VSA finished the first quarter of 2024 about 40% higher in top-line revenue than during the same period in 2019.

"The truth is, when we did this, no one knew how long the pandemic would last, but we couldn't sit back and do nothing," says Ms. Schlitt. "We saw an opportunity and we went for it. To come through four years later and be stronger and more profitable is a testament to effective financial management and the hard work and ingenuity of so many different people."

While VSA's call center infrastructure and vast experience working with healthcare clients provided a solid foundation for its new contact tracing division, the move still required a massive allocation of resources at a time when business overall was shrinking.

"We added staff, technology, and a lot of overhead to support the new contact tracing business line. Adding this much expense to a small business for a short-term gain tested VSA's management ability," Ms. Schlitt says. "It was a risky gambit, especially as a small business, and would only prove to be a wise decision if we could adequately manage the scaling up and down. The first quarter of 2024 proves we have successfully accomplished that."

Though the demand for contact tracing services has significantly waned over the past couple of years, VSA has retained multiple contact tracing clients, who continue to positively impact the company's bottom line. Simultaneously, VSA has grown the business in other areas, including its inbound customer service offerings.

"Our goal was always to leverage our investment in contact tracing for growth," Ms. Schlitt says. "It was an opportunity to take stock of our ability to respond to market conditions and quickly scale up and down. To take this sort of risk and to come through it with stronger profits than before the pandemic is an incredibly reassuring feeling as we embrace new growth opportunities and prepare for whatever challenges lie ahead."

For more information about VSA, Inc. please visit www.vsaprospecting.com