Decimall

Transcription services have evolved from hiring of secretaries to note
down details discussed in events such as corporate board meetings to the
use of digital recorders and transcription software programs. In
countries such as United States, Transcription service is offered by
14 million people working either in company setups or as individuals.
The number is expected to reach 17 million by 2015 making transcription
one of the fastest growing segments of the global service industry owing
to the need to cut cost by reducing business expenditure on rent,
overhead bills as well payroll. These cost cutting measures can be
achieved by outsourcing the service, making it vital to know how to go
about outsourcing quality and reliable transcribers.

Start by making a list of companies or individuals involved in the
transcription industry by conducting an online search on Yellow Pages.
List their contacts to come up with an emailing list then prepare a
short description of the type of the services you are in search of.
Inquire the cost of having specific information transcribed as
transcription prices vary depending on the complexity of what you need
transcribed. This is because the company you are hiring might need to
engage the services of an expert in a given field to achieve quality and
precision.

Request a portfolio listing current and past clients. This is a
precautionary measure to guard against scam. E-mail the inquiry to all
the listed transcribers and note the amount of time taken by each to
respond. This is vital in determining the transcription expert’s
efficiency and customer care skills.

Select the transcriber whose profile indicate high levels of experience
by looking at the terms of service, past and current clients as well as
professionalism and pricing. The terms of service should for instance
contain secrecy clauses to avoid spilling your business plans and ideas
that might be taken up by competitors and drain off your competitive
edge.

Assign the selected transcriber one or two low level assignments to
assess the company’s or individual’s transcription abilities, noting the
time taken to complete the assignment and accuracy levels in addition
ability to follow instructions. If you like the work, send more
assignments whether low or high level for you will at this point be
assured of quality and professionalism.