What to Look for in a Transcription Service Provider
The transcription industry has truly evolved and today it is not just about serving a few companies or organizations. Today, companies in different sectors all over the world prefer outsourcing the services from professional agencies instead of having their own in-house team to do the same. It is very important to choose a team that will bring out the best and stick to professionalism.
What it is
You may not know what this service is all about. Transcription is simply the conversion of an audio or a video into text. This trade requires one to concentrate as much as possible. When you concentrate, then you do not make any errors that could be avoided. There is a need to have great listening skills. You also need to understand what is being said and comprehend it. It is only after you do this that you can actually write whatever it is that you are listening to.
Is it easy?
The task is never easy and can be actually very daunting. The ease or level of difficulty is determined by how clear the video or audio is. There are some dialects that are hard to comprehend, especially if you are not a local in a certain area. Some of the audios may also be of a low quality, making it hard to understand. However, with experience, things get much easier.
Factors to have in mind
Outsourcing such services should not only be about the costs. To make an audio recording, one needs to put some effort. It is important that you have a transcript that has all the subject matters and in a format that is not too hard to understand. It should also be free from errors. Some factors that one has to think of include:
- Checking for credentials
- Asking for references
- Ask for portfolios
- Check their website and confirm whether it gets updates regularly
- Talk to some of the workers so as to gauge their skills
- Talk to the manager so as to understand the whole process that has to be followed
- Call the customer service or drop an enquiry to see how well and fast they respond.
- You may also give them a transcript to serve as a trial. This can be used to gauge how committed they are to work and whether they can deliver on time.
It is very important for an agency to create a mark and get things done as professionally as possible. The best companies have satisfied customers all over. It is easy to tell whether a company is great at what it does by simply going through the customer reviews. Satisfied customers spread the word very fast and as such, you should be able to determine whether to settle for the company or not.
The best companies also make it easier to understand the different processes that are put in place. In this way, the client can follow up on the progress of their own project and get to know an estimate of when the work should be completed. It is important that the company values time and money and strive to save them without compromising the quality of the work delivered.