Nowadays, you have a range of choices when it comes to transcription services. Just a simple online search will give you plenty of transcription providers from which to choose, and this in itself is a bit of a relief. But what about quality, expertise, and experience? These are some important factors to remember if you want to make the right choice in regards to a transcription service. If you have special needs, you have to choose a service which can accommodate this as well. But when all is said and done, here are the key factors you always have to remember when looking for a transcription service.
The credentials of the provider
It’s important to choose a transcription service provider who is not only efficient, but reliable as well. Check their credentials. How long have they been in operation? What kinds of transcription services do they provide? How many clients have they had, and which clients are these? Are their transcriptionists experienced and qualified?
If you can, you should also ask the transcription service for client references and testimonials. This way, you can have a better idea of the type of service they offer and can deliver. The longer they have been in operation, the better for you as well, especially if you have complex recordings which need to be transcribed as accurately as possible.
The skill of their transcriptionists
Another key factor to remember is the skill of the transcription service provider’s transcriptionists. How skilled are they? Often, it all relies on the efficiency and expertise of the transcriptionists themselves. If you are in the UK and require transcription services, you may want to opt for a UK transcription service which can offer UK transcription specialists – meaning, transcriptionists who have English as their mother tongue. This is all for practicality’s sake, as you’d want transcriptionists who are very familiar and comfortable with the language and who speak the language every day.
There’s yet one other factor to consider – if you have complex recordings related to a particular industry or sector, such as the pharmaceutical or medical sector, the legal sector, the corporate sector, and more – wouldn’t you want transcriptionists who know the special terms related to these sectors? Look for a transcription service which can offer industry-specific transcription if you are in an industry with unique terminology.
The responsiveness of the service
When looking for a transcription service provider, you also have to gauge their responsiveness to any questions or concerns you may have. This not only includes their initial response when you are just asking questions about the service, but also their response time when you have already made an agreement with them. See if the service has a working email or telephone number which you can make use of when you have any concerns or questions.
