Monday, March 19, 2007

Getting Your Data Entry Done

Data entry is the process of taking physical documents and converting them into computer data. Usually this comes in the form of taking hand-written documents and transcribing their exact text into computer text. It serves to protect data by immortalizing it in computer form, and it is also used to enter the data into a database to compare it with other data or compile information. There are many reasons why you would need to have data entry done, and there are just as many ways that you can get your data entry done without spending too much money.

Most data entry projects require a high level of accuracy. If your project just needs to get the things into digital form, you may consider using a scanner paired with computer software to get it done. Some software uses advanced recognition techniques to recognize what exactly is on the piece of paper that you have scanned. If it is hand-written text, you may have to manually enter in a few as the program begins to recognize the patterns in the handwriting. If you can manage to work out the kinks, automated data entry can be a cheap, fast, and fairly accurate solution.

If you are encountering too many bugs with automated data entry, you can hire someone to do the job. You can look for a local employee by placing an ad in the paper offering a flat rate for the job, or you can hire a professional. If you find a young person with good typing skills, you can get away with paying fairly low rates for a hopefully accurate end result. The professional services are sure to have 100% accuracy, but they are by far the most expensive way to get your data entry done. You can also find offshore data entry firms who work for a very low rate.

As you can see, your required accuracy level and your financial limitations play a huge role in deciding what sort of data entry service to use. Compare rates from the various options, and spend some time deciding what service will work the best for you. Once you have used the services of one person or group, you will know whether or not you can rely on them for future data entry that you may require.

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