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Technology to beat swine flu

July 27, 2009

With swine flu predicted to affect 30 per cent of the population and cost the UK economy up to £50bn, experts are urging businesses to utilise technology to help prepare for the outbreak.

The first wave of swine flu is likely to occur between August and November - peaking late August to late September.  Peak weeks could see employee absence rates for illness reach 12 per cent of the workforce - in addition to normal holiday absence.

Document Direct is receiving a large number of enquiries as firms consider implementation of contingency plans for secretarial cover.  Those companies who already have digital dictation systems installed are now looking at how their systems can be integrated with outsourcing partners. 

Innovative technology such as BlackBerry dictation means it’s easy for professionals to continue working from home or away from their offices but further business interruption occurs when secretaries can’t make it into the office to do the typing. 

The virus is spreading rapidly through the UK, with 55,000 new cases reported last week and experts predicting that 30 per cent of the public will be eventually infected.

Companies need to start preparing for soaring absentee rates before the peak of the virus hits the UK’s business community.   Phil Bird, Managing Director for the PC Support Group says:

Swine flu can vary in seriousness and in a number of cases, particularly towards the end of the illness, sufferers will be able to work although due to being contagious may still not be able to return to the workplace, extending their absence.

For many smaller companies this loss could even lead to them going out of business if they don’t plan ahead.

With such potentially serious consequences it is crucial for employers to start planning and implementing emergency strategies now. As a priority, they need to make arrangements for staff to work from home in the event of high levels of infection, in order to minimise disruption to their businesses.

Document Direct has solutions to provide temporary secretarial cover to help during holidays and sickness absenses that are very easy to implement. If a firm already uses a dictation system it is simply a case of re-routing the destination of the author’s dictation.  If a firm does not have any dictation system in place then our software is available at no charge.  

Contact us for more information about digital dictation systems and outsourcing.

Posted by Jayne Smith | Filed Under General | Leave a Comment 

Which digital dictation system do you choose?

July 15, 2009

  • It’s not expensive
  • The devices work in the same way you’re used to
  • Manufacturers are no longer producing analogue tapes, so we’re all forced into the “digital switchover”

Document Direct is compatible with the majority of digital dictation systems (DDS) and sound file formats.  That means we can work with Philips, Olympus, BigHand, Winscribe and many other formats now available.  But which system is the best for you?  We’re almost 4 years old and have amassed a great deal of experience when it comes to working with the different systems, types of hardware and the various costs associated with them.  There are many benefits to switching over to digital.

  • The dictation can be transcribed faster by fewer secretaries which reduces your secretarial overhead and increases workflow
  • Opportunities are created for flexible and remote working, you (and your staff) are no longer office bound 
  • Hard cash is saved when overhead can be slashed by outsourcing

So why are there still so many firms who don’t yet have a DDS?  We’re in a situation now where firms need to save money but they can’t afford to invest in a DDS.  Add to the fact that most people don’t like change and are fearful of new technology so they will procrastinate even more in making a decision.  But each of these objections can easily be overcome. 

We recently set up a solicitors practice, using free software, so they could choose to send their dictation to their in-house secretary or their favourite outsource typing agency.  The only cost to the firm was for the handsets (and they vary vastly in price).  The solicitors practice no longer needs to worry about secretarial cover during the holiday season.  With a click of a button, their work is outsourced at a much lower cost than using a temping agency.  Their work was backlogged by as much as three days.  Now that we’ve helped them clear their dictation they’re working through their files faster.  This can only be a good thing when it comes to holding onto work in progress and billing. 

Would you like more information about implementing a digital dictation system in your firm?  If so, contact us now.     

Posted by Jayne Smith | Filed Under Digital Dictation for Business, Digital Dictation for Lawyers, Equipment, General, outsource dictation | Leave a Comment