7 Data Transcription Services in 2024 & Selection Criteria

As businesses accelerate¹ digital transformation, they need to transform their data to use it to successfully implement digital solutions. Data transcription means transforming data from one form to another and is one of the most important steps in developing digital solutions such as voice/speech recognition systems.

As the volume of data, modern digital system use, expands, developers need external support to transcribe it. Data transcription services can help companies speed up the transcription process for the development of their digital solutions. However, with so many options on the market, it can be overwhelming to find the right service for your project. 

In this article, we explore the top 7 data transcription services and selection criteria to help you select the right service for your data-hungry projects.

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Selection criteria for the best data transcription service

The following considerations can help you choose the right service for your project.

1. Evaluate vendor profile

When selecting the right data transcription service, it is essential to check the company’s reputation. Look for a provider with a proven record of delivering quality data transcriptions and ask for references or samples of work they have completed in the past. 

The service should also be able to provide you with clear standards on how they are going to measure the accuracy and quality of your data. You can also check online platforms for customer reviews of the service to get an external view.

2. Consider language coverage

Different data transcription services will offer different language coverage. Make sure to check the languages and dialects that are supported by your chosen provider. A good transcription service should offer multi-language transcription. If data is required in multiple languages, then a data transcription service with a global reach or a crowdsourcing service might be suitable.

3. Consider project timeline

Depending on your project timeline and goals, it is important to choose a service that can offer fast turnaround times without compromising on accuracy or quality. You should consider specific delivery timelines so you can fit them into your project timeline. For instance, in a speech recognition project, the project can not proceed before the data is transcribed and ready to train the machine learning model.

A good transcription service should incorporate machine transcription tools in the process or have a large number of transcribers to provide a faster service.

4. Consider the costs

Factor in the cost of the service when selecting a provider. Prices vary from company to company, so it’s best to compare different quotes to get the best value for money. Find out if there are any hidden costs involved, such as data storage charges or license fees. These should all be factored into your decision. You can also check if the vendor offers free trials.

5. Consider data security

Data security is paramount when selecting a data transcription service, so ask about how data will be stored and treated during the process. If confidential data is being transcribed, then ensure that appropriate data encryption and security protocols are in place to protect sensitive information. 

For instance, speech data is considered as biometric data; therefore, it should be managed with the appropriate care. The company should also follow the relevant legal and ethical regulations while working with your data. For instance, the services can have ISO 27001 or other similar certifications.

Additionally, the provider should also have procedures in place to delete data once it has been processed and delivered.

6. Consider extra services

Good transcription services also include additional services such as translation or annotation services. Since these tasks are often followed by each other while preparing a dataset, it can be convenient if the same vendor offers all these services.

Comparison of 7 data transcription services on the market

Disclaimer

• The features identified in the table below are based on the claims made by the vendors on their websites. 
• The vendors selected for the table were based on online customer reviews, company size, and the relevance of the services they provide.   

Table 1. Comparison of the services offered by the vendors

Observations

• All vendors offer human-based data transcription services
• All vendors follow some data security/protection protocols. The following certifications and practices were found:
  • ISO 27001 & 9001 certifications
  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
  • Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption

Transparency statement:

AIMultiple serves numerous emerging tech companies, including such as Clickworker.

Further reading

• Quick Guide to Primary Data Collection
• Crowdsourcing: Types, Benefits & Top Use Cases

References

1. “Digital Acceleration”. KPMG. Retrieved: 20 Jan, 2023