Welsh firms turn to Voicepath for ‘pay as you go’ secretaries

03 May 2006

Outsourced transcription specialist, Voicepath, has expanded its reach into Wales, following its appointment to relieve document transcription workflow at two firms in the South Wales area.

Both firms turned to outsourcing some of their document transcription work after learning of the cost and convenience benefits of using Voicepath’s service to supplement their existing secretarial support during busy periods or when staff were sick or on holiday.

Voicepath manages the whole transcription process for its clients, right from the moment a fee earner transmits a dictation file to the company via secure email to the return of a completed, checked document in either 1 or 24 hour timescales, depending on its urgency. The service is available on a ‘pay-as-you-go’ basis, with clients billed by the number of minutes of recorded dictation.

Runnett & Co, a small property and probate practice based in Cardiff quickly benefited from the service. Senior partner, Lindsay Runnett, comments: “We first considered using outsourcing as a way to reduce costs. Quite simply, it was cheaper and simpler to outsource the transcriptions our existing staff had no time to deal with than take on the expense of additional staff or temps.”

Lindsay continues: “Before using Voicepath we were experiencing regular backlogs where there was simply too much typing for our own staff to cope with. Now, however, these are a thing of the past – and the opportunity to have the whole dictation process managed for us is hugely convenient.”

A similar story emerges at Howe and Spender, a predominately legal aid practice based across two offices in Neath and Port Talbot. Firm partner, Richard Ambrose, comments: “We were in the situation where so much work was going through the firm that our typists were having difficulty keeping up with it.”

To address this problem the firm looked at using a number of outsourced transcription companies but soon came down on the side of Voicepath. Richard continues: “The other company we looked at outsourced work to India, whereas Voicepath, as an onshore transcription specialist, keeps work in the UK. We naturally preferred a domestic solution, and were also reassured by Voicepath’s good reputation, as well as their transparency.”

“Voicepath essentially offers us a fast, reliable and accurate form of ‘pay-as-you-go’ secretarial support, which is ideal in situations when we need to get documents typed quickly during busy periods.”

Voicepath general manager Richard Bate comments: “We are delighted to be able to offer these firms a source of cost-effective and reliable transcription support. As firms of all sizes across the UK come under pressure to increase profits by reducing their central costs, we predict that more will recognise the benefits of using outsourced services – particularly those with transparent pricing structures such as ourselves.

“We look forward to fostering long and mutually beneficial relationships with these and other firms all over the country.”