Data Processing
Archives > FAQ

• What are other terms for data processing?
  
  
• Why might I need your services?
  
  
• Why should I outsource when I can hire someone to do it internally?
  
  
• How can I save money by having my work done in India?
  
  
• How do I send my work to you?
  
  
• What is stylusinc.com?
  
  
• How do I pay?
  
  
• I'm interested. What steps I can take?
  
  
• We're an Indian Company. Can we get outsource work from you?
  
  
• Are you interested in partnering with other Indian Companies?
  
  
• What are your areas of expertise in outsourcing?

1. What are other terms for data processing?
Other terms for data processing include: remote processing, data entry, data conversion, tele-working, freelancing, temporary services, offshore outsourcing, form processing, imaging, digital conversion, data processing, transcription services, document archiving, document management, scanning, OCR, form processing, digital conversion, offshore data conversion and offshore computer services.

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2. Why might I need your services?
Imagine how much time you would save if you could quickly and easily find documents or images and share them within your company-anywhere.

Our area of expertise lies in converting your documents, forms, graphics, photographs, video and audio into digital formats. Once documents are available digitally, networking of information and document retrieval (through the Intranet or Internet) can help make your company more efficient.

Bill Gates (in an April 1999 issue of Time magazine) gave a list of his rules for businesses of the future. In rule # 5 he suggested that companies convert all paper documents to digital.
Click here to read the complete article

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3. Why should I outsource when I can hire someone to do it internally?
The following is a quote from Bill Gates from an April 1999 issue of Time.

"As a business manager, you need to take a hard look at your core competencies. Revisit the areas of your company that aren't directly involved in those competencies, and consider whether Web technologies can enable you to spin off those tasks. Let another company take over the management responsibilities for that work, and use modern communication technology to work closely with the people - now partners instead of employees are doing the work. In the Web work style, employees can push the freedom the Web provides to its limits."

This next quote is from Inc. magazine January 1999.

In their book Unleashing the Killer App: Digital Strategies for Market Dominance (Harvard Business Press), Mui and co-author Larry Downes urge companies to perform internally only those activities that can't be performed more cheaply in the open marketplace. When the marketplace in question is the Internet, where vendors with only "dot com" over their head can operate at very low costs, the savings from pushing out business tasks is considerable.

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4. How can I save money by having my work done in India?
The cost of living in India is much lower than in most Western countries. Salaries are about 20%-30% of what they are in North America and Europe. We are able to do your work at a much lower cost because our costs are much lower. It is really a win-win situation.

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5. How do I send my work to you?
There are three ways:

1. E-mail - For example you may have a text that you want assembled into a handbook. This can easily be e-mailed to us. We will do the work and return it in an electronic format of your choice (e.g. as a PageMaker document or a PDF file).

2. Normal mail service - you can send your material in the mail. This will take 8 days to reach India. This method would be useful if you wanted to send handwritten forms for entry into the computer.

3 DHL - Service in India is good. We can receive packages in 4 working days. You can easily track your parcel at www.dhl.com.

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6. What is stylusinc.com?
We are a small company in the process of defining our identity. We have four divisions - data processing, online courses, web site development and india business consulting. Our bottom line is to make money but we have greater dreams. We want to build an enduring company that will add something to this world. We will strive to do quality work while building up our employees and contributing to the local community and the nation of India. We recognize that this is not accomplished separate from our service to our customers. Our dreams and values will be reflected in our attitude and service to our customers.

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7. How do I pay?
With new customers we normally expect 30% payment upfront and the remainder upon completion. All payments by check.

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8. I'm interested. What steps can I take?
1. E-mail us with a description of your work and we will respond with a quick initial quote and a form with instructions.

2. Complete the form. We will then submit a final quote.

3. Send the work to us here in India.

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9. We're an Indian Company. Can we get outsource work from you?
Outsourcing to India has now picked up pace, with almost all software and many online players looking at India as a low cost and viable option. We see our role as working with both clients who are exploring the possibility of outsourcing for the first time, and clients who have outsourced before and are looking at other options. Outsource2India is more than just a neutral e-business marketplace, we work closely with our Clients and Vendors to ensure that the work gets done as per Client specifications. This may be in the form of information, screening vendors, short listing and selecting and even follow-up (on request).

In most cases, we work on a commission basis of 15% of the order value. This payment will be due us from you when the deal has been closed in your favor. In turn we take off some of the load of having qualify the enquiries. Our first screening will ensure that only enquiries that fit within your requirements will be forwarded to you. Additionally, since we will be working with a number of Vendors, we will encourage a sharing of knowledge and best practices so as to improve the overall capabilities .

However, for us to evaluate your profile we would like some more information on your area of business and terms. I would appreciate if you could send me your profile, with respect to:

In what format you would like the work to be given to you.

Details of the stage by stage process you follow for your work.

Your measurement criteria of performance, quality and accuracy.

The capacity of your organization.

Any certifications from prominent Bodies (e.g.. ISO9000, SEI CMM etc)

The format in which the delivery will take place

Your rate for different types of jobs.

Please include any advantages that you offer to clients, as well as any minimum requirements that you may have about the enquiries you would like to receive. Since most of our clients will be based outside India, clear, detailed information and transparency in our dealings will be crucial factors in getting the job.

I am excited about the possibilities of our partnership and look forward to hearing from you on this.

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10. Are you interested in partnering with other Indian Companies?
We are interested in tying up with partners in the data conversion / data entry area. Currently we have only been working with partners in Bangalore, since we can personally keep track of how the work is done. Since you are located quite a distance away, naturally we will not be able to monitor your work by our physical presence. Hence we will need to work out some way by which we can keep a check from Bangalore.

I would like to start by getting a few clarifications:

What is your testing methodology to ensure that you get the accuracy you commit?

How do you measure speed? What is the standard speed of your operators?

Do you charge per A4 page, per MB or per hour? If so what are the standard rates you charge? Are these rates negotiable?

Please describe step by step how you went about your last project. You may conceal the client name if you wish, but the type of work and the quantity of data must be clear. Also specify all steps including the frequency of communication with clients, and mode of communication. It would be good if you can attach a few of the mails you had sent while the project was being executed.

Are there any special advantages that you offer? if so please explain what they are, how they benefit the customer and how do you ensure that these advantage is provided.

I think that this will give us a fair idea of your work and your quality assurance and other skills. I hope that we will work out a way to have a fruitful business relationship.

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11. What are your areas of expertise in outsourcing?
For all our internal and client data entry work, we manage a network of companies that specialize in data entry, conversion and database population services. Typically, we discuss the project with them and have a sample work done so that they have a clear estimate based on the type of work. Once the terms are acceptable to you, we will follow up to ensure that the work is done as per your specifications - in effect acting as your man in India. Our rates will include our commission, so there's no additional charge to you.

Areas of Expertise:
Converting documents to structured formats like XML, SGML, and HTML. DCL.

Data Entry into Packages such as MS Word, Excel and Access.

Large-scale data capture, data conversion and database maintenance services.

Convert hard copy books into electronic media.

Convert mass of information currently stored in any form into usable, efficient data on CD or database or digitized form, including symposium proceedings, dissertations etc.

Data conversion of: text/graphics, books, magazines, financial, legal matters etc. into digitized form.

Standard Work Process
We start by dividing the whole job among the number of operators. Each operator gets a certain percentage of the job. Once the basic entry is done, the job given to each operator is then redistributed for double entry. Each time, after the entry is completed, the data is run through a spell check for spelling errors. On completion of the double entry the two documents are compared to detect and correct discrepancies. The completed data is then proof read by a supervisor. This is a 100% proof reading. Finally, we do a random checking of the proof read data by a second supervisor. This ensures a minimum accuracy level of 99.995% on all our work.

Our speed of data entry is on an average 60-70 words per minute per person.

We maintain backups of all data during the conversion / entry process. We will delete all backups on completion and final acceptance of the work by the client.

Data Transfer
While we are comfortable with either hard or scanned copy of raw data, we prefer that the data is scanned and sent in BMP, TIF, GIF or JPEG format. This ensures that the documents remain in your safe custody at all times.
Once the data has been entered / converted, we would normally FTP the information to our server or to a server that you specify. If however, you wish to receive the information in a CD or floppy, we can arrange to have it couriered to your address.

Rates
Our rates vary based on the type of work involved. Typically, once we do the sample job, we get an idea of the type of work involved and our quotes will be based on this estimate. Our quotes would be in UK Pounds Sterling per 1000 Keystrokes (Characters). If we know the exact quantity of work involved, we would also give you an estimate of the total cost to you.

I hope that this would give you an idea of our capabilities. All our partners follow the processes I have specified above. As we keep improving our processes, we would implement them across the network, so that our service delivery levels to you are consistent, irrespective of who we work with.

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