Global ICT Services : Bulk Data Entry

Some companies which deal with the public receive tens of thousands of completed data collection forms every day. For example a large insurance company could receive fifty thousand applications to start new insurance policies on a typical day. The information written on these applications must be entered into a computerised database so that it can be processed and stored.

The information that must be entered is usually handwritten. It could be inputted automatically using OCR software but this is not very accurate. Therefore workers are employed to read the information on the forms and type it into a computer. These workers are known as data entry clerks.

If there is a lot of information to be entered many data entry clerks must be employed. This can be very expensive for a company, as employees in the UK expect to receive a relatively high rate of pay. However in some other countries people are prepared to work for much lower wages. Therefore a company could save a lot of money if the data could be entered abroad. By making use of the Internet this can be achieved. The process works like this :

• The data collection forms are scanned automatically using a scanner and pictures of the pages are stored electronically in the UK.
• The pictures of the pages are sent by email to workers abroad.
• The foreign workers read the information from the pages and type it into a database.
• The information added to the database is sent back to the UK by email.

Because all of the information is transferred electronically the data entry process is not slowed down significantly. The work can be completed at a much lower cost because the workers are prepared to accept lower wages.

GCSE ICT Companion 04 - (C) P Meakin 2004