The short answer is yes: private investigators can benefit from outsourcing transcription in several different ways:
- Generates useable text files from audio and video sources
- Provides fast turnaround for better client service
- Saves time from transcribing in-house
- Helps better organize notes
- Saves time with your own note-taking
In fact, for most private investigators, outsourcing transcription is one of those “life hacks” that can decrease stress, improve the services you provide your clients, and overall make your job more enjoyable.
How Private Investigators Benefit from Outsourcing Transcription
You didn’t get into this business to take notes! But documenting your observations and findings in a clean and organized way for your clients is just as important as the investigation itself. That’s why for private investigators, outsourcing transcription gives you the best of both worlds: complete, accurate documentation services while you do what you do best.
Generates useable text files from audio and video sources
It’s common for private investigators to record audio and video during surveillance, not to mention recorded interviews and meetings, and other similar recordings. This is extremely useful as source material, but if the case ever goes to court, mediation, or other legal proceedings, written transcripts of those sources are even more helpful. Outsourcing transcription will provide accurate, professional transcripts suitable for court and all other legal proceedings. It makes you look more professional and gives added value to your clients.
Provides fast turnaround for better client service
Time is often of the essence. Your client may want to start legal proceedings at a moment’s notice. Outsourcing transcription to iMedat means you’ll get your transcripts back fast – usually within 24 hours.
Pro tip: rather than save all your audio and video files until the end of your investigation, submit them as you generate source material. For one thing, this will help you stay organized as you go. But there is another huge benefit: you can use the transcripts yourself during your investigations. Can’t remember what so-and-so said on October 23rd? Search the keywords you remember to jump to that spot in the transcript instantly. Much easier than scanning your notes or looping through audio files!
Saves time from transcribing in-house
Many private investigators believe they’ll be ahead of the game by transcribing audio themselves. However, unless you’re trained in transcription, you’ll likely be much slower than a professional transcriptionist. And, unless you have impeccable spelling and grammar, you may be prone to errors in the transcripts, too.
Besides, did you really get into this profession to type notes? For most private investigators, outsourcing transcription is a huge help, getting much of the clerical work off their plates so that they can focus on the specialized tasks they’re good at rather than the office tasks they’re not.
Helps better organize notes
As mentioned above, presenting your findings in an organized and cohesive way is just as important as digging up the information in the first place. Emailing a bunch of audio files or video surveillance recordings will not be very useful for your clients – at least not by themselves!
Presenting your clients with written documentation, including audio and video transcription, will help you better organize the information. And that means better-organized case files for your clients, improving their chances for a successful outcome. Outsourcing transcription provides private investigators with a better way to organize case files.
Saves time with your own note-taking
Don’t forget your own notes! Writing down your observations and findings is also essential for your clients as a summary or a description of what happened if video or audio is unavailable. But “writing” notes isn’t always possible. Some private investigators report that taking notes during surveillance is difficult or even impossible since you can lose sight of the target too easily. Besides, most people speak much faster than they write.
Recording your notes rather than writing them down solves these problems and can save you time, too. Simply dictate your notes, upload your audio files, and download completed transcripts that you can cut and paste into your reports later. It’s fast and easy to generate notes this way and quick and easy to use in your reports later. You save time at both ends!
Plus, as mentioned above, if you are not 100% confident in your spelling, a professional transcriptionist will help you improve your grammar with highly accurate – and accurately spelled – notes for your reports.
Private Investigators Outsourcing Transcription: Some Final Observations
Private investigators outsourcing transcription streamlines your services – and your day – in many ways:
- Less time spent transcribing audio and video files into useable text
- Less time spent organizing notes
- Less time taking notes when using a recording device for note taking
- More time concentrating on what you do best
- Better-organized documentation and case files to hand over to your clients
- Better work/life balance
- Ultimately a more enjoyable experience with less stress and clerical work on your end
Of course, finding the right transcription outsourcing partner is an important step for private investigators – and not all transcription companies adhere to the same level of quality, accuracy, and professionalism.
That’s why you should trust iMedat with your audio transcription. With decades in the transcription business and transcriptionists specializing in related fields such as legal, law enforcement, and medical transcription, you are guaranteed professional results every time.
Contact iMedat – Transcription Services for Private Investigators
For private investigators, outsourcing transcription is the easy way to improve efficiencies. iMedat makes it even easier. Contact iMedat or call us directly right now at 888-779-5888 to find out how we can help make your life easier – and your case files better.