Speech Blog

How Speech Processing Efficiencies Deliver Powerful Competitive Advantages

Most companies understand the benefits of the “virtual office,” where business gets done far beyond the confines of brick-and-mortar buildings. But even with this understanding, most still remain attached to the keyboard. For too long, the computer keyboard has been the primary means for turning ideas into workflow. The missing ingredient is voice technology; when you add speech processing to the mix, the virtual office finally reaches its full potential.

Businesses around the globe are discovering that voice technology dramatically boosts efficiency and productivity in ways that text-heavy solutions cannot. By greatly improving response time and workflow, speech processing has become a significant competitive advantage—and that “speaks” volumes to corporate leaders worldwide.

 

Consider some of the unique advantages of voice technology:

 

 

Spatial freedom – Voice technology precludes the need for a desk or a keyboard. Using a smartphone equipped with a recorder app, you don’t even need a chair. Let’s say you’ve just concluded a business dinner at 9 p.m. Which is more efficient and productive? 1) waiting to get into the office the next morning to type follow-up notes, or 2) dictating a few words while leaving the restaurant that can be instantly transcribed into text? 

 

 

 

Greater productivity – Studies show that people speak seven times faster than they type—including those who type proficiently. When professionals get into the swing of using speech processing, their productivity soars.

 

 

 

 

 

Faster response time, greater accuracy – When sales reps record notes after each customer visit, they can quickly enlist back-office assistance so that clients receive follow-up emails in minutes. And by dictating immediately after the visit, the rep’s notes are fresh and accurate. They are far more reliable than notes typed at the end of a long day filled with multiple client meetings.

 

 

 

 

 

Improved workflow – Imagine an American attorney pursuing a deal in Amsterdam, with office support back in Boston. When the attorney wraps up her meeting at 5 p.m., she can dictate instructions for her support staff to send examples of similar deals to her Dutch hosts. Because it’s 11 a.m. in Boston—and because this attorney didn’t waste time trying to peck out an email—the prospects in Amsterdam get the follow-up file within minutes…and are duly impressed.

 

 

 

 

Building relationships, fostering teamwork

In addition to boosting productivity, voice technology is also a natural for building business relationships. In fact, speech processing nurtures relationships far better than typing ever will. Suppose you were to visit a client and discover that his son is graduating from Yale in six weeks. You could capture that information by quickly sending a voice file to your support staff. Long after the face-to-face meeting, the client is pleasantly surprised to get your graduation card. It is an efficient way to build strong business connections.

By adding voice technology capabilities, the virtual office has finally come of age. It frees companies from computers and keyboards, allowing work to be done anywhere, at any time. Both the business person and the support team are seamlessly united to achieve remarkable efficiencies.

 

Have questions about how voice technology can help you to complete your virtual office?  Let us know in the comments!