Mashed Articles

Is Data Entry overrated?
Author: Sambodhi

Do we even bother to ask this question? This industry has grown manifold globally in the past six years. Number of players in the market has increased by leaps and bounds. Data Entry Services have evolved to great extent with companies even specialising in each of them. Why has all this happened? Is the business really worth the demand or is it just an inflated balloon that will eventually burst?

There used to be a time when data entry in many large organisations was considered to be menial labour that requires little IQ. Regarded as a not-so-important job that can be done by any Tom, Dick or Harry, data entry was given less attention when it came to the execution of the task. Results – errors in data, important details overlooked, critical information lost or distorted, data security breached, customer dissatisfaction, loss of business – it just gets more serious. Data discrepancies can be a bottleneck and stall operations for an amount of time substantial enough to cause monetary and other losses.

A robust data entry process is required to ensure smooth and effective operation of the business. An error free database lays a strong foundation for successive operational processes. Efficient data organisation can help in data mining and report generation to give insights about target segment, sales and various other aspects of the business. Timely data maintenance is the key to serve customers better and keep up to date with the competition and gain first mover advantage. Comprehensive data entry and data management ensures smooth operations without losing out on stoppage time.

With increasingly more companies opting for digitisation of documents and other informational resources, demand for data entry processes has gone up in the past few years. Organisations have begun to realise the importance of accurate and timely data entry and maintenance. Various models are being followed in the industry for these tasks. Some organisations opt for outsourcing while some prefer to do the tasks in house. With the evolution of technology, the scope of data entry is not restricted to keying of data. Several processes like scanning, indexing, data processing, XML / HTML conversion, book creation, online research and many more are in use.

Data entry is no more considered a task of the lower class. This industry is the backbone of many more organisations. Innovations in data entry and data processing are continuous. The applications of this industry are enormous in number. With technological advancements on the move, data entry has immense potential to increase the efficiency of organisational processes and improve productivity as a whole.

Sambodhi

Entrepreneur

www.acmedata-india.com

About the Author:

Sambodhi

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Is Data Entry overrated?

Thousands of Non Government Organisations (NGOs) across Africa can now benefit from the expansion of the NGOConnect Africa website and platform. The enhanced site features a new social networking tool that will help all users access technology more efficiently, ultimately allowing them to collaborate and find better solutions to common challenges.

In a press release, NGO Connect Africa, a registered Section 21 non-profit organisation, has kicked off the updated version of its dynamic website and platform. Besides the social networking interface there are many new features designed to increase the knowledge, reach, and impact of non-profit organisations in Africa. The site is a social workspace that brings together technology resources, knowledge-sharing and community-building for non-profit entities and the businesses and organisations that support them.

Incorporating feedback on the first release, this update to the NGOConnect Africa platform makes it easier to access resources and to collaborate. NGOs will be able to create personal and organisational profiles. A new microsite functionality allows for free mini websites for those who don’t have them, and increased visibility and marketing opportunities for those that do. Additionally, members can blog, make friends, share information and attract fresh resources to their projects. They will also be able to get access to technology resources and find networking opportunities with other organisations working on similar projects.

“The challenges facing Africa are complex. NGOs engage on a daily basis to address these challenges, but they typically lack the resources and knowledge to access the technologies that can make them more effective, efficient and sustainable in serving those at the margins of modern life,” said Ntutule Tshenye, the citizenship lead at Microsoft West East and Central Africa, founding sponsors of the project.

“Just as technology has improved efficiency and quality in the business world, NGOs can now experience these same benefits, allowing them to use their limited resources for higher value-add activities in achieving their goals,” continued Tshenye.

Kimber Dodge, the Executive Director of NGOConnect Africa, believes that society has the responsibility to utilize technology to bring necessary resources together and remove barriers. “Sustainable solutions can occur only when all the sectors of society are involved and working together. Technology and NGOConnect Africa’s platform and programmes can facilitate that. And, because of its focus on bi-directional communication and input, it also encourages and enables Africans to share and develop African solutions.”

NGOConnect Africa is also working with the private and public sectors to help them engage more effectively with non-profit organisations. “We are delivering resources and training to technology companies, government, and academia to help them engage more sustainably and effectively with civil society. They are all part of the NGOConnect Africa community,” said Dodge. “Many partners wish to engage with NGOs, but don’t know how. The NGOConnect Africa team is here to help them learn and be successful,” she added.

As an example, NGO’s across South Africa will be introduced to NGOConnect Africa through a collaboration between NGOConnect Africa and Microsoft training provider, CTU Training. Together NGOConnect Africa, CTU will be conducting a series of workshops at various CTU campuses in South Africa. The workshops will be piloted at CTU’s Stellenbosch Campus in October 2009, and then delivered at other branches of the institute across the country.

The new site already has the support of Microsoft’s Chairman of Africa, Dr. Cheick Diarra; South Africa’s Department of Social Development; computer manufacturer Mustek; and several Technology Service Providers including CTU Training, one of South Africa’s largest training organisations.

“NGOConnect Africa offers a vibrant and easy-to-use space for NGO’s to communicate with one another and the world at large. Driven by a highly passionate and committed team of experts, NGOConnect Africa offers highly sought-after and practical tools to our sector,” said Friederike Bubenzer, Project Leader, from the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation.

Interested parties can visit www.NGOConnectAfrica.org to get more information and register.

The Handheld Learning Conference claims to be the world’s leading event about learning using mobile and inexpensive access technologies. Over 1,500 international delegates got together last year.

This year’s conference is themed around “Creativity, Innovation, Inclusion & Transformation” in part because 2009 is the European year of creativity and innovation (which was news to me). It runs from Monday 5th to Wednesday 7th October 2009.

Lead speakers include:

* Malcolm McLaren, Agent provocateur and artist
* James Paul Gee, Presidential Professor of Literacy Studies at Arizona State University
* Professor Elizabeth Hayes, Arizona State University
* Gordon Shukwit, Director of IT and Learning Technologies, Apple Inc
* John Davitt, International Learning Advocate, NewTools.org
* Tim Brighouse, Former Commissioner for London Schools
* Donald Clark, e-Learning Expert
* David Cavallo, Chief Learning Architect, MIT OLPC
* Tim Rylands, Teacher & Innovator

HHL promises to bring together experts from the education, technology and entertainment sectors.

Education, technology and entertainment? Hurray! This sounds like a magic mix. Kind of like a geek cocktail for me!

The conference is spread over three days, to demonstrate, debate and explore how mobile technologies such as phones, entertainment devices, GPS locators, and netbooks can enable “transformational improvements” in learning across schools, home, further education, training and business.

I’m not sure what ‘transformational improvements’ are – hope there’s not too much of this type of marketese at the actual conference – but I am interested in seeing how mobile technologies can help us all do things better.

Here in Northern Ireland we’re hoping to get as many companies and organisations as possible together to organise a subsidised Trade Mission to the conference – lots of folk are already signed up. So if you’re a ROI or NI learning company and you’re interested in attending the conference, let me know ASAP.

And if you fancy easing yourself into handheld learning with a sleek Apple device, get yourself signed up for the conference before July 31 – you’ll get a free iPod touch when you arrive at the conference. Nice.