Checked out A5's "Naturally Speaking" email offer

[Bill]

I have several people using my app but they get orders from different sources, in different formats, and via different vehicles [faxes, PDFs, emails, voice messages] that require them to transcribe that info into their app. Since I can't figure out a way for them to easily pull that data into their app, I thought this might help them stay on track with data entry.

So far, very disappointing and slower than a one-fingered typist with a torn off fingernail.

Could be the field rules, lookups, etc. but my guess is it could also be the type of data; different/unique names and addresses for every record, formatting rules with DOBs, SSNs, and phone numbers.

I can't really see this as an efficient way to get around the drudgery of data entry. Anybody else try it and have a different opinion?

Thanks

[brett s]

Re: Checked out A5's "Naturally Speaking" email offer

Bill, I presume when you refer to your app and their app you are talking about the same app, and that maybe it's even A5. But this is not the salient point.

The question you appear to be asking is how to get information into an app without the manual data entry step, which clearly takes time and effort. And when the volume is large enough so that there are obvious efficiencies to be gained by automating the data entry process, big gains can be made both in terms of time and cost. So now the data entry staff can process more orders , so they can work faster and harder for the same money. :) Sadly this is not an issue currently faced by my business.

Without knowing the details of your situation its hard to be more precise. Other than to say there are people who specialise in this, that is to say business process re-engineering. The goal for you, as I understand it, would likely be to address the issue of how to capture the information needed for "their app" electronically so it doesn't have to be re-entered manually.

The answer depends on how the customers interface to the business and how the ordering process can be automated in such a way that both the customer and the business benefit. For you there may be a simple answer but of course every situation is different.

[brett s]

Re: Checked out A5's "Naturally Speaking" email offer

(Part 2, continued from part 1). The staring point for me here would be to collect data over a month or more so that I have factual information available about the number, value and sources of orders placed. With this information I can then categorise my customers' orders and decide where I should best concentrate my initial efforts in terms of solving the original problem. For example, a lot of faxes, PDFs and emails indicates to me that many of your customers are already preparing their orders on computers anyway and if so it may well be easier for them to send the information to your business electronically in a standard format that can be imported directly into "their app". This is easily achieved via a web site with a form the customer can fill in and send directly to your business or perhaps just use an email form they can fill in and email to you. It's easy to write an A5 script to process this information and import it directly into your (their?) A5 application. There you are, problem solved.

[Bill]

Re: Checked out A5's "Naturally Speaking" email offer

Brett, New Zealand???? (my dream vacation destination)
Please tell me you're an avid fly fisherman:D

The problem is my app users receive these orders from companies they work for (as subcontractors) who use different programs to generate those orders, as reports.
Another problem is I'm a novice A5er, so I can't even figure out how to extract and send them the data they need from a record created in a similar A5 app, let alone extract it from the aforementioned reports.

They sometimes get inundated with these various orders so I thought it would be easier and faster to use a voice recognition program to put those orders into their databases.

Thanks

[brett s]

Re: Checked out A5's "Naturally Speaking" email offer

Bill, sorry no, I'm not a fly fisherman. But I know many who are. And there are plenty of pristine fishing spots to choose from here. So when will I see you? :D

Personally I have never been a big fan of voice recognition for this type of application. I don't believe it will solve your basic problem, that is the time it takes to process orders. You will still have too much human involvement in the process, and that is what you should be striving to reduce as much as possible or eliminate entirely.

[Marcel Kollenaar]

Re: Checked out A5's "Naturally Speaking" email offer

They sometimes get inundated with these various orders so I thought it would be easier and faster to use a voice recognition program to put those orders into their databases.

Bill,

I support two users in the company where I work with Dragon Naturally Speaking (DNS). They have RSI. They use it for dictation of their text in Word and Outlook. One person stopped using it because it is a tedious job to give the program commands. Dictation OK but nothing more. The other person has serious RSI injury and have no other choice than using DNS.

I don't see any "normal" advantage using this program in a environment as Alpha Five in the context you want. When a person is handicapped and only can speak DNS this a very good solution.