WinScribe provide dictation system for Worcestershire County Council with efficiency and cost saving benefits

Worcestershire County Council is a modern local authority, formed in 1997 after the separation of the previous Hereford & Worcester County Council.  Approximately 16,500 employees provide around 550,000 local residents with services ranging from social care and schools through to highways and libraries.  As a Centre of Procurement Excellence, the Council prides itself on achieving value for money from its investments.

Within the Legal & Democratic division there has always been a requirement for dictation products and associated software.  Worcestershire County Council has been using WinScribe’s digital dictation software for more than five years.

“The software was installed easily, with minimal disruption and the system has been gradually rolled out to a wider network of users with the expansion continuing.” said Jan Bayford, Administration Manager, Worcestershire County Council.

The Council currently has eleven transcribers, which serve approximately sixty authors.  These authors need a system that allows them to work efficiently thus providing more time to focus on their professional duties and use their specific skills.

“We have found that WinScribe’s dictation software has improved efficiency.  This can be largely attributed to the typists being able to view their work from the job queue, allowing them to see urgent work as well as the job type (letter, report etc.) ” explained Jan Bayford.

She went on to say, “The system also increases the manageability of the overall workflow.  Work can be monitored to recognise potential bottlenecks and the time of individual jobs can be measured so that ‘targets’ can be set.  This helps to clarify the expectations of authors and provides valuable performance data.”

An added benefit of the WinScribe software for any organisation with a dictation requirement is the increased staff motivation.  Typists have greater control over their duties and as a result, are able to manage their tasks more effectively.

Significant changes to the organisational structure of Worcestershire County Council are expected over the next few years.  This development will open up new opportunities to expand the use of WinScribe. 

“Officers are confident that the system can offer further benefits to even more users throughout the authority and we’ll be looking to extend ‘roll-out’ when practicable.” Jan continued to say, “Ultimately, the Council’s purpose is to provide the best possible service to its residents.  WinScribe has helped officers to do this, and for this reason, it has proven to be a benefit to the authority.”

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