Looking back and moving forward

Times like these are full of uncertainty. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live, including the way we conduct business. Companies need to prepare as best as possible for what’s to come – and looking back on the previous months is a great way to learn and prepare for the future.

Looking back and moving forward
Looking back and moving forward

Looking back on our experiences

Speech Processing Solutions has over 4 million customers worldwide, including numerous hospitals, government and judicial institutions, medical offices, law firms, engineering firms, insurance companies, etc. Over the past few months, we have noticed that some challenges spanned all industries across the globe.

The biggest challenge for many organizations was figuring out how the work processes implemented in the office can be quickly replicated at home. In our experience, customers with an outdated IT setup required an enormous amount of effort to establish operation in their home office. Many quickly resorted to impractical workarounds that were not suitable for long-term success.

Another challenge for many customers was finding out how to access their resources externally. There were some problems with compatibility. For example, the speech-to-text software installed in the office is suitable for Windows, but not at home with a Mac.

The result: downtimes, frustrated employees and customers, and unexpected costs incurred because the work could not be done.

Moving forward

By reflecting on these experiences, we have derived 5 insights that can help companies move forward in these unfamiliar and uncertain times:

1. Cloud prevails

Traditional, locally installed solutions without the possibility of updates or flexible user licensing are often obsolete in times like these. Cloud technology offers an advantage. It is available anytime, anywhere, regardless of the end device and IT setup. Professional cloud solutions, such as Philips SpeechLive, are safe, GDPR-compliant and reliable.

2. Working with Smartphones is on the rise

Whether in the office or at home, mobility is an advantage for employees. If you integrate your smartphone into the work processes, in addition to a dictation device, you are really equipped for all scenarios. All Philips dictation solutions offer a convenient and reliable connection to a smartphone.

3. Remote workplaces remain

In a survey conducted by Speech Processing Solutions, three quarters of customers who responded stated that home offices will prevail in the future. Therefore, do not postpone necessary changes. These new forms of working will remain – even after the pandemic has subsided.

4. Importance of security measures increases

Cyber criminals take advantage of uncertain times to gain access to sensitive customer data. In many cases, the employees themselves or outdated software are gateways for cyberattacks. Performing a security check on your documentation workflow along with training and creating awareness among employees is of utmost importance.

5. Reviewing operating costs is crucial

During uncertain times, companies take a closer look at costs. How much office space will we need in the future? Is our locally installed software still up to date? Do we need to pay for important updates? These are the questions many companies are currently asking themselves. The goal will be to do more with less. Intelligent speech-to-text solutions can help do just that – reducing administrative work and increasing productivity.

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