Why is this so? Because many businesses, unheard of the next door, spring up out of nowhere, promising high sounding “data entry jobs”. Doing these jobs, their ads scream, you can earn anywhere between Rs. 500 and Rs. 5000 a day! Isn’t that tempting? For working in the comfort of your homes, on your own computer, and most importantly, without having a boss breathing down your neck, if you can earn this much, why should anyone study medicine or seek a job in the UN?

To borrow the now clichéd, but still famous Bill Clinton phrase, it’s the economy, stupid. Whose economy? These fly-by-night companies’, of course! If anyone who promises so much delivers as much, India would not be the economy it is. Doing freelance data entry jobs is a kind of tricky ball game. If you worked for a company and did all the work they asked you to, there is a chance you will never get paid. This is not because the company may disappear overnight, but because they have ways by which they can find the flimsiest excuse to withhold your payment.

So, is doing freelance date entry jobs worth the sweat? This is the big question that troubles millions of people across this country. Yes, there are genuine companies that pay you for the work they have taken out of you. But these are few and far between. If you have the time, patience and resources, doing freelance data entry jobs is meaningful. The whole process of finding one such company works on a trial-and-error basis. Till you find such a company, doing freelance data entry jobs is risky. Prepared for this? Then, go ahead with your plan of doing freelance data entry jobs, for this will be the ‘big’ break you were looking for!

But there is a slight problem with having to deal with these data. This is because, important as these data are; they are difficult to maintain and run on a day to day basis. Being huge; they need lots of effort and resources to keep a tab on. While this is an indispensable part of the business, these data in themselves yield no fruit for the business, but are needed nevertheless, since they are very critical. The problem is that when the business invests a good part of its resources on maintenance work, the business suffers.

So, it makes sense to have someone else, or another business, to do all this maintenance work, which itself could be its core business. This is the easiest approach to understanding what data entry outsourcing is. What is data entry outsourcing is a question that is best answered by understanding that when businesses hand over parts of their business that take up their time and energy, they are able to do better by concentrating on their main areas that earn them revenues.

There are various issues and concerns that one needs to take into consideration while trying to understand the question: “what is data entry outsourcing”? Issues like privacy and security are the chief concerns. However, there are ways to deal with these issues. Obviously, if the pros did not outweigh the cons, there is not much meaning in the question we started with, namely “what is data entry outsourcing?”

Now, if you were to open shop as a data entry outsourcing company and want to stay in the business and make money out of it, what does it take? Starting a data entry outsourcing company is one thing; surviving as a data entry outsourcing company is quite another. What are the qualities and requirements for surviving as a data entry outsourcing company? Let us examine some of them.

It is now passé that India is the leading global player in the outsourcing industry, especially of software and allied services such as data entry. When we are looking at something like $175 billion (the figure for 2007, according to Gartner Inc, an international consulting firm) in annual outsourcing revenues from the developed countries, it is fair enough to estimate that a good share of it will flow and has flown to India. With India being a prime player, one can expect that inflows will add up to make huge money. When this is the scope of the market, it is natural to expect several Indian companies to try to have a piece of the pie.

Narrowing our focus to just data entry, is there anything that is specifically needed for surviving as a data entry outsourcing company? The fundamental point to be taken into consideration for surviving as a data entry outsourcing company is that unlike product-driven companies or businesses, data entry outsourcing is done purely to specifications. It is a business that is customized according to the principal’s needs.

Firstly, surviving as a data entry outsourcing company needs the ability to get business. As we have seen, data entry outsourcing is carried out to set requirements. So, for surviving as a data entry outsourcing company, businesses need to look for more contacts, as it is not possible to expect returns with just one or two contacts or projects.

For surviving as a data entry outsourcing company, one also needs financial resources. Most projects are paid for after completion, big or small. So, one needs enough buffer to keep the business running till the money starts coming in.

Most data entry work is handed out to freelancers. This is highly advantageous, as it means nil expenditure on office infrastructure. This scenario, however, also carries a major problem –that of lack of commitment from the freelancers. Since they are under no pressure to deliver; freelancers have a tendency for being careless. To take care of this, companies have to make sure they have enough backup resources. Another aspect is that of paying well, and on time. This goes a long way in retaining freelancers’ loyalty and dedication.

It is thus easy to talk of starting a data entry outsourcing business. But surviving as a data entry outsourcing company takes some qualities. Only when one is confident of meeting these requirements, just some of which are listed here, is it advisable to jump the bandwagon.

To do this, one needs only some programs, along with the will to save documents for posterity. This is a process that is widely called document digitization. The uses of document digitization are many, especially for those who want to keep a record of their activities for all time to come.

Document digitization is the technique, in simple terms, of converting paper or offline documents into digital form, in which it can be preserved better than a paper document. Suppose you want your grandfather’s wedding card, which was printed six decades ago, to be preserved for future generations to see, this is one of the uses of document digitization. Imagine if you were left with one copy of this family silver that successive generations have taken the greatest care to preserve. For how much more time is it going to survive? With digitization, it is possible to keep it till as long as the family wants it kept.

Another of the uses of document digitization is that it helps preserve public documents. Suppose a rare letter written to George Washington is available in its original version. The best efforts to preserve a rare document like this may not succeed beyond a point. This is just another example of the immense uses of document digitization. In fact, many public libraries across the world have realized the uses of document digitization, and are in the process of digitizing documents.

The uses of document digitization are also felt deeply by publication houses. A newspaper that is decades old may have a few remaining copies of some select and cherished editions. Let us say a newspaper owned by a family has stacked up editions in its archives. Just one accidental fire can destroy whatever was assiduously preserved for decades. Preventing such a thing from happening is one of the uses of document digitization.

Let us get a simpler understanding of this concept. Why is data conversion needed? What is its role? The answer to understanding data conversion lies in getting a basic grasp of how a computer database works.

When any data is entered by the user; it is first sent to a centralized database, from where it has to be converted into a format that the database understands it in. Let us say you filled up your admission application to that Canadian university online, on the university’s website, from Bangalore. This is usually coded in certain set formats, such as doc files or txt files. This type of format, however, is not comprehended by the database.

The database has to be presented these data in a way and language it understands for processing. The database is programmed to receive and understand data for interpreting it, in only some formats, such as XML and db to name a couple. If this is not done, the raw data in itself is useless. Making the doc or txt files readable to the database is the essence of data conversion.

Data conversion, in simple words, is the conversion of data from one kind of format to another, so that the database understands and processes it. Although called by different words such as data migration; transition; extraction and by several other nomenclatures; the concept of data conversion is rooted in the same principle.

In a nutshell, data conversion is the next step of data entry. Once data is entered, data conversion makes it possible for the database to take it up for further work. Several companies have data conversion as their specialized, core business.

Listed below are a few simple steps to help you in getting a data entry job.

1. Identify your area of interest: Since data entry jobs are so varied it is best to first identify the area that you are interested in. For example, if you have a typing speed of 75 plus words a minute, keying in data into a database would be the best suited job for you. Likewise, appropriate language skills can get you a writing or editing job and adequate knowledge of online research can help you get the job of updating databases.

2. Prepare a data entry resume: Prepare a simple resume / CV stating your area of interest, your qualifications, you data entry experience and contact details. If possible, prepare an online showcase in the form of a website or a blog containing examples of your work and promote your online presence by including the link in all your e-mails that you send to potential employers.

3. Keep searching for your dream job: Make it a point to visit genuine job websites every day since such sites are updated on a daily basis. Also post bids on freelance job sites and reply to all the job postings that you are interested in.

4. Check if the job is genuine: Don’t hesitate to double check the company offering you a data entry job. Send a test e-mail and verify whether the company is genuine or not. Also, find out from other data entry professionals about the authenticity of a company that is offering you a data entry job.

5. Respond quickly: Never procrastinate when you find a suitable data entry job. Reply to all e-mails and bids as quickly as you can. Also make sure that you are logged in all the time to catch up on the latest updates from companies with regards to data entry jobs.

Finding a data entry job becomes easier if you have a thorough knowledge of the data management domain, which includes services such as data entry and data processing. Know more about data processing services.

Large scale outsourcing has allowed Indian cities like Chennai and Mumbai to emerge as prominent Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) destinations. Places like Chennai and Mumbai have good infrastructure and have thus attracted much BPO businesses from various other locations of the world. Besides, the quality of the workforce available in these cities is superb.

Who Can Do Data Entry Typing Jobs?

Data entry typing is a rather simple job. It involves typing in data which may be present in a hard copy, manuscript or a scanned copy, into a predetermined software or format. Anyone with a reasonable educational level and good command over English can do a data entry job.

Many people who take up data entry typing also do it from home. They usually own a computer and have a broadband connection; most of them also have good computer typing speed.

People taking up data entry typing jobs include students, retired persons, women and others who would like to supplement their family income. Many people do the data entry jobs on a part time bases. Since the timings are flexible and data entry typing work done from home, most people set their own work related targets and plan their income accordingly.

With hundreds of companies springing up in Chennai and Mumbai, a data entry typing job is pretty easy to get and pays lucratively too. If you are one of those planning to find a data entry typing job either in Chennai or Mumbai, please ensure that you know the company first, before taking up the job. This may include meeting up with the authorized people in the company, understanding the kind of typing job you will be assigned, the required turnaround time, the remuneration, etc. You might also want to sign a written contract so that you have a basic level of work security.

Know more about data entry services.

India has established itself as a major BPO destination and one of the tasks being outsourced to the country in a big way is data entry. A rather simple task, data entry involves typing in data from manuscripts, forms and scanned copies into a predetermined format or software.

These work-from-home typing jobs or part time typing jobs have become especially attractive to students, housewives and retired persons as it offers flexible timings, ability to work from the comfort of home, provides a part time occupation and also supplements one’s family income.

There are hundreds of BPO companies spread over large and small cities of India that provide data entry jobs. The work of typing out thousands of pages is delegated to trustable people who work responsibly from home.

Looking For Typing Jobs From Home?

Should you be looking for a typing job or part time typing jobs that yo can do from home, it is important to put in place certain aspects before you begin working for a company.

• First, verify that the company is an honest one; you can do this by surfing the net and reading about the company, or talking to other people working for the company.

• Visit the company and meet the manager there, get a clear understanding of the typing job, the minimum quantum of work that needs to be delivered and the turnaround time.

• Also, get the company to clearly specify your remuneration.

• It is best to have a written letter which appoints you as a part or full time typist or a work-from-home typist.

Ensure that you select a genuine work-from-home typing job.

There are many companies that are fraudulent in nature and offer scams in the form of data entry jobs. However, do sufficient research before choosing to do a data entry job. Below is a list of genuine data entry jobs that you can do.

Genuine Data Entry Jobs

• Data entry from paper or books
• Data entry from image files in any format
• Business transaction data entry like sales, purchase, payroll forms
• Data entry of E-Books
• Data entry from yellow pages
• Data entry and compilation from websites
• Business card data entry into any format
• Data entry from hardcopy and printed material into text or required format
• Receipt and bill data entry
• Catalog data entry
• Data entry for mailing list and mailing labels
• Manuscript typing in to MS Word
• Taped transcription to Word
• Copy, paste, editing, sorting, indexing data into required format and more

Genuine Online Data Entry Job Providers

Companies outsourcing data entry jobs may have a physical office in your city or may have an exclusive online presence through which they allocate work and pay for the job that you have done.

As the demand for data entry is high and more and more companies get into the business, numerous frauds have been discovered. Locating genuine online data entry jobs is thus part of the challenge, especially if one plans to work from home.

If you plan to do data entry from home, make sure that you verify that the company outsourcing online data work to you is genuine. Have a written contract with them and ensure that the company gives work and pays you on schedule, as promised.

Who Can Do a Data Entry Job?

Since data entry simply involves accurately typing out information in a predetermined format into a specified software, just about anybody with a basic educational background, sound computer knowledge and good command over English can do it.

Currently there is a huge demand for data entry jobs in cities like Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai and New Delhi. These cities have emerged as major hubs where thousands of jobs can be found. Since data entry is reasonably simple, numerous companies also offer home based data entry jobs.

Advantage of Doing Data Entry Jobs From Home

There are numerous advantages of home based data entry jobs, both for the company offering the job and the person doing the data entry job. For one, the company does not need to invest in infrastructure or space; secondly the person doing the job saves precious travel time from home to office. It also allows for a large amount of flexibility to the doer of the job and enables them to supplement their family income. Home based data entry jobs have special attraction to students, retired people and women.

Most companies pay by the quantum of work done, while some pay on a monthly basis. Home based data entry jobs actually allow a person to earn at home. It is this flexible system of work which has allowed companies from across the world to outsource millions of dollars of work to India and still benefit from a faster turnaround time at cost effective rates. Thanks to home based data entry jobs, several thousands of people in urban areas of India have greater economic independence and can benefit from the IT boom in the country.

A quick search on the Internet brings about hundreds of companies offering data entry jobs from home. Should you be looking for one, do spend time verifying the authenticity of the company, the kind of work offered and don’t forget to have a binding contract before you begin the data entry work.