When a business takes the data entry work they have, and sends it to a dedicated data entry business, or a freelancer, this is data entry outsourcing. It simply means that the business to whom the data belongs is not physically doing the processing work, but is instead shopping it out to another business or individual. Data entry is the act of transcribing written documents into computer data, or of transcribing one type of electronic data into another.
This data might mean names and addresses, computer programming information, medical records, or financial information, just to name a few. People who excel at data entry are very detail oriented, are quick typists, and able to check their work for errors as they go. Businesses use data entry outsourcing to save time and money; though of course there is a fee associated with outsourcing the work, it is often less than it would be to hire someone directly to do it.
A company or freelancer whose sole specialization is data entry will likely be able to get the project completed a lot faster as well. The business providing the data can set a specific deadline, and the work will be guaranteed to be completed by that deadline. Most data entry companies have a pool of freelancers, a set of full or part time employees, or a combination of both. Some data entry companies will outsource their work offshore as well, but they will generally provide this information to their clients.
Most data entry outsourcing companies offer some sort of non-disclosure guarantee, to verify that the data will remain safe and secure. In addition, the company might also offer a quality guarantee, as well as the benefit of having trained employees doing the work. Of course, for small projects or projects with longer deadlines, using an experienced freelancer is another option for data entry outsourcing. Data entry outsourcing is especially attractive for companies that only occasionally need the service, such as for producing annual or semi-annual reports.
Working for a data entry company can also be a great employment opportunity. Many companies that do data entry work will train new employees on-site, then allow them to work from home part-time or even full-time. Working as a freelancer can be a great way to earn extra income on the side, and often offers great flexibility regarding hours worked and workload. Be wary of data entry outsourcing scams that promise high levels of income working from home, or any company that requires a fee to receive assignments.