New Zealand office celebrates fifth anniversary

The company first established a presence in the country in June 2001, taking advantage of the time difference to provide an ‘overnight’ transcription service to clients based in the UK.

Since then, the New Zealand operation has grown significantly, following the development and increasing popularity of WordWave’s digital recording and transcription (DART) service. Overall output has increased from 1,993 hours transcribed in 2001 to an impressive 9,302 hours transcribed in 2005.

The Christchurch office now employs four full time members of staff, led by General Manager Karen Thorns, co-ordinating a network of more than 100 highly skilled transcribers in New Zealand, Australia and the UK. In fact, all of WordWave’s transcription work is now overseen from New Zealand, regardless of where it’s carried out.

For clients, this concentration of expertise has brought significant improvements in services. Many of the transcribers have been with WordWave since 2001 – more than two thirds now work to the very highest ‘gold’ and ‘platinum’ standards.

As well as providing transcription services for overseas clients, the New Zealand office now also works with local customers, most recently winning a two-year extension to its contract with the country’s leading disputes resolution and mediation provider, Disputes Resolution Services Ltd (see DRSL signs up for two more years with WordWave in SoundByte May.)

Other highlights during the last five years include helping WordWave secure major contracts with key clients including the States of Jersey court service and the UK’s Serious Fraud Office and National Crime Squad.

Says General Manager Karen Thorns: “There’ve been a lot of changes since 2001. From mainly legal work, our portfolio has expanded to cover a wide range of sectors including the broadcasting, military and corporate sectors.”

“But time doesn’t stand still,” she continues. “The next five years will see transcription services continuing to evolve, with new technology helping us to drive up standards even further as well as deal more efficiently with higher volumes of work. Our link-up with Merrill Corporation is another exciting development that will allow us to offer a wider range of services than before, both in New Zealand and further afield.”

If you’d like to know more about the services offered by WordWave’s New Zealand office, contact Karen Thorns at:
karen.thorns@wordwave.co.nz.