Deafblind UK
How document conversion software is improving our service delivery
Customer Name
Deafblind UK
Industry
Charity
Solutions
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The Challenge
The Peterborough-based organisation offers its members practical and emotional support, information and advice.
As a charity, Deafblind UK relies on voluntary donations from trusts, organisations and individuals, so time and cost saving is key.
“Ethos Hub saves me time and allows us to offer a better service – that’s why we’re letting other organisations know there’s an easier way to convert documents”
The Solution
Manually converting text to audio
Due to the accessibility needs of its membership, Deafblind UK sends letters in different formats – either in large print or braille or recorded onto a CD or USB memory stick.
The charity has its own braille machine but was spending a lot of time converting text to audio.
It was part of Cheryl Schaffer’s job, PA to the chief executive, to record four to five letters a week using a microphone attached to her computer.
“It was a very manual and labour-intensive process,“ says Cheryl. “I had to set up the microphone and my computer and then read the letter page by page. I’d often get halfway through and the phone or doorbell would ring and I’d need to start again.”
The charity has its own braille machine but was spending a lot of time converting text to audio.
It was part of Cheryl Schaffer’s job, PA to the chief executive, to record four to five letters a week using a microphone attached to her computer.
“It was a very manual and labour-intensive process,“ says Cheryl. “I had to set up the microphone and my computer and then read the letter page by page. I’d often get halfway through and the phone or doorbell would ring and I’d need to start again.”
Document Translation
Another service that Deafblind UK offers its members is access to information in their own language, particularly for important documents and leaflets advertising social groups.
The challenge for the charity was the cost. “We’ve previously paid a third party to translate our documents into Welsh and other languages and it’s money we’d rather spend on member services,” says Cheryl.
The challenge for the charity was the cost. “We’ve previously paid a third party to translate our documents into Welsh and other languages and it’s money we’d rather spend on member services,” says Cheryl.
Smarter Text to Speech
Deafblind UK has worked with Ethos document services for around 10 years, receiving managed print solutions.
When Ethos launched Ethos Hub, a single platform for document conversion, Deafblind UK was interested in the Text to Speech workflow as a solution to manually recording letters.
“From the start, the software was much more intuitive than the system we’d used before,” says Cheryl.
“It’s so much quicker too. I can convert a Word document into an audio file in 2 minutes, a 90% time saving. It also saves having to invest in decent sound recording equipment. It’s so easy and user friendly.”
When Ethos launched Ethos Hub, a single platform for document conversion, Deafblind UK was interested in the Text to Speech workflow as a solution to manually recording letters.
“From the start, the software was much more intuitive than the system we’d used before,” says Cheryl.
“It’s so much quicker too. I can convert a Word document into an audio file in 2 minutes, a 90% time saving. It also saves having to invest in decent sound recording equipment. It’s so easy and user friendly.”
Convert documents in minutes
The Translate workflow on Ethos Hub supplied a cost-effective solution to Deafblind UK’s need to translate materials into other languages.
Cheryl says: “We provide services in Wales so lots of our materials need to be in Welsh too. We have started to use the Ethos Hub Translate workflow, and we’re really pleased with the result.
“It’s a great reassurance to know we can produce any of our materials in the language that our audience needs.”
Cheryl says: “We provide services in Wales so lots of our materials need to be in Welsh too. We have started to use the Ethos Hub Translate workflow, and we’re really pleased with the result.
“It’s a great reassurance to know we can produce any of our materials in the language that our audience needs.”
