FAQ

Scope's Content Enhancement & Knowledge Services

Process Related

• What does CEK Services mean?
  Our Content Enhancement and Knowledge Services (CEK) Services refer to the services that address the challenges faced by publishers and information providers in managing huge repositories of online content and providing advanced search platforms for the users of such content. The services offered encompass the entire value chain of publishing and online information from basic data management, A&I services to editorial support, developing controlled vocabularies, content development and content mining for knowledge discovery. Scope caters to the niche segment of publishers of scholarly output, patent processing and online specific content in all the major areas of Science, Technology, Medicine (STM), Humanities and Social Sciences (HSC). The key differentiator of Scope's CEK services is its thrust on the semantics of the content and the enrichment is done by Subject Matter experts assisted by automated tools and software involving NLP and pattern recognition algorithms.
• How do you deliver your CEK services?
  Based on the nature and complexity of the projects, we provide both deliverable based services, and project based consultancy and execution services. We can also provide a flexible pricing structure based on either per deliverable or on per person-hour basis. We also offer the necessary technology support by developing project-specific tools that can be used for content management, on-line collaboration and other productivity improvement tools.
• Why should I go for Scope's CEK Services?
  Scope's value proposition, is to provide a qualitative, flexible and cost-effective solution for content enhancement and knowledge services with the following key features:

  • Prior experience in handling similar projects
  • Rich Domain Expertise
  • Robust recruitment and training policies
  • Unique Processes, Systems and Quality Control
  • Ensuring utmost security of data
  • Strict adherence to a planned implementation strategy
  • Innovative practices and technology solutions
  • Active involvement at the top level
  • Competitive Pricing

  Scope believes in a collaborative work culture with clients and would like to build a long term relationship.
• What industries do you typically serve in your CEK Services?
  Scope has the expertise in providing CEK services to the following industry segments:

  • Publishers
  • Scholarly and Academic Societies
  • Abstracting and Indexing services and content aggregators
  • Information providers for STM, HSC domains
  • Clinical workflow content providers
  • Consumer health portals
  • Database providers patent abstracts and bibliographic information
• What work timings can you offer?
  The team typically works 16 X 5, i.e. from 10.30 AM GMT to 02:30 AM GMT, Monday through Friday. Through the year, Scope is closed for 12 public/ national holidays. Depending on the real-time needs of our clients, various teams can be deployed to work on multiple shifts across time zones. However, in such cases, additional charges to the pricing will be applicable.
• What are the methods of contact during our engagement with Scope?
  Scope has a three-layer governance structure with a senior management layer comprising Board Advisor, CEO and COO, Relationship layer with CEO, and On-site Business Development Manager and a project layer with COO and Project Head. Regular meetings with the client will be held by all the layers depending on the exigencies of the situation. In addition to this, Scope's project management team will conduct weekly review meeting with the client on all aspects of the project such as quality, TAT and other SLA metrics.
• How scalable is your service in terms of volume?
  A major advantage of partnering with Scope is its ability to ramp up quickly and set up dedicated teams for a project. For instance, in a previous indexing project, we ramped up to a throughput of 30 times the initial volume within three months (500 documents per week to 15,000 documents per week). And despite this rapid scaling up, quality was maintained consistently between 98 and 100%.
• What is the strength and profile of human resources that are used for the knowledge processing services?

  Scope has more than 650 professionals including engineers, life science graduates/ post graduates, patent analysts, doctors, MBAs, and English language editors.

  In addition to the domain expertise, we engage people with the following skill sets:

  • English Language capabilities with very good written communication skills
  • Analytical skills for evaluating clinical and pharmacological data
  • Excellent web search capabilities
  • Right attitude to work in the form of pro-activeness, meticulous approach etc
  • Soft skills in the form of leadership, accountability, communication skills, organization skills and flexibility in approach and co-ordination with the team members
  • Good behavioural skills and ethical qualities like integrity, openness, and professionalism

  Additionally, Scope employees are trained to be proficient in the following editorial skills:

  • Use of controlled vocabularies such as thesaurus, lexicons, and taxonomic terms
  • Writing content according to the specifications of different style manuals such as The Chicago Manual of Style, The AMA Style Guide, and similar resources
  • Access to and interpretation of domain-specific vocabularies with access to multi-lingual glossaries and nomenclature
  • Proficiency in technical editing, copyediting, and proofreading
• What language capabilities do you possess?
  Scope has in-house capabilities in English, German and French. Through our network of associates, we have capabilities to handle all the European languages and major Asian languages such as Chinese, Japanese and Korean.
• What are the data formats that you support?
  Scope has the capability to handle different data formats like word documents, XML, Excel, CSV, PDF, infopath, MS share point and other multimedia formats like Tiff, JPEG, MP3, WAV, Flash etc.
• How do you ensure the quality of the final output?
  Scope uses the following key initiatives to maximize quality in all its CEK projects:

  • Multi layer processing - Fresh creation, peer review, copyediting, and formatting checks for eliminating errors of omission and commission at the production level
  • Workflow tool with built-in validation checks and alerts
  • Auto extraction of specific information to avoid manual errors
  • Editorial checks - hybrid approach - tool and human expertise
  • Expert's consultation - Analysts can consult internal or external experts
  • Access to reference manuals, training materials, and other feedback
  • Provisions to interact with peers through tool (integrated chat utilities) and other media (eg: U talk, IMs)
  • Global validation and business rule checks before delivery
  • Independent quality audit with rollback mechanism
  • Higher internal quality targets
  • Built-in feedback mechanism at each stage of the workflow
  • Constant collaboration with the client especially in case of doubts
  • Error analysis - e.g.: Pareto
  • Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
  • Failure Mode Effective Analysis (FMEA)

  All aspects relating to the quality of every project are regularly monitored by the Project Manager, the Business Head and the senior management team. For critical and large-sized projects, the services of a very senior official from Quattro are also utilized for specific productivity and quality enhancement programs.

• Infrastructure and Data Security-related

• Is my data secure?
  We maintain the highest security standards in the industry for protecting your data. We are an ISO 27001 certified organization practicing high standards in firewalls and back-up storage of all data and files. Projects are executed with resources belonging to clearly distinguished user groups, isolated from one another via VLANs. Floppy and CD/ DVD drives are disabled and any carriage of portable storage media inside the facility is restricted and monitored stringently. Email access is restricted to the company mail server only. We also sign NDAs with all our clients and our employees.

• Pricing Related

• What is your pricing model?
  Based on the types of services provided and the volume/ duration of the assignment, various pricing models are possible. The options include (a) per-deliverable basis (b) per man-hour basis. For instance, in case of large volume projects with shorter delivery cycles, we will be charging on a per-deliverable basis. e.g., abstracting and indexing, database development.

  Projects requiring development and continuous analysis will be charged on a per man-hour basis e.g. content development, development of taxonomy, thesaurus and ontologies, editorial services etc. In addition, a FTE-based pricing is also possible. This will be applicable when we have a dedicated team of people working on a specific project for medium - long duration.