Many businesses are reluctant to outsource their technical writing projects, and understandably so. After all, they know the ins and outs of their business better than anyone. However, knowing the processes and communicating them through a manual in a way that is easy to follow is a very different scenario.
Creating a Document That is Easy to Follow
While writing a technical manual does require knowledge of the product and process, it is important that someone who is new to the industry can understand it. People who are immersed in industry jargon and language every day can sometimes create a document that is too technical.
A technical writer who is learning about your products and processes knows firsthand what the biggest hurdles are and how to explain them in a document. They have to ask all of the important questions and dig into details that people on your team may not have considered, which can be a huge advantage.
Save Money by Allowing Employees to Do What They Do Best
A lot of times, companies worry about the costs of having technical writing outsourced. Ultimately, though, it will also cost you to have your employees take care of it when they could be focusing on their normal production. If you plan to produce a technical document in-house, you are going to have to take someone on your team away from their normal day-to-day duties.
Additionally, if your employees create the manual but find that it does not function the way that it should, you may end up needing to outsource the manual anyway. Taking the step to outsource to a professional in the first place can end up saving you time and money.
Get a Faster Turnaround
A technical writing company is only focusing on one thing – getting your manual taken care of. They devote their resources to it and are able to get the work done quickly and efficiently. They will also be able to manage expectations from you and your team to get the information that they need.
You will have helpful reminders and deadlines from the technical writer, allowing you to avoid dealing with the process yourself.
Improve Quality Control
Hiring a technical writer gives you the kind of quality control that is hard to replicate in-house. Your document will go through an editing and quality assurance process with professionals who are trained to handle technical documents. This is incredibly helpful for error reduction and ease of use.
In addition, if your document needs to go out to customers or clients, having a professionally created manual can improve user experience and help with customer loyalty.
If you need technical writing services, Applied Development can help. We have years of experience in the technical writing space for government agencies as well as private companies. Give us a call today at 410.571.4016 or contact us on the website.