Data Capture Bureaux
Data capture bureaux provided additional peak capacity for computer users and undertook much system conversion work. The bureaux were production shops working constantly to tight deadlines and operating usually 24/7.
Exact statistics are not available but ROCC had around 100 bureaux clients at the peak in the 1980s. Some of the bureaux also offered mainframe computer services mainly to SME clients. After 1990 many bureaux switched from keying to scanning and keying.
Each year from 1977-1990 ROCC organised a keying competition and gave prizes to the winners. The competition was deliberately challenging. Local heats were held and then there was a Final at ROCC’s HQ at Crawley. It was very popular.The competition was invariably won by bureaux personnel with performances that were astonishing. All the competitors were female.