Within the past two years, digital dictation workflow management systems (or DDS) have become one of the fastest-selling areas of legal technology.

But, with a few exceptions, these are usually not sold by traditional legal software suppliers.

The market-leading products, in terms of the number of both end users and firms running the software, are the TotalSpeech and WinScribe systems.

TotalSpeech is only available through its developers Bighand (tel: 020 7793 8200), whereas WinScribe is available through a network of national and regional sales partners.

The best known of the WinScribe dealers are SRC (020 7471 0100), Berrys (020 8452 8080) and the legal systems supplier Laserform (01925 750000).

Excluding Scotland, other WinScribe outlets include: Direct Dictation (0191 224 2300), England Crowhurst (0113 387 9700), Per Pro (0845 123 2914), Voice Power (01943 468000) and XKO (01481 737000) in the Channel Islands.

Along with TotalSpeech and WinScribe, the other systems most frequently winning sales and finding themselves on law firm invitations to tender are: DictaFlow from nFlow Software (01245 463377) - this is now marketed primarily by Tikit (020 7400 3737); LegalSpeech from G2 Speech UK (01223 451026); SPS from Stat Plus (020 8646 5500) and DigiScribe from DigiVoice (0870 770 1717/020 8481 8071).

DigiScribe is also sold through a dealer network including: Harford Dictation Systems (024 7667 8016) and the legal IT suppliers PCG (01202 857000), Peapod Solutions (0870 380 1122) and Mountain Software (01476 573718).

In addition to these six products, there are also two newer arrivals on the DDS scene whose software should also be considered.

These are the VoiceFLO system from iDOiNK Technologies (01473 405000) and Lexacom Talk & Type from Aprobrium (0870 777 3336).

In fact, this influx of new suppliers is creating a highly competitive market, which is forcing prices down to levels that smaller firms can now afford.

For example, 12 months ago, DDS cost around 1,000 per seat; today it is closer to 300 and by the new year it could be as low as 100 per seat.

Finally, it is worth noting that the latest versions of digital dictation recording and transcription technology from companies such as Philips now contain software features that could still benefit smaller firms that do not need a full-blown workflow management system.

Another option to consider is to use the services of a company such as Voicepath (01926 821900), which can provide the entire hardware and software infrastructure, as well as transcription, as an outsourced service for a minimal capital outlay.

Charles Christian is an independent adviser to the Law Society's Software Solutions guide