While timestamps are not absolutely necessary for all video transcripts, they significantly enhance the experience for viewers and improve the functionality of transcripts in many ways. Timestamps are especially useful for long instructional or informational videos, conferences/meetings, interviews etc. They allow readers to quickly navigate to specific discussions or references in the video. This makes transcripts very useful study/review aids when notes need to be revisited. Timestamps also improve accessibility of video content for hard of hearing users and boost searchability of transcripts on websites and YouTube. However, for some short videos or entertainment content like movie clips, timestamps may not always be needed. It ultimately depends on the intended use of the transcript. Services like Wavel AI make timestamping transcripts a seamless process.