Document Imaging Blog

Welcome to the Nuance eCopy Document Imaging Blog

Businesses are adopting technology to address electronic workflows and processes --- but these processes are slowed by paper. Document imaging can help solve the paper problem by converting paper into electronic images and distributing those images into digital workflows.

This blog provides Nuance's perspectives on document imaging based on 15 years experience working with end users, MFP and scanner manufacturers, software vendors, and reseller channels. It is our goal of this blog to foster better understanding of document imaging technology through examples of companies who have benefited from implementing the technology and by sharing the experiences/problems/challenges.  We look forward to hearing from you!

MFP Software Environments -- Two Alternatives

Only the really educated MFP document scanning buyers understand that there are two types of MFP software operating environments. Even fewer people know what are the advantages and disadvantages.

The first development environment to hit the market was embedded Java, which is what Canon, Ricoh and Lexmark MFPs use today to support document scanning and other MFP software applications. The other is Web services, which is used by all the other major MFP manufacturers, including Konica Minolta, HP, Xerox, Sharp, Toshiba and Fuji Xerox.

Why is this important? Both environments have significant advantages and disadvantages that you will want to understand before you make an important investment, especially if your implementation involves custom software development.

Embedded Java is a widely used and powerful programming language. One or more MFP software applications can reside within the device, although the application may also require a server.

The Web Services approach leverages international Web standards, like XML, HTML and AJAX to create applications and link them together. It is typically less demanding and complex than developing in Java. Earlier this week, Nuance announced its first version of eCopy ShareScan available for the Konica Minolta bEST platform, a Web services environment. Read the press release here.

If you are considering developing custom applications or integrations for MFP scanning, you should look more deeply into these two different approaches. I hope this post will get you started.

eReaders, e.g., Kindle, Moving to Business Use

eReaders, like Amazon Kindle, are expected to be hot items this holiday shopping season.

 

Forrester Research recently increased its eReader sales projections to 3 million for 2009, with 30% of 2009 sales occurring in the holiday season of November and December.

 

This boom in eReader usage will create a demand by users to sync content across eReaders, Windows PCs/laptops and iPhones.

 

For example, Amazon recently introduced a Kindle reader application that works on Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 machines so users can sync downloaded books and other content.

 

And business professionals can be expected to want to add more to their eReaders - work documents - converging personal and business activities on mobile devices.

 

A good reflection of this is yesterday’s news of Amazon adding PDF capabilities, a format popular among businesses, to match Sony and Barnes & Noble.

 

Nuance OmniPage software enables users to scan a document, automatically convert into a readable format and send it to an eReader, such as Amazon Kindle or Sony Reader, in one easy step. OmniPage automatically reformats documents for easy reading and navigating using an eReader form-factor. The software supports various eReader and PDF formats. You can see how it works in this video.

 

Software features like scan to eReaders unite mobility and document accessibility. It will be interesting to watch the evolution of devices like Kindle as they transform into paperless office business tools.

Construction Firm Solves Paper Problem with SharePoint

Marc Filanc, CEO of the 300 person construction firm that bears his name, envisioned his consultants would have instant access to key documents wherever and whenever they needed.

This was easy enough for non-paper documents. The J.R. Filanc Construction company solved this problem by creating a Microsoft SharePoint portal where they could upload and download Word, Excel, PDF and other "electronic" documents anywhere there was an Internet connection.

But what about documents on paper? How did Filanc create a paperless office so the consultants could be more productive? Read the story here.

If You Buy an MFP, Why Not Use It for Scanning

 
In a recent presentation, MFP Report editor Brian Bissett referenced an amazing statistic from the market research firm Power Decisions Group. He noted that, in 2008, only 33% of US organizations say they are using MFPs for distributed scanning.

Yet his own research shows that 85% of office MFPs sold in the US have some level of network scanning functionality. So the obvious question is, if you are paying for an MFP equipped with network scanning, why wouldn't you use it?

I believe many people don't understand how powerful MFP scanning can be. See my posts on the misconceptions of MFP scanning.

What do you think? Why aren't you using your MFP for document imaging? I'd love to hear from you.

Nike, ASU Panel Presentation on SharePoint Document Imaging

 

Are you planning to be one of the 6K people attending the Microsoft SharePoint Conference next week? If you are, here's a great opportunity to learn how leading organizations are using SharePoint document imaging software. Check out the panel presentation titled "Boosting the value of MOSS 2010 with document imaging."

The session will include speakers from Nike and Arizona State University, who are using SharePoint and document imaging software to streamline workflows, cut costs and reduce carbon consumption. 

The session moderator will be Ralph Gammon, SharePoint document imaging expert and editor of the Document Imaging Report. Joining Nike and Arizona State University on the panel will be SharePoint authority Errin O'Connor, CEO of EPC Group and author of the book Window SharePoint Services 3.0 Inside Out.

Here are just a few of the questions that Ralph Gammon will be asking the panelists:

1. What are the two most important implementation issues when getting started with document imaging software and SharePoint. Will MOSS 2010 improve the situation?

2. Can you actually reduce carbon consumption by using eCopy software with SharePoint?

3. Is security a concern when you tie document imaging to SharePoint? Is it possible to maintain document audit trails?

The session will be on October 19, 2009 at 2:45 p.m. in the Surf 1 conference room at Mandalay Bay. Even if you can't make that time, stop by eCopy's booth (#421) and enter the daily grand prize drawing for a 42" HDTV or a daily mini drawing for a Flip Ultra HD camcorder.

Nuance Acquisition of eCopy

It has been an exciting week here, as Nuance Communications, a leading provider of speech and imaging solutions, announced that they have acquired us. The combination results in a product set and organization that are complementary, expanding Nuance's imaging portfolio with the eCopy ShareScan, ScanStation and PaperWorks product lines, strengthening our mutual MFP vendor and channel partnerships, and enhancing our channel sales, training and support resources in North America, Europe and Asia.

 

The eCopy and Nuance management teams have already begun to work together on integration plans, and we will be reaching out to our partners and customers throughout the process. There are a few items that we can share with you immediately:

 

1. Nuance is committed to the full line of products from both companies

The eCopy and Nuance products are complementary, and Nuance is committed to the full line of eCopy products, including ShareScan, ScanStation and PaperWorks.

 

2. Nuance is committed to eCopy customers, MFP partners and channel partners

All of your eCopy and Nuance contacts remain unchanged, and can be reached through their existing email and phone numbers. The eCopy web site and support resources are also unchanged. 

 

3. Nuance is committed to a strong, combined organization

eCopy has developed an excellent team, with great products and great sales, sales support and online resources, all of which are highly valued by Nuance.  Throughout the integration process we will insure that we can maintain the high levels of product quality and service that eCopy customers and partners need to be successful.

 

Below are a couple of links to some of the initial industry commentary in the blogosphere about the acquisition. And please drop a comment to us here if you would like to weigh in.

InfoTrends InfoBlog

Xerox – Future of Documents

Why Would Xerox Buy ACS if Everyone is Going Paperless?

The picture above is Xerox CEO Ursula Burns with ACS CEO Lynn Blodgett. The photo was part of the announcement that Xerox will buy BPO provider ACS. 

In an interview this morning on CNBC, host Joe Kernan essentially asked Burns why are you buying ACS if the world is going paperless? Burns responsed "We don't see the world going paperless."

It's been my experience that many, if not most, journalists see the topic of document imaging as soon to be dead. Clearly Kernan believes this. 

Journalists believe this because they have for some time operated in an almost paperless environment and their response to the "news" that many offices are going paperless is that this is no longer news.

Journalist should understand that it will be a long, long time before a majority of offices have no need for document imaging technology. If this were not the case, would Xerox be paying $6.4 billion for ACS?

Watch Neo use scan to PDF software and the paperless office to escape Mr. Smith in eCopy video below.

What Works for Distributed Capture

Check out the short article online in Infonomics Magazine providing four tips for using multifunction peripherals and scan to pdf software for distributed capture. The article was written by yours truly.

What Works for Distributed Capture

http://www.aiim.org/capture/infonomics/what-works-distributed-capture.aspx

Social Media & the Paperless Office

Will the rise of social media end the need for document imaging solutions? Read a short article in Small Business Technology magazine where I am quoted on this timely topic.