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!

eWeek's Products to Watch in March

 

eWeek named Nuance PDF Reader one of the products to watch for March. Click here for the listing. 

eCopy ShareScan Now has Scan to Word, Excel

 

For those of you who want to scan directly to Microsoft Word or Excel, eCopy ShareScan now has that capability. You can use this new feature when scanning documents directly to Microsoft(R) Exchange and SharePoint, SMPT via LDAP, IBM(R) Lotus Notes (R) and network folders.

You can preserve the original scanned file by using ShareScan's document tracking. This will allow you to access the original scan prior to the conversion to Word or Excel.

Obviously, scanning directly to Word or Excel can save you time, if that is the format you require. If you are an existing maintenance customer, contact your reseller to receive an upgrade free.

Red Sox are going paperless just in time for spring training

Here's a new paperless office story. Imagine for a second stacks of paper invoices at the Red Sox corporate office standing in the way of the hot dog supplier ... or worse yet ... the beer supplier from getting their invoices paid net 30. Could this be the end for the great American pastime?

That's a bit of an exageration. It was never nearly that bad at the Red Sox. But they did need to process invoices better.

The Red Sox get their share of paper invoices. The organization works with hundreds of vendors and receives thousands of invoices every month. These invoices range from a 1,000 page telephone statement to single page handwritten bills from small vendors.

The Red Sox have fixed their paper invoice problem.  Invoices are scanned to PDF files when they enter the accounting department with personnel accessing and acting on them using eCopy PaperWorks software at their desktops. eCopy has built-in integration with Microsoft SharePoint, which the Red Sox utilize as a central location for employees to find information and to drive business applications.

If you would like to learn more about what the Red Sox are doing with their invoices, see the press release here.

ROI calculator for document imaging

A very helpful new resource is available to those interested in calculating the ROI of document imaging software. This free, online business value calculator helps organizations determine return on investment and other benefits they can gain by deploying document imaging software with MFPs and networked scanners.

The calculator enables companies to compute tangible hard-dollar benefits including reduced cost in managing, storing and printing paper documents and reduced costs of managing MFP network scanning workflows. The tool also indentifies strategic advantages that may have been previously difficult for organizations to assess, including ease of doing business and reduced risk of business interruption.

For more information on how MFP customers can use the calculator to understand and measure the benefits when deploying document imaging software, see the whitepaper here.

Read About Free PDF Readers -- ITBusinessEdge.com

I previously made my case for moving away from Adobe PDF Reader, which despite frequent patches, continues to hold an appalling security track record.  In a nutshell, hackers and malware writers increasingly are using vulnerabilities found in this popular PDF document viewer as a base from which to break into and commandeer computers.

via www.itbusinessedge.com

Above is the beginning of a blog post by Paul Mah from ITBusinessEdge. Read more of what Paul has to say about PDF Readers here. Paul provides Expert tech insight and advice for small businesses with big goals.

PDF Readers, JavaScript and Security

ScanSafe recently called out in its Annual Global Threat Report that malicious PDF files (often opened with PDF reader software) comprised 56 percent of Web-encountered hacker exploits in 1Q09, growing to 80 percent in 4Q09.

 

The security experts believe, "this trend is likely indicative of attackers' preference for PDF exploit, likely due to the increasing availability of vulnerabilities and the continued widespread use and acceptance of PDF files in the workplace."

 

The ScanSafe research follows a McAfee Labs report that predicted Adobe would overtake Microsoft as the primary target for hackers and virus writers in 2010.

 

There is a simple way to avoid these hazards -- do not install JavaScript processing with your PDF reader. You will loose a small amount of functionality, but it may be well worth it.

 

Unfortunately, this is something users cannot do with Adobe Reader. And that means hackers can potentially use the PDF JavaScript vulnerability to gain control of a user's computer - exposing users to system attacks and the transfer of personal information simply by viewing infected PDF files.

 

However, an answer to this troubling PDF security threat has hit the market - the free Nuance PDF Reader, which creates a safer PDF environment for the end user by allowing them to prevent JavaScript installation. This approach adds an additional safety net for IT professionals looking to safeguard their organizations.

 

We encourage you to download the free Nuance PDF Reader and share your experiences with us.

CNET Review of Nuance PDF Reader

Nuance's first free PDF reader is a strong entry to the growing field of zero-cost Adobe Reader alternatives. It has a reasonable set of features, including free document conversion via the Nuance Web site, and a crisp interface that should be accessible to anybody.

via download.cnet.com

CNET reviewer Seth Rosenblatt rated Nuance PDF Reader at 4.5 stars out of a possible 5 stars. Read the review at PDF Reader.

A Quick Interview With Michael Angelo - Senior Product Manager

Nuance Free PDF Reader

Download Your Version Now!

OCR Software: OCR Software - Distributed vs. Centralized

Ah, the centralized versus distributed question...it is one that is continually asked in the scanning, capture and document capture space.  Most associate OCR Software with familiar desktop applications like eCopy Desktop, OmniPage, PaperPort, etc.  These provide, in a way, distribution of the overall OCR process to end users.There are applications on the market that can provide centralized and controlled OCR capabilities, through either a server or a workstation deployment.  One example is PSI:Capture from PSIGEN, and advanced document capture application, that allows centralized OCR processing.  Why would you want to do this?  Well, in most cases, this type of OCR deplyment model is utilized in conjunction with a document capture system, for centralized capture, indexing, QA, OCR and migration to a centralized DM / ECM system.  Typically, these systems give a broad and expansive feature set, providing all different types of OCR functionality.

via ocrsoftware-1.blogspot.com

ScanGuru has made another important post (see above).

Here are some significant points to think about when considering distributed and centralized OCR.

Note that while Nuance OmniPage has a "decentralized" desktop application, it also has a SDK that allows the OmniPage engine to be incorporated into centralized document capture applications.

Leading production capture software systems use the OmniPage engine for OCR. You would recognized the names of these applications if I mentioned them.

The end user should always ask what OCR is embedded within the product they want to use. eCopy Desktop, now eCopy PaperWorks, and Nuance PaperPort have OmniPage embedded.

The other very important aspect is that OCR in the cloud (as an Internet service or SaaS application) will become increasingly more common. Nuance will make an important announcement on this next week.

When OCR is in the cloud, is it distributed or centralized? The user can use it at the desktop or it could be part of a centralized document capture application. This is a good question to consider.

Document Scanning Services to Green Your Business - Imaging Services Blog

 

Check out the Feb 3 post on the Imaging Services Blog by clicking on 4 Ways Document Scanning Services Can Help You Green Your Business.

It provides a good look at the basic ways that document imaging can help your business become a better corporate citizen.