Using Document Capture

Submitted by Tech Support on Tue, 11/10/2020 - 14:51
person scanning a document

Using your office equipment to enhance your day-to-day operations is smart; using your office equipment to maximize time and money savings is genius. Scanning solutions offer quick and easy ways to gain those big benefits, and all you need is a scanner or multifunction printer. Your scanner or scanning option on your MFP comes standard with options to use document capture to revolutionize your document handling. Today we'll look at how to harness the power of document capture.

What is Document Capture?

Document capture is simply the process of scanning a paper document to a digital format. Scanners use OCR software to understand the contents of the document. You typically have numerous options for the sort of file you'd like it to be -- JPEG, PDF, and so forth. Rather than just copying an image of whatever it is you're scanning, document capture and OCR capture the data itself. This then makes it simple to store, find, archive, and retrieve files. You can do any of this based on file type or the data within it. For example, you can search for a word and pull up all the available files that have that word.

Who Benefits from Document Capture?

Anyone who uses documents or data of any kind can find value in converting paper documents to digital formats. Invoices, customer information, new hire paperwork -- these are just a few of the documents that are scanned every day in businesses across the globe. Utilizing digital formats also elevates your security measures, and it enables you to store information off-site or in the cloud. This means you're better prepared in the event of a catastrophe or business interruption.

How Do You Use Document Capture?

To use document capture, simply place the document on the scanner tray or in the automatic document feeder of your multifunction printer, and then follow the steps to designate the file type, target location, and more. Your scanner or MFP will likely come with software that can assist you in this process. Once you've scanned the document, it will be converted to a digital format using OCR technology, making it easy to store, find, archive, and retrieve. With digital formats, you can also elevate your security measures and store information off-site or in the cloud, giving you added protection in the event of a catastrophe or business interruption.

What Else You Should Know

To maximize the benefits of document capture, you will want to have a solid document management system in place. This can include folder organization, naming conventions, and security protocols. With a well-organized document management system, you can easily find and retrieve important documents, ensure they are secure, and improve overall efficiency.

Document capture can also be used in conjunction with other technologies, such as optical character recognition (OCR) and automated workflows. OCR technology converts scanned documents into editable text, which can save time and increase accuracy when working with large amounts of data. Automated workflows can streamline document processing, routing documents to the appropriate person or department for review and approval.

If you don't have a scanning device, if you need help figuring out the document capture process, or if you want to know about even more scanning and business solutions, contact us today!