10 Benefits of Using OCR Document Scanning for Business

OCR is an abbreviation for Optical Character Recognition, often referred to as Optical Character Reader. It’s a data entry concept that dates back to the 90s. Essentially, this concept involves the electronic or mechanical conversion of printed, typed or handwritten texts into machine-encoding text.

OCR follows three major stages of data manipulation. First, itsphotos scan your text, then analyzes it before translating it into various character codes. The machine-encoded data now becomes easy to search and edit electronically.

Ever since its inception, OCR has revolutionized the data entry sector, both in terms of data security and processability. This article shall highlight some of the most prominent benefits of using OCR document scanning for your business.

10 Advantages of Using OCR Document Scanning

1:- Cost Reduction

Data extraction is often a long and arduous task that requires professionally-trained staff. Thankfully, OCR document scanning enables you to cut the cost you would have otherwise incurred hiring such staff. That’s because data extraction is the core feature of the OCR technology.

But that’s not the only way OCR helps minimize operational cost. Using this technology, you will also cut back on the cost of printing, copying, and even shipping. In addition to saving on cost, you can also reclaim a significant space that you would normally use to store your paper documents.

2:- Higher Productivity

Numerous factors determine productivity in a work place. Some of these include the speed and ease with which you can access critical information. By enhancing data retrieval, OCR can give a substantial boost to your business.

The technology takes the strenuous process of data extraction from your employees. With this concept, there will be no more time wasted in making endless trips to the central records room to access critical information.  Therefore, your staff can focus their energies on other more pressing issues.

3:- Enhanced Data Security

The importance of data security cannot be overstated. Indeed, data safety is the reason most offices are gradually drifting towards a paperless office. Data stored in paper documents is susceptible to loss and destruction. Such losses could either emanate from human error or natural calamities such as floods and fires.

In the worst-case scenario, critical information could slip into the hands of ill-intentioned third-parties. But with OCR, all data is stored in digital footprints. You can also limit access to such information without worrying about possible data breach

4:- Documents Are Completely Text-searchable

If you’re familiar with the concept of keywords, then you should already understand the convenience of text-searchable information. OCR makes all your digitized documents text-searchable. Basically, the system comes with customized and intuitive features like search bars. These features enable you to create searchable pdfs.

In these bars, you can enter the name of the document you wish to access. Even if you may have forgotten the name, you could simply enter a phrase related to that document. You can also search for documents easily using other parameters defined by the system. Evidently, this eliminates the rigor of sifting through hundreds of documents when looking for a specific file.

5:- Cloud Storage for Ease of Accessibility

As we already mentioned, storing company information in paper documents comes with numerous limitations. That’s why many companies are shifting to digital data storage platforms like the cloud. Cloud storage does not only enhance data security. It also makes the data accessible from any location and via any device.

Whether you are at home or on vacation, you can seamlessly access your office information using your smart device. Of course, the device should be compatible with the cloud. Such kind of convenience is especially important when you’re running a virtual office. Here The Guardian will give you information about how to start a virtual office.

6:- Automation of Other Office Functions

OCR technology enhances the automation of data and various other office functions. From invoices and mails to bills and payments; nearly all office functions can now be executed digitally. Through OCR, you can quickly analyze your inward documents then sort them categorically, before forwarding them to the relevant departments. We’ve already highlighted the cost-effective benefits of digitizing and automating your data.

In addition to saving cost, data automation also enhances accuracy. You can easily compare data in your hard copies with that in your soft copies and check for inconsistencies. Remember, this is a necessary precaution before discarding any hard copies. Through data automation, you can also effectively categorize your documents and files for ease of access and retrieval.

7:- Improvement of Customer Service

In this digital age, customers tend to associate themselves with companies that appear more technologically-inclined. When a client or prospect contacts your company, one thing that will create a lasting impression is the ease with which you address all their queries.

With OCR, documents and files are systematically stored and easily retrieved. Your clients won’t have to wait on the line unduly longer when you can address their queries on the click of a mouse. Ultimately, this dramatically improves customer experience.

8:- Documents Are Editable

Another common benefit of using OCR document scanning for your business is that it makes your files editable. This is especially important, considering scanned documents need to be edited from time to time. For instance, your office may have changed addresses or contact information, and you now wish to capture the new information on the relevant documents.

Imagine how strenuous this would be if you were exclusively working with paper-based documents. Thankfully, OCR enables you to convert data into formats that make editing possible. Examples of such formats include Word and Excel.

9:- Enhances Disaster Recovery

The threat of data loss or destruction is always real for paper-based data storage. Natural calamities such as fires and floods could easily destroy paper-based documents. In most cases, heightened humidity levels is all it takes to lose critical company information.

Thankfully, these are risks you won’t have to deal with if you incorporate the OCR technology. Through OCR, all your data is digitized, which keeps it safe even when disasters strike. The only thing you’ll need to make sure of is that you choose a secure server with a robust backup system.

10:- Great for Entrenching the Culture of Digitized Information

Last but not least, OCR technology is an excellent way of fostering the shift towards a paperless office. There are countless benefits of going paperless. For starters, it’s an effective way of preserving the natural environment. Remember that for paper to be available, a tree somewhere must have paid the ultimate price.

Even worse, a million tons of paper waste ends up in landfills every year. That not only creates a repugnant sight but also contributes to the amount of carbon footprint in the atmosphere. Much closer home, the OCR technology helps your company save on the cost of buying, storing and processing of paper documents. You can leverage this technology to enlighten your employees on the essence of data digitization.

Conclusion

Evidently, there are numerous benefits of OCR document scanning for businesses. Whether you’re a startup or an established firm, there’s a lot to reap by incorporating OCR in your system.

It is the most reliable method of enhancing data safety so far. Plus, it improves productivity at your workplace. And most importantly, OCR is a major cost-saving technology.