Recognition technology specialist Orbograph has launched a cloud-based service for capturing data from Explanation of Benefit (EOB) forms in the healthcare industry. Orbograph, which has its sales and marketing operations based in Billerica, MA, has long been a leader in the check capture space. It recent years, it has looked to move into the document imaging market, leveraging its Key-Pay Convene platform, which basically applies Orbograph's automatic recognition technology to capture as much data from forms as possible, and then uses a fleet of keyers to enter any data that couldn't be recognized with a high enough confidence rate. We're assuming the same type of concept is being utilized in the new P2Post™(paper-to-post) Healthcare Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) solution.
P2Post has been implemented at a "major US pharmacy provider." According to the press release, "Orbograph P2Post can provide savings of 40-60% compared to the manual entry of EOB Service Line information, which can approach 40-50 cents per service line. The Orbograph P2Post solution was also benchmarked during the proof of concept process with near zero defects or errors on the EOB data originating from documents with single service lines to as many as 900. This accuracy level is up to 10 times superior to manual processes."
EOB's have long been an area of focus in the document capture market, and lately we've been seeing more signs, like this announcement) that our industry is finally making some progress in this area.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Laserfiche Institute 2012
Spent a good bit of last week at the Laserfiche Institute 2012 event in Anaheim. There were some 1,600 people there, a ratio of 70% end users and 30% resellers, so it was a pretty good size event (apparently a 20% increase over last year's event, which was held at the LAX Hilton. The new location, the Anaheim Marriott was very close to Disney and may have helped with the increased attendance, although the reason for the move was that Laserfiche was already growing out of the LAX digs.) Had your usual number of Laserfiche government customers, but verticals like financial services, energy, and even professional sports (the Houston Texans) were represented. No earthshattering new product announcements at the event, but Laserfiche certainly continues to move forward. The message of the conference seemed to be "putting the 'E' in ECM," and Laserfiche stressed how its product is going viral at many customer sites who are ramping up installs in terms of both users and departments. We'll have more on this in this week's premium issue of DIR.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Kodak Bankruptcy Press Release
Here's a link to the official press release from Kodak on its Chapter 11 filing, which was announced last week. (The highlights were made by me when I was working my story, which appears in this week's Premium edition of DIR.) Important to note that this is a Chapter 11 filing, which means Kodak is attempting to reorganize to the satisfaction of the entities it owes money to.
As far as the Document Imaging business goes, the way we understand it, DI is considered a valuable asset and Kodak will not do anything to harm one of its more profitable business units - because that would of course harm the long-term viability of the company. And even though Kodak is being presented as a printing company going forward, DI is reportedly a "major pillar" of its reworked enterprise solutions focus.
As far as the Document Imaging business goes, the way we understand it, DI is considered a valuable asset and Kodak will not do anything to harm one of its more profitable business units - because that would of course harm the long-term viability of the company. And even though Kodak is being presented as a printing company going forward, DI is reportedly a "major pillar" of its reworked enterprise solutions focus.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
NSi Introduces AutoStore 6.0
Notable Solutions, Inc., the Rockview, MD-based MFP capture software specialist, has introduced a new version of its flagship AutoStore application. AutoStore 6.0 features a couple new modules. One is a WebCapture feature that enables users to capture electronic documents from their desktops into workflows connected to AutoStore. The second is a standardized version of AutoStore's SmartTicket functionality.
WebCapture complements AutoStore's AutoCapture technology, a thick Windows client for capturing electronic documents. AutoStore itself is typically used for capturing paper documents with MFPs and processing them. WebCapture is browser-based app.
SmartTicket enables admins to set up bar-coded cover sheets the identify documents being scanned at MFPs. Users log-on, print the proper coversheets, and can add meta data through check boxes or keying at their PCs. The Autostore server can identify scanned documents through the bar codes on the cover sheets and then execute a workflow based on the document ID. Previously, SmartTicket had been implemented as a customized app for some of NSi's bigger customers.
More on AutoStore 6.0 in our next premium issue.
WebCapture complements AutoStore's AutoCapture technology, a thick Windows client for capturing electronic documents. AutoStore itself is typically used for capturing paper documents with MFPs and processing them. WebCapture is browser-based app.
SmartTicket enables admins to set up bar-coded cover sheets the identify documents being scanned at MFPs. Users log-on, print the proper coversheets, and can add meta data through check boxes or keying at their PCs. The Autostore server can identify scanned documents through the bar codes on the cover sheets and then execute a workflow based on the document ID. Previously, SmartTicket had been implemented as a customized app for some of NSi's bigger customers.
More on AutoStore 6.0 in our next premium issue.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Fujitsu Introduces New Workgroup Models
Fujitsu, which has long been the leader in the workgroup and departmental segements of the document scanner market, has introduced four new models priced between $1,200 and $2,500 featuring speeds of 40/80 and 60/120 ppm/ipm at 200 dpi in color, black-and-white, and grayscale. There are sheet-fed only and flatbed models available at each speed rating.
Some of the cool new features:
Scanner Central Admin: "allows users to monitor scanner running status, update scanner drivers, check consumable status, and more, all over a network, from one location."
Enhanced Paper Protection: "A new advanced encoder inside the document feeder analyzes each passing sheet and stops scanner operation when an irregularity is detected during a page feed, helping to avoid document damage and increase pre and post scan operational efficiency."
"ScanSnap Mode” Function: The new “ScanSnap Mode” gives users that prefer the “one-button,” driverless experience of the award-winning line of ScanSnap scanners an alternative ad-hoc approach to being productive through scanning.
The new models, which go by the names: fi-6130Z, fi-6140Z, fi-6230Z, and fi-6240Z, will be available in February. For the complete press release, click here.
Some of the cool new features:
Scanner Central Admin: "allows users to monitor scanner running status, update scanner drivers, check consumable status, and more, all over a network, from one location."
Enhanced Paper Protection: "A new advanced encoder inside the document feeder analyzes each passing sheet and stops scanner operation when an irregularity is detected during a page feed, helping to avoid document damage and increase pre and post scan operational efficiency."
"ScanSnap Mode” Function: The new “ScanSnap Mode” gives users that prefer the “one-button,” driverless experience of the award-winning line of ScanSnap scanners an alternative ad-hoc approach to being productive through scanning.
The new models, which go by the names: fi-6130Z, fi-6140Z, fi-6230Z, and fi-6240Z, will be available in February. For the complete press release, click here.
Kofax Introduces Mobile Capture Technology
A little over a month after investing in a mobile apps tools specialist, Kofax has launched Kofax Mobile Capture. Mobile Capture is basically a set of apps for capturing images with smart phones and tablets, improving their image quality through the application of VRS (Virtual ReScan) technology, and passing them on to BPM and other downstream applications. There are iOS and Android versions of the technology, which capture images to a cloud-based component, Kofax Mobile Services, being hosted on Microsoft's Azure.
From the press release, "Kofax Mobile Services enhances images and delivers the content to the appropriate downstream Kofax processes. This allows Kofax customers to develop and deploy custom mobile capture applications while leveraging their existing Kofax capabilities with no change to their capture enabled BPM infrastructure."
From the press release, "Kofax Mobile Services enhances images and delivers the content to the appropriate downstream Kofax processes. This allows Kofax customers to develop and deploy custom mobile capture applications while leveraging their existing Kofax capabilities with no change to their capture enabled BPM infrastructure."
Monday, January 16, 2012
Research Firm Finds $6 Payback for Every $1 Spent on ECM
Nucleus Research recently analyzed 37 case studies of ECM users and found an average ROI of $6.12 for every dollar spent on ECM technology. Nucleus presented its number at Digitech's recent reseller conference held at Denver's Inverness Conference Center. Digitech is a leading SaaS-based provider of ECM technology through its ImageSilo offering and also delivers on premise capture and ECM through its PaperVision line of products.
Nucleus' study found that second and third generation systems "deliver increasing ROI through more streamlined processes and greater productivity." From the Nucleus press release on the study, "In the analysis of Nucleus case studies, 62% of all returns came from direct benefits such as reduced paper or avoidance of staff or service bureau costs. Another 38% of returns came from indirect benefits, such as productivity."
I was honored to be asked to present at the Digitech event. My presentation was entitled "News You can Use: Staying Ahead in a Rapidly Evolving Market." Basically, I encouraged VARs to embrace new technologies and selling techniques as we enter the "knee of the curve," as Ray Kurzweil calls it in his book "The Age of Spiritual Machines." I also reviewed my biggest stories of 2011 and tried to explain how I felt these stories are going to be affecting the market going forward.
Digitech made an interesting capture software announcement at the event. It released its new PaperVision Capture Desktop, which is a batch capture application to compete with Kofax Express and Kodak Capture Pro. The main difference is that Digitech is not increasing the price of Capture Desktop when it is run with higher volume scanners. The new product lists for $599 and is available exclusively through Cranel. More on this in our next premium edition.
Nucleus' study found that second and third generation systems "deliver increasing ROI through more streamlined processes and greater productivity." From the Nucleus press release on the study, "In the analysis of Nucleus case studies, 62% of all returns came from direct benefits such as reduced paper or avoidance of staff or service bureau costs. Another 38% of returns came from indirect benefits, such as productivity."
I was honored to be asked to present at the Digitech event. My presentation was entitled "News You can Use: Staying Ahead in a Rapidly Evolving Market." Basically, I encouraged VARs to embrace new technologies and selling techniques as we enter the "knee of the curve," as Ray Kurzweil calls it in his book "The Age of Spiritual Machines." I also reviewed my biggest stories of 2011 and tried to explain how I felt these stories are going to be affecting the market going forward.
Digitech made an interesting capture software announcement at the event. It released its new PaperVision Capture Desktop, which is a batch capture application to compete with Kofax Express and Kodak Capture Pro. The main difference is that Digitech is not increasing the price of Capture Desktop when it is run with higher volume scanners. The new product lists for $599 and is available exclusively through Cranel. More on this in our next premium edition.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Brainware Announces another seven-figure deal
A few weeks after announcing a $2 million sale to a European service provider, IDR specialist Brainware has announced a $1 million deal with a "U.S.-based product distributor serving the construction and retail hardware industries." It's an A/P deal initially for handling invoices and expense reports and includes integration with JD Edwards ERP systems.
Brainware CEO Carl Mergele was quoted in the press release: "For businesses that are experiencing growth through acquisition, the effective, efficient consolidation of back office operations can pose a significant challenge, requiring the reconciliation of diverse processes and legacy IT platforms. By providing the ability to capture and reconcile data across diverse transactional and content management applications, Brainware enables complex enterprises to achieve world-class performance in accounts payable without increasing headcount."
Sounds like Brainware is having some success in the emerging enterprise capture market.
Brainware CEO Carl Mergele was quoted in the press release: "For businesses that are experiencing growth through acquisition, the effective, efficient consolidation of back office operations can pose a significant challenge, requiring the reconciliation of diverse processes and legacy IT platforms. By providing the ability to capture and reconcile data across diverse transactional and content management applications, Brainware enables complex enterprises to achieve world-class performance in accounts payable without increasing headcount."
Sounds like Brainware is having some success in the emerging enterprise capture market.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
AccuSoft Pegasus Releases Bar Code SDK for iOS
Imaging tools specialist AccuSoft Pegasus has released a new SDK that enables bar code reading from Apple mobile devices running iOS. The new version of Barcode Xpress Mobile complements the existing version that works with Google Android mobile operating system.
From the press release: "Barcode Xpress Mobile gives end users a frustration free experience when using their own mobile device, with faster and more accurate reads of barcodes. This in turn provides rapid access to data on their own familiar mobile phone or tablet, whether that device is iOS or Android based."
From the press release: "Barcode Xpress Mobile gives end users a frustration free experience when using their own mobile device, with faster and more accurate reads of barcodes. This in turn provides rapid access to data on their own familiar mobile phone or tablet, whether that device is iOS or Android based."
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Kofax Highlights MarkView Deals
Somewhat interesting announcement by Kofax, highlighting several recent deals - totaling more than $5 million, in which its MarkView A/P purchase-to-pay (P2P) software was included. MarkView is the P2P application that Kofax picked up when it acquired 170 Systems in 2009. Scuttlebutt has been that sales of MarkView have been somewhat underwhelming since the acquisition, and this announcement is probably designed to show that Kofax now has that business headed in the right direction.
When Kofax bought 170 Systems, it was reportedly producing $28 million in annual revenue, although I was later given the impression that a good majority of that was coming from professional services. Two of the three deals highlighted in today's release include the mention of other Kofax software products sold along with MarkView, so I'm assuming the $5 million figure isn't all MarkView.
That said, that type of integration was kind of the point of the whole acquisition - to give Kofax a better competitive offering vs. ReadSoft. However, none of the deals mention integration with SAP, which has been one of Kofax's goals- and an area where ReadSoft is strong. Two of the MarkView deals do mention integration with Oracle software, which is where MarkView has been historically strong.
Basically, I'm glad to see Kofax has something to brag about regarding MarkView, but based on the content of the release, I'm not sure how excited I should be getting.
When Kofax bought 170 Systems, it was reportedly producing $28 million in annual revenue, although I was later given the impression that a good majority of that was coming from professional services. Two of the three deals highlighted in today's release include the mention of other Kofax software products sold along with MarkView, so I'm assuming the $5 million figure isn't all MarkView.
That said, that type of integration was kind of the point of the whole acquisition - to give Kofax a better competitive offering vs. ReadSoft. However, none of the deals mention integration with SAP, which has been one of Kofax's goals- and an area where ReadSoft is strong. Two of the MarkView deals do mention integration with Oracle software, which is where MarkView has been historically strong.
Basically, I'm glad to see Kofax has something to brag about regarding MarkView, but based on the content of the release, I'm not sure how excited I should be getting.
Monday, January 09, 2012
Visioneer Releases Xerox Version of Eye-Fi Scanner
Scanner vendor Visioneer has announced a Xerox-branded version of its Mobility Air scanner-the one that includes an Eye-Fi card for completely wireless mobile capture to any device with a wireless ratio- like a laptop, PC, or even mobile phones and tablets. The Xerox version of the device will list for $250 and be called the "The Xerox Mobile Scanner."
Visioneer announced the new Mobility in October.
Visioneer announced the new Mobility in October.
QAI Re-Ups Multi-Million Deal with NIH
Fulton, MD-based document imaging services specialist Quality Associates, Inc. (QAI) has signed another five-year contract with the National Institute of Health. The contract, which has one base year band four renewal options, is initially valued at $18 million. It's the second consecutive such contract for QAI, which offers both document conversion and systems integration services.
According to the press release, "Efforts to transition NIH’s grant applications function to a paperless process will thus proceed uninterrupted and benefit from the expertise accrued during the initial contract period. In addition, the new contract expands the service offerings QAI will provide NIH. Notably, QAI will offer 508 compliance consulting and training and will design, install and manage end-to-end electronic content management (ECM) systems. QAI’s Microsoft Gold Certified SharePoint subsidiary, DocPoint Solutions (DPS), will spearhead the design and installation of a comprehensive end-to-end SharePoint ECM."
According to the press release, "Efforts to transition NIH’s grant applications function to a paperless process will thus proceed uninterrupted and benefit from the expertise accrued during the initial contract period. In addition, the new contract expands the service offerings QAI will provide NIH. Notably, QAI will offer 508 compliance consulting and training and will design, install and manage end-to-end electronic content management (ECM) systems. QAI’s Microsoft Gold Certified SharePoint subsidiary, DocPoint Solutions (DPS), will spearhead the design and installation of a comprehensive end-to-end SharePoint ECM."
Friday, January 06, 2012
Kodak Bankruptcy Rumors
You've probably all seen these by now. Basically, here's the way we understand it: Kodak is attempting to sell an imaging-related patent portfolio that is reportedly worth $2-3 billion. If it can execute this sale successfully, it could potentially avoid bankruptcy. But, there seems to be some discrepancy about whether or not Kodak can execute this sale without filing for bankruptcy first, due to potential creditor claims on the portfolio.
How this is going to affect the document imaging business is unclear. When we spoke with Kodak VP Dolores Kruchten last October, after the Kodak bankruptcy rumors first surfaced, she denied that Kodak as considering bankruptcy. She also insisted that the document imaging business was profitable and that Kodak would do absolutely nothing to hurt a profitable area of operation.
From what we've read, Kodak would hope to emerge from bankruptcy as a printer-focused business, and with a former HP exec running the show, that makes sense. Of course, from our standpoint, printing is inexorably tied to document imaging, so it would make sense for Kodak to retain that part of its business as well.
That's about all we know for now. Stay tuned.
How this is going to affect the document imaging business is unclear. When we spoke with Kodak VP Dolores Kruchten last October, after the Kodak bankruptcy rumors first surfaced, she denied that Kodak as considering bankruptcy. She also insisted that the document imaging business was profitable and that Kodak would do absolutely nothing to hurt a profitable area of operation.
From what we've read, Kodak would hope to emerge from bankruptcy as a printer-focused business, and with a former HP exec running the show, that makes sense. Of course, from our standpoint, printing is inexorably tied to document imaging, so it would make sense for Kodak to retain that part of its business as well.
That's about all we know for now. Stay tuned.
CVision Showing Mobile Recognition at CES
Recognition technology specialist CVision will be showing some new mobile technology at next week's Consumer Electronics (CES) in Las Vegas. According to the press release, "Applying their high accuracy OCR engine to the realm of mobile technology, CVision has created a recognition tool that allows users to conveniently recognize and process documents by simply taking a photo of it with their mobile devices."
CVision has received funding from the National Science Foundation to develop its "super-fast" OCR technology and apply it to smartphones and tablets. "This mobile recognition technology enables...end-users to take a photo of a document or object with their mobile device to receive real-time information."
CVision has received funding from the National Science Foundation to develop its "super-fast" OCR technology and apply it to smartphones and tablets. "This mobile recognition technology enables...end-users to take a photo of a document or object with their mobile device to receive real-time information."
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Brainware Announces $2 Million Deal
Intelligent data extraction specialist Brainware has announced a $2 million deal with a European service provider. This customer specializes in financial and accounting processes and Brainware's software will be used for invoices and "other financial documents." This represents that latest of several large deals for the Ashurn, VA-based ISV that has seen some impressive growth in the past few years. It is also a nice size win in a European market where some have speculated there is weakness due to macro-economic conditions.
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
Kofax integrates Capture with DotImage
Kofax has released a new version of the DotImage SDK it acquired with Atalasoft last year. The new DotImage Enterprise Edition is desgined to image-enable Web-based line of busienss applications.
From the press release, "As an example, when processing a mortgage application, most lenders now allow prospective borrowers to apply for mortgages online but that process is typically not capture enabled. Applicants must provide paper copies of documents evidencing their proof of identity, income and other supporting information to the lender for processing. Capture enabling a lender’s portal applications allows applicants to easily scan those paper documents and submit all information electronically, thereby eliminating paper from the process. This accelerates the mortgage application process, better serves customer needs and allows lenders to be more responsive to applicants and gain competitive advantage."
From the press release, "As an example, when processing a mortgage application, most lenders now allow prospective borrowers to apply for mortgages online but that process is typically not capture enabled. Applicants must provide paper copies of documents evidencing their proof of identity, income and other supporting information to the lender for processing. Capture enabling a lender’s portal applications allows applicants to easily scan those paper documents and submit all information electronically, thereby eliminating paper from the process. This accelerates the mortgage application process, better serves customer needs and allows lenders to be more responsive to applicants and gain competitive advantage."
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