What value does Virtual ReScan Software (VRS) provide with my scanner?

When purchasing a scanner for document imaging, software is bundled with the scanner that automatically examines documents and applies the correct settings to deliver high quality scanned images. Or in simple terms – it enables image clean-up and clarity to occur automatically at the point of scanning the document.  This software SAVES a great deal of TIME and is EASY to use…This little piece of magical software is called Virtual ReScan or VRS.

Many scanner manufacturers include the Kofax VRS software in the scanner purchase price. Fujitsu includes Kofax VRS Professional software with their scanners and Panasonic includes the latest version of Kofax VRS called Kofax VRS Elite bundled with their scanners.  Other manufacturers do offer the software at an additional cost (Canon, Kodak etc.).

Some of the features in Kofax VRS Elite software:

• Auto-rotation
• Auto-cleanup
• Hole punch removal
• Blank page deletion
• Color detection
• Color smoothing
• Automatic crop and deskew
• Improved recognition (increases the accuracy of OCR & ICR software)
• Scan at the scanner’s rated scanning speed
• Network-friendly images

Take a look at the Image Processing video on Kofax VRS Elite to get a visual on some of the functionality. I have customers that use the software and will not purchase another scanner without it!

Megan Lane
Inside Sales
ImageSource, Inc.

135 Pages, 60 Seconds.

If you are looking for a production scanner, make sure you review the Fujitsu fi-5950C. At 135 pages per minute in color, this is Fujitsu’s top model. You will want to bundle this scanner with Fujitsu’s ScanCare package. ScanCare is the most comprehensive maintenance plan on the market.  Aside from a variety of responses time to fit your budget, it also includes Preventative Maintenance visits and a generous supply of consumables to keep you scanning for the year. If you need more consumables they offer the ScanAid kits. If you would like more information contact us or come to Nexus 2011 where the full line of Fujitsu scanners will be on display.

Ruben Kerson
ImageSource, Inc.

Shedding a little more light on the new Fujitsu fi-6800

I have blogged before about the Fujitsu fi-6800′s reduced footprint, the LED technology that it uses, and the many environmental friendly qualities it has, but there are other features that must be pointed out.  As you can imagine, when a company so well respected and influential in the ECM world as Fujitsu releases a new product, a lot of thought and engineering goes into it beyond just making it faster.  The fi-6800 is packed with features that enhance productivity that was based directly on customer feedback.

I saw a recent live demo of this model and it is impressive.  It’s look, size, footprint.  How quiet it is.  It also became evident, that this scanner is also easier to use than the fi-5900C, the previous mid-volume production heavyweight manufactured by Fujitsu.  This scanner weighs a mere 70 pounds compared to 100+ pounds of other scanners and its compact size makes it physically the smallest in its class.  This scanner was designed with this in mind:  bring production scanning from out back to up front without obviously disturbing the front of office business environment.

This scanner was also designed with batch scanning efficiency in mind.  For example, it can be equipped with a pre or post scanning imprinter depending on the need, and features an active stacker which controls paper speed as it exits the scanner to keep documents orderly and neat.  The front operator panel has a document counter and a batch counter too.  It is intelligently designed featuring an intuitive LCD operator panel which can be programmed in seven different languages.

Speaking of intuitive technology, the scanner offers Intelligent Multi-Feed Function (iMFF) and Automatic Image Quality Checker (aIQC).  According to Fujitsu, “iMFF allows for instant detection of a multi-feed or multilayer document, such as taped-on receipts or sticky notes added to a document. This function transports the document that has caused the alert to the exit path of the scanner, and presents both the physical document as well as the scanned front and back side images to the user so they can decide whether rescanning is required.”  The Automatic Image Quality Checker allows for document batches to be processed without interruption because it marks images virtually with potential missing data (for example folded corners) and others that might indicate multi-feed incidences.  This allows the user to check through the earmarked images and either re-scan or validate without interrupting the image order.

Lastly, the scanner comes equipped with an impressive full suite of bundled software including Adobe Acrobat 9 Standard, Kofax VRS 4.5 Professional with enhanced barcode recognition, ScandAll PRO with Scan to Microsoft Sharepoint, and QuickScan Pro Demo.  The fi-6800 fits well into any Document Management and Enterprise Content Management solution.

Once again, Fujitsu steps out into the limelight and into the front of the pack with production level document scanning for the world.

Ian Hundtofte

ImageSource

  

Goin’ Green with a Scannin’ Machine

Goin’ Green with a Scannin’ Machine

We all know that document imaging demonstrates the capacity of “going green” just by definition.  It is inherent in concept.  Technology expands so quickly and in the world of document imaging hardware, there lies no exception.  The most respected manufacturers like Fujitsu, Kodak, and Canon make the entire scanning process, from pre-scanning to post scanning, more automated and efficient for the end user, while also providing the latest in document imaging features and functionalities.

A couple examples of some of these particular technological advancements take are new LED’s replacing traditional lamps in scanners as well as production scanners with smaller footprints.  For instance, LED technology is featured in the Kodak/Bell &Howell Ngenuity as well as the new Fujitsu fi-6800 production scanner.  LED technology helps significantly reduce the scanner’s power consumption during operation and as well as in “sleep mode.”  Also, LED’s are designed to last the life of the scanner thereby eliminating the cost of replacement bulbs and the production costs and waste of replacement bulbs as well.  Since there are no replacement bulbs needed for these scanners, there’s nothing new to throw away.  Speaking of consumables, like scanner bulbs, companies making document imaging scanners are also manufacturing other consumables (pad assemblies, pick rollers, roller assemblies) with longer life spans.  Fewer consumables are needed and the ones that are needed, last longer.  The manufacturer’s that are seemingly taking the lead on this front include Fujitsu, Canon, and Kodak/Bell & Howell.

Better materials used in the manufacturing of document imaging scanners is not the only advancement that is happening that exemplifies this industry embracing green initiatives.  The design of the hardware is changing as well.  Manufacturers like Fujitsu are designing and building scanners that have significantly smaller footprints – the space they take up on the desk or the tabletop in the working environment.  Take for example the Fujitsu fi-6800.  This is a full–fledged mid-volume production scanner that is the smallest document scanner in its class.  The trend is moving toward fewer materials being produced to make these machines and therefore less energy is being consumed.   This translates into less waste and fewer emissions into the environment, as is obvious.

Since these new scanners are more intuitive as a result of new technology and better design, they can recognize in advance multi-feed issues, so the user can adjust settings as necessary.  Bottom line – the user can become more efficient at document scanning and do more, in less time.

With new technology and better design comes new efficiency and related side benefits including using fewer materials and generating less waste and fewer emissions.  It’s encouraging to know that the ECM Industry continues to do its part.

Ian Hundtofte

ImageSource

  

Personalized Scanning – Fujitsu Style

Personalized scanning – Fujitsu Style

Fujitsu is about to release the new ScanSnap S1300, and scanning just got a little more personal.  Canon has recently entered this arena and low and behold, Fujitsu is on their heels.  This mobile scanning solution is ideal for professionals on the go and is easy to transport at only three pounds and can easily fit in a briefcase or laptop bag.  The ScanSnap S1300 is the smallest Fujitsu multi-page duplex scanner for one-touch ease of use – either on the road or in the office.

With distributed capture on the rise, here is another tool that allows the busy, mobile professional the ease and convenience of capturing the information.  This of course lends to improving productivity and efficiency of the individual with little effort.

This scanner can implement cross-platform functionality which increases its value and versatility.  It is compatible with a PC or a Mac giving the customer maximum flexibility and does so seemingly – without any software changes.  Up until now, one had to either purchase a ‘PC’ version or a ‘MAC’ version of scanners in this class.  In addition, it can be powered by either USB connectivity or an AC adapter.

The scanner’s performance is robust too for its size (up to 8 pages per minute) and it even has 10 page automated document feeder.  The scanner can handle documents as small as a business card and up to 34 inches in length.  The software offers several image enhancement features including automatic cropping and color detection, blank page deletion, and de-skew.  As an added feature, it features one button searchable PDF creation, PDF and JPEG and will scan to editable Excel and Word files.

This scanner offers a lot for its size and its price.  Please contact our Inside Sales Team here at ImageSource at 360-943-9273 for more details and upcoming delivery date.

Ian Hundtofte

  

ECM – From the Eyes of the “New Kid on the Block”

Intro – to Enterprise Content Management (ECM) in 7 days.

I started the journey in a new town, new company, and new industry on Sunday, November 1st. It has truly been one of the most exciting first weeks in the history of my career. ImageSource hosted Nexus 2009 at the Hyatt/Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, WA. This is an industry driven conference that is held annually and focuses on timely and relevant ECM topics. This two day conference is a top notch event. I attended as a new employee but more as if I was an outsider looking in. I have learned everything from a whole new set of acronyms to a more responsible way of consuming and sharing data. I have attended conferences all over the nation with hosts as large as Johnson and Johnson and this event ranks above and beyond the rest. Each moment for me was relevant, educational, and worthwhile. I believe customers left understanding the importance of how we should manage our data in a corporate environment, and how to take control of it. It isn’t about solving the overall problem, but accepting that this is part of something greater. It was summarized in a funny yet concise way when Pam Doyle, Director at Fujitsu said that “Implementing an ECM solution is similar to eating an elephant one bite at a time.” As the new kid, full of excitement I have tasked myself with raising awareness about this event and gathering the best people to join us for next year. One of the folks that have chosen to join me in my journey is Jeff Shuey – industry blogger. Jeff is a technology expert and his knowledge ranges over many topics. I want to thank him for being willing to take me on as a mentee in this new world! To read Jeff’s blog, visit www.jshueywa.blogspot.com.

Register for Nexus for only $195! Use code NEXUS10SPL

Geetha French
Account Executive
ImageSource, Inc.

 

  

Highlight on Fujitsu Scanners

We thought it would be a good idea to spend a few weeks highlighting some of the different scanner manufacturers and what kind of equipment and service they offer and the benefits of purchasing their product.  This week we are going to cover Fujitsu scanners. 

Fujitsu offers a very wide range of scanner models from the ScanSnap S300 which is rated at 8 pages per minute (ppm) all the way up to the 5900C, which is rated at 100ppm.  For a more complete list of the Fujitsu models available, click here.  The majority of Fujitsu’s mid-range scanners come with an on-site 3 month Next Business Day response warranty.  They also come with a nice package of software including:  Kofax VRS, Adobe Acrobat Standard, and ScandAll21.  Also, most of the scanners are now Dual Interface: Ultra SCSI & USB connectivity, see blog about USB vs. SCSI scanners.

A couple of the newer models that Fujitsu has released, the 6670 and 6770, have 15,000 page daily duty cycles.  That means that they can scan 15,000 pages in one day and not shorten the life span of the scanner.  That is about twice the daily duty cycle of the models they replaced, the 5650C and the 5750C.  That high of daily duty cycle is quite good for a scanner in its price range.  For the lower volume and price range, another two new models are fi-6130 and fi-6140. These little workhorses scan 40ppm and 60ppm and an optional Flatbed can be purchased separately for both models.

Other benefits of the Fujitsu scanners are the service offerings. Fujitsu is one of the few remaining scanner manufacturers that maintains their own warranty and post warranty contracts. This permits for high availability of quality phone support prior to an on-site repair call as well as high availability of parts when and if an on-site service call is needed. Fujitsu service offerings range from Basic coverage (any hardware failure that isn’t consumables, see blog about the difference between parts and consumables) to the more elaborate ScanCare package. ScanCare is a more comprehensive contract which can include several Preventative Maintenance (PM) visits per year and consumables kit(s) depending on the model. First time buyers can sometimes experience sticker shock over the cost of some of these contracts but once you calculate the guaranteed PM visits, the consumables and the end user training,  you should be able to quickly gauge the value. Plus to replace a major part on scanners can often run into the thousands of dollars.  Contracts are much cheaper than replacement scanners and if it’s a mission critical scanner can you really afford not to be covered?

 

Andrea Latham, CDIA+
ImageSource, Inc.
Phone 360.943.9273
www.imagesourceinc.com

What is the Difference Between Parts and Consumables?

When you own a scanner, or multiple scanners, you are responsible for keeping that equipment running efficiently by keeping consumables on hand.  The components of a scanner that touch the paper and are designed to wear out and be replaced every 3-6 months are called “consumables.”  They are different to what are referred to as “parts” of a scanner.  Consumables are designed this way to maximize the performance of the scanner and are end user replaceable, meaning you don’t have to be tech savvy to perform the operation.

The most common types of consumables are rollers, lamps, and pad assemblies.  Depending on the scanner manufacturer (Fujitsu, Bell & Howell, Canon, Panasonic, Kodak, etc..), you may have to replace one or more at least a couple times a year.  When a scanner starts jamming or double-feeding paper, the most common cause of this problem is usually worn out consumables.  Other imaging problems like: no longer reading bar codes, poor OCR results, or getting an optical alarm can usually be solved by replacing the lamps

When a scanner has a maintenance contract in place, it usually just covers the parts and not the consumables.  ImageSource receives a lot of calls from customers asking why the consumables are not covered and parts are.  The answer is because the consumables are almost always end-user replaceable and must be replaced much more often than parts.  And if your scanner is under maintenance, it’s usually required to have parts replaced by a certified technician.  See our blog on benefits of having a maintenance contract.

Not sure where to get parts or consumables for your scanner?  Contact ImageSource, they are happy to help!

 

Andrea Latham, CDIA+

Inside Sales

ImageSource, Inc.

Phone 360.943.9273

www.imagesourceinc.com

SCSI vs. USB 2.0 in Production Scanners

Over the course of my time selling imaging hardware, i.e. scanners, many customers ask me which is better…SCSI or USB 2.0?  Actually some don’t even ask, they insist that SCSI (small computer system interface) is still the fastest option.  Unfortunately for them, almost all scanner manufacturers have moved to using a USB 2.0 interface as option on their scanners and some are USB 2.0 exclusively. 

When the first USB (Universal Serial bus) it was slower than SCSI and at times Flakey. Anyone who has ever installed a SCSI device knows that there was definitely room for improvement in this technology as well. Between double checking SCSI ID’s and triple checking the Termination you could spend quite a bit of time sorting out a SCSI install if it didn’t go right the first time. But when USB 2.0 came out it was stable and fast. In fact there is little to no degradation in speed with the scanners.  In fact, Kofax has stopped manufacturing SCSI cards all together.  VRS used to be a limitation of USB in a production environment because it required a SCSI adrenaline board interface, but now the latest versions of VRS are more versatile and work with USB 2.0 just as well if not better than SCSI.

USB 2.0 is working its way to becoming the standard in imaging technology because it less expensive than SCSI and so much easier to work with.  You also have one less point of failure with the USB 2.0 vs. the SCSI card.  So for those people with the common misconception that SCSI is faster and better, I’m here to tell you that USB 2.0 is just as good when it comes to speed and less expensive for your pocketbook. It also opens up the door to using laptops.

ImageSource, Inc. offers the all of the best names in imaging hardware – Fujitsu, Bowe Bell & Howell, Panasonic, Canon– each one with their own strengths, but all equipped with the newest and latest connectivity of USB 2.0

 

Andrea Latham, CDIA+

Inside Sales

ImageSource, Inc.

  

Who Needs a Scanner? I Think I Need a Scanner…

The answer is almost everyone!  From scanning bills and statements in your home office to full Imaging Departments in the largest of companies, digital images are the way of the future.  I don’t know about you, but I don’t have room in my house for filing cabinets full of old mortgage, power, auto, insurance and all the other bills and statements that I get every day!  Many State, County, and City government agencies have also run into the same problem as they are keeping 100+ years of all different types of paper documents. 

A lot of people today want to start digitizing their documents, but don’t really know where to start.   If you need some help trying to find out what type of scanner is right for you, there are a few simple questions you can ask yourself.  How many documents per day/week do I need to scan?  Do any of them need them to be in color?  Are any of my documents double-sided?  Are any of my documents of unusually large or small size?  What paper types and of what quality will I be scanning?  All of these questions are important and can help narrow down the size and type of scanner that will work best for you.   There are many manufacturers that produce scanners that range from home office/portable to the highest production scanners available.  Companies like Fujitsu, Bell & Howell, Canon, Panasonic, and Kodak all provide full lines of scanners to fit most every need.  Don’t let this unfamiliar territory intimidate you, there are companies like ImageSource, Inc. that know about and sell scanners to help you out along the way!

If you’re interesting in viewing muliple scanners at one time and location, sign up to attend Nexus ’09.  Some of the major manufacturers will be demoing their scanners there and answering the types of questions we talked about above.  Good luck and start scanning!