Understanding Data Capture

Data Capture technology allows companies to process forms and standardized documents automatically. The information on a credit card application, for example, can be extracted by a data entry employee and entered into a host system, or the process can be automated. With Data Capture technology, forms are scanned in batches. Software is used to extract typed or printed information. This information is then stored in a company’s database. If necessary, a digital image of the original paper form can also be created and saved.

Data Capture is one of the most complex tasks in document imaging. That is because most forms are not designed to be processed automatically by machine, i.e., they are not "ICR-friendly". Over the years, complex and sophisticated technology has been developed to deal with the multiple functions that Data Capture systems must encompass, such as image cleanup, forms removal, context analysis, data validation and "ergonomically-correct" reject-repair screens. Moreover, as the automated Data Capture market gets more competitive, vendors continue to develop new features that improve performance. Some of the more interesting developments include intelligent address extraction, automatic page segmentation, two-dimensional barcodes, document image understanding, OMR analysis, conditional procedures, and OCR and ICR voting.

The automated Data Capture marketplace is defined primarily by those applications that use the form as a data capture instrument. Those types of forms deal primarily with business-to-client transactions, such as processing sales orders or loan applications, and business-to-business communications, such as processing invoices and accounts receivable. Along those lines, the following applications define the long-term market for automated Data Capture:

The most important factor to consider when purchasing a Data Capture solution is Data Capture throughput. Remember: The goal of an automated Data Capture solution is not to fully automate your data entry operation. The true objective is to maximize human productivity by optimizing machine performance. The term "computer-assisted data entry" is a more accurate term than "automated Data Capture" or "automated data entry" when it comes to describing a winning solution. In other words, the most important benefit is the cost savings and productivity increases created by the ultimate throughput of the Data Capture system that you install.