Scanning Tips: Choosing Small Business Scanners

digital scanning solution for small business

Document scanner enables users to create a digital archive and ditch the filing cabinet. These days, businesses are trading in their filing cabinets filled with documents and files from long ago and are using document scanners to scan and store their important documents. By using a document scanner for the business, users open up more space in their office, sustain the security of sensitive data and information, and have an electronic copy of critical documents that will not be irretrievably lost.

 

How to choose a digital scanning solution for small business

To help the users in choosing the best document scanner for their business;

 some key questions help in effectively narrowing the search.

 

What do you need to scan?

The type of scanner one should quickly scan the types of documents one needs to digitize and deliver clear, crisp images. Is someone scanning paper documents and receipts?

Does anyone need to check photo identification?

Is someone planning on scanning photographs?

When selecting a scanner, the items one plans to scan should be the primary consideration. Many document scanners can handle paper documents, receipts, and photo identification with ease. However, one will need a scanner explicitly designed for images and pics to scan photographs. Photo scanners offer higher resolution and improved color, preserving the appearance of pictures when rendered digitally.

 

How many documents does one intend to scan?

If someone plans to digitize paper archives, he will need a high-volume document scanner. High-volume document scanners generally come with an automated feeder that digitizes large amounts of paperwork without requiring close supervision and monitoring, allowing the user to create a digital archive of the files.

Suppose someone plans to scan documents occasionally, though he is better served with a less expensive model. Depending on the needs, there are portable document scanners that do the job, as well as there are smartphone applications that use a phone's camera to recreate documents digitally.

 

Does anyone need Optical Character Recognition?

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) enables the computer to read the text in the documents quickly. OCR makes it very easy to organize, search and format scanned documents. OCR is usually an industry-standard feature included in many modern document scanners, and it is a massive timesaver for businesses.

 

What operating system is the business using?

The document scanner the business is considering purchasing must be compatible with the operating system. Many document scanners work well with PC software, while few are available for Mac. If the business uses Mac OS, verifying with the sales representative or the manufacturer that the document scanner the company is considering is compatible is necessary. Even if the scanner is not immediately compatible with Mac OS out of the box, the user can install third-party drivers. However, these are sometimes less functional and hamper performance.

 

Which type of image sensor does the user need?

A contact image sensor is a less costly and more compact alternative. However, it will struggle to scan wrinkled paper or bound pages properly. Purchasing a charge-coupled device eliminates this problem, but the scanner will take up an ample amount of space and can cost far more.

 

What resolution is needed?

If the user only scans documents, the standard 600 to 1200 dpi is proper. If the user is scanning photos, he will need at least 2000 dpi. However, getting prepared to pay comparatively more for a higher dpi scanner is required.

 

What color depth is needed?

Like resolution, the low color depth is fine if the user only scans documents. One has to aim for at least a 48-bit color depth for photos.

 

Need for USB connectivity.

Most modern features wirelessly connect to the devices. However, USB connectivity is still acceptable to have as a backup alternative. Optionally, if the user wants a printer that does not connect wirelessly, he can choose a USB connectivity over other connections.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Using EDMS to Improve On-the-Job Happiness

Image
  Here's how document management can decrease unhappy workers. It's a well-known fact that being unhappy at work is common. In fact, it's become so common. It's a cliché. We all know the feeling: you get up in the morning and dread going to your job because of how miserable you feel there. The problem isn't just that people are unhappy; it has serious consequences on their product performance and the company's profits as well. EDMS can help solve this problem by making employees happy again! An Electronic Document Management System Bolsters Effective Workplace Collaboration Knowledge workers often struggle with this aspect and produce less than they should. They are too educated to spend so much of their time on tasks they feel overqualified for. Managing a lot of information is a difficult task made more manageable with the right management. Instead, the focus should be on tasks that their breadth of education and skillset demand—not just for economic ...
Read more

7 Reasons why Specialty Contractors Should Move to the Cloud

Image
The connected, cloud-based construction solution can help you scale your company for continued success.  Collaboration is the key to your success. Whether you're an electrical, mechanical, roofing, concrete or another specialty contractor, one common bond unites us all - collaboration makes for better craft and helps us meet deadlines. Everyone has unique challenges when working on a project or minefields, from general contractors to vendors and subs. The miscommunication between these different parties can confuse not only yourself but also other employees, which is why you need an experienced team that understands what's going on.  The headache of keeping track of data can be a significant pain point in any project. Traditional methods like pen and paper, emails or spreadsheets are too tedious for most people to work through on their own, so they tend to create more problems than solutions. It can take hours to figure out disconnected information from multiple differen...
Read more