A process by which a form is scanned and then optically read to extract the data contained on the form. The forms can be read using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) or manually read by a human operator. If the form is not a good candidate for OCR a human operator can enter data manually from the scanned image. Either way, the efficiency of your data input will increase dramatically.

How does it work?

We have the capability to process any existing form or aid in the creation of a new form to be processed.  We use the industries best OCR engines to optically read your forms.   After OCR’ing your data, our staff validate the data to ensure accuracy. Additionally, Business rules and tables, if available, will be used to correct data.

In many cases, your form may not be a good candidate to be read optically. Not to worry, we can still process your forms electronically.  By contracting with a Precision Data Imaging to process your forms you will realize the following benefits:

Reduced data entry staff • Faster customer service • Faster payments • Less overhead expenses  • Elimination of paper • Instant search and retrieval capabilities • Reduced fixed costs • Never again lose a document •

A typical outsourced Process

Forms are picked-up from your place of business. Pick-ups are always 24 to 48 hours after the client’s call. Boxes can be picked up in bulk or in small groups. Many businesses prefer smaller pick-ups rather than one large one.  Anyone who takes documents out of your office needs to understand that your documents are irreplaceable. We will make every effort to make you feel comfortable with the process.

Sorting

Many companies don’t like to pick up or open their mail. Fortunately for them, these processes can be outsourced as well. We can set up a PO Box for all your forms to be sent to. Daily pick-ups from the PO Box can be made on your behalf. All forms will then be sorted and stamped.

Scanning

We typically scan OCR forms at 300 dpi on our industry leading VRS (Virtual Re-Scan) scanners.  After scanning, the images are visually checked by a human operator for skew, brightness/contrast, and alignment. Any images that do not pass initial quality tests are rescanned.

Optical Character Recognition (OCR)

Type written forms that are printed on Red-Line dropout forms are OCR’d by two separate OCR engines to extract the needed data. The Automated Forms Processing software then decides which data is more reliable using advanced algorithms. Some fields will be keyed and compared to the original OCR’d data. All data is reviewed by an operator and compared to the original image.

Manual data extraction

Black and White and/or handwritten forms are manually keyed by data processors. All fields follow custom business rules and are validated against customer supplied tables to ensure accuracy. Most fields will have basic logic built into the processing, for example, valid date ranges, data lengths, alpha, numeric, alpha-numeric data, and much more.

Document Return and Shredding

Once all processing is complete we will return your original paper back to you or shred it for as little as five dollars per box.  Additionally, we offer long term document warehousing and storage.